The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1878.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 14, 30 October 1878, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1878.

There are no two better tests of the prosperity of a country than the rate of wages and the demand for labor. Judging by these two standards New Zealand is in a highly prosperous state, especially so in the southern half of the North Island. From Napier on the east coast and Taranaki on the west to Cook Strait men are scarcely obtainable to carry on the ordinary industries of the country. What a vast difference there is in the present state of tilings from that prevailing six or seven years ago. Men then were travelling the districts alluded to from one end to the other with scarcely a hope of getting work, and in a few cases where obtained it was at a rate of wages which barely enabled the laborer to maintain an existence. We are not speaking of men in regular employment. To those fair wages have almost invariably been paid in New Zealand. We are alluding to those who had to shift from place to place to gain a livelihood. A few years ago men might have been met who had travelled hundreds of miles in the North Island, and the story the most of them had to tell was that they could obtain no regular work. Here and there a job had been offered on contract at a figure which would barely have allowed them to make two shillings or half-a-crown a day t There may have been xme or two districts. more favorably circumstanced than the rest: where the settlers had money to spend on improvement, and had confidence in the future. But there is no denying that there wag a :

general depression, and the brunt of it fell upon those who had to earn their living by the sweat of their brow. Things have changed since then, and it is well for all parties ; though it would undoubtedly be better for the country and the progress of settlement if the supply of labor more fully met the demand. Wages are now not only exceptionally high, but there is a danger of the industries of the colony being paralysed for a time through the inadequate supply of labor to develop our resources. Not only in the agricultural and pastoral interests—though these are the main elements of our prosperity—but in every branch of trade there is a difficulty in obtaining hands. Artizans and laborers can now almost obtain their own prices. In districts to the southwards of this, we notice that tenders have again and again been called for work, and there has not been a single tenderer. I na Rangitikei exchange we notice that the employment registry office in the township of Bulls had to be closed on account of the proprietor being unable to obtain servants —male or female—for his clients. His “ wanted ” advertisements met with no response. And it must be borne in mind that this did not take place during the busiest season of the year. There is not such an absolute dearth of labor in Hawke’s Bay ; but this provincial district could comfortably absorb a few hundred extra hands ; as witness the cry of indignation the other day when it was feared that the City of Auckland’s passengers would stop in Wellington. However, fortunately for the employers of Hawke’s Bay and we believe also for the prospects of the immigrants, they were forwarded to Napier in the Hinemoa on Saturday last, although it must be admitted that everyone of them could readily have obtained employment in Wellington. While on this subject, it may be worth while to allude to what appeared in a Wellington paper about the middle of September. It was stated that there was a considerable number of men in Wellington who were out of employment through no fault of their own, and that enquiries at the several boarding-houses confirmed the statement. In less than a fortnight afterwards an English ship with a large number of both male and female immigrants arrived at Wellington, and within a few days after landing they were all engaged. This will show that the depression in the labor market of the metropolis was of a very temporary character. It was urged that the Government should remove those unable to obtain work in the towns into the country ; but subsequent events have shown that there was little prospect at any time of the dearth of labor in the rural districts being relieved by importations from the towns. What is wanted is a steady stream of immigration from the Old World. Without such the great resources of this colony cannot be developed. To stand still in this stage of progress is to retrograde. It is useless to borrow money to complete the Public YYorks policy, if labor is not introduced to carry them out, and sufficient population established on the soil to make the railways remunerative. It is possible to overdo immigration, as has been the case at one time both in Queensland and Tasmania; but there is not the slightest doubt that New Zealand will be able to absorb thousands of immigrants yearly for a long time to come. The number employed on the jmblic w r orks of the colony at present is comparativelv little, and if there is to be an expenditure on railway construction of close upon six millions during the next four or five years, there must be a large accession to the w orking population of the colony. If not the railways will not only be constructed at a largely increased price, but the employers of labor in the ordinary channels of industry will be be subjected to a ruinous competition on the part of the Government. In that case labor would suffer in the end more than capital. When the railways were completed, it would be found that the resources of the country had not been developed sufficiently to absorb the labor which would then be available. It is universally recognised that the success of the Public Works policy has been largely owing to the systematic introduction of immigrants since the inauguration of the scheme. The question of immigration has almost been lost sight of during the past session. Ministers do not appear to have made it a prominent feature of their policy. It is to be hoped that the cry for more labor which comes from all parts of the colony will quicken the members of the Government to a sense of the importance of the subject. Since writing the above, we learn that Mr. Macandrew gave notice in the House of Representatives last evening that he would move for the establishment of a monthly steam service between England and this colony, the Government guaranteeing one thousand immigrants per trip for five years. If it w r ere only for the purpose of securing a steady flow of immigration, the amount of the subsidy, however large, would be well expended.

Two Mails a Day.—Settlers will be glad to learn that on and after the Ist of November next two mails each way will be despatched daily between the post-offices along the line and Napier. The first mail will close in Waipawa at seven o’clock in the morning, and the second in the afternoop at three o’clock.

Native Lawsuits Bill.—This Bill was thrown out in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, on the motion of Captain Russell, by 47 votes to 21. Tenders.—Tenders are invited by the Waipukurau Road Board for the metalling of about a mile of the new road leading towards Patangata from Waipukurau. The time for tendering will close on the 9th November.

Election Addresses.—lt is notified by advertisement in another column that Mr White and Mr Dillon, the rival candidates for the representation of Patangata in the County Council, wall address the ratepayers of the riding' in the school-room, Kaikora, on Saturday evening next. Entertainment at Waipukurau.—By an advertisement in another column it will be seen that a public entertainment of songs and readings will be held in the Town Hall, Waipukurau, on the evening of Friday, the Bth proximo, on which occasion the local amateurs will be assisted by gentlemen from a distance. Waipawa Cricket Club.—A meeting of the above club will be held to-night at Baker’s Empire Hotel, at half-past seven. The following team have been selected to represent Waipawa in the match with Hampden, which comes off at the latter place on Saturday next :—Messrs Cook, S. O’Connor, Newton, Nicholls, Grenside, Collett, Garnham, Harwood, Inglis, Huff, and Abrahams.

Patangata Riding.—The nominations for the above riding took place at Kaikora on Monday last at noon, Mr Lozell being the Returning Officer. Mr Witlierow proposed Mr Alfred Dillon and Mr Lawrence proposed Mr William White. Those were the only two candidates, and the nominations having been duly seconded, Mr Lozell notified that the election would come off on the 13th November next. From what we can learn there is likely to be a close contest. Lost His Way.—A man, very much the worse of liquor on Friday night last, mistook a private residence in Waipawa for a public house, and insisted upon being admitted. The drink at last overcame him, and he went to sleep. A policemau was sent for, and the man obtained lodgings in the lock-up. He was brought before the Court on Saturday morning (Mr Inglis on the Bench), and was discharged with a caution, the police intimating that they did not desire to press the charge. Lunacy.—William Pathrick, who has been wandering in his mind for some time, attempted to drown himself in the Waipawa river on Sunday last. He was arrested by the police, and brought up before Messrs Rathbone and Inglis, J.P.’s, on Monday, who remanded him for medical examination. Dr Todd and Dr Frood having pronounced Pathrick insane, an order was made by the Bench yesterday that he should be sent to the Lunatic Asylum, Napier, and the unfortunate man left by the train yesterday afternoon in charge of Constable Murphy. A Road Board Row.—A meeting of the Waipawa Road Board was held on Monday evening. As we received no intimation of the meeting we are unable to give a detailed report of the proceedings, but by all accounts they were exceedingly lively, and some strong personalities were indulged in. It is stated that the upshot of the affair was that one member forcibly ejected another from the room, and it is further stated that the ejected one proceeded to Napier yesterday to take legal advice re his compulsory dismissal from the presence of his brother members. As the affair will probably come before the Law Ccurts, in accordance with a known journalistic rule, we refrain from com meat.

Gardening.—We are glad to learn from a most competent authority that the present season so far has been remarkably favorable for garden crops. Green peas, perhaps the most esteemed of all vegetables, were picked by several persons last week. The month of November in previous years was considered very early. This is worthy of note as showing what can be done when people devote their attention in an intelligent manner to the products of the garden. It is to be regretted that many settlers pay little attention to the raising of vegetables. Well-kept gardens not only add a charm to a place, but are exceedingly profitable to their owners.

Waipawa Riding.—Mr Arrow, the Returning Officer for the Waipawa Riding, attended at the Court-house yesterday at noon to receive nominations for the representation of the riding in the County Council. As it was understood that there would be no opposition to Mr Rathbone’s candidature, little or no interest was taken in the proceedings. Mr Bibby proposed that Mr Rathbone was a fit and proper person to represent the riding. This was seconded by Mr Coward, and there being no other candidate brought forward, Mr Arrrow declared Mr Rathbone duly elected. From the first we heard the name of no other applicant for public honors mentioned. The circumstance no doubt shows that Mr Rathbone has done his duty in the past, and fully possesses the confidence of the ratepayers. Still a contest would have done no harm. It would not, we are sure, have resulted in the rejection of the gentleman who has now been returned unopposed. A contested election engenders a more lively interest in public affairs, and that in itself is highly desirable, especially in the North Island, where the apathy of the people in their local government almost nullifies the action of the Legislature.

Robbery from a Store.—No clue has yet been discovered as to the person or persons who broke into Mr Drower’s store Waipukurau, on Monday night week, and abstracted from a cash box five single notes and some silver. We refrained from mentioning the affair at the time, less publicity should defeat the ends of justice by putting the thieves on their guard. It seems to be the prevailing practice here to keep matters of this kind quiet until such times as the offending parties are arrested. In other places, however, it is wisely thought that the fact of a crime being widely known aids the work of detection. In the case of the recent robbery, there is no suspicion attached to any person, and consequently the police, who are entire strangers in the district, are powerless in the As this is ths second robbery which has taken place in the neighborhood, it is evident there is some stray individual with thieving propensities knocking about the eminently respectable township of Waipukurau, and the sooner the police lay their hands on the “ party wanted" the better.

Sheep Destroyf.d by Dogs.—We are informed that Mr Rathbone has lost nineteen sheep within the past few days through being worried by dogs. Owners of dangerous dogs should be aware of the risk they run of being mulcted in heavy damages through -allowing them to roam at large. Bank of N.Z.—By a Press Agency telegram we learn that the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of New Zealand was held at Auckland yesterday. The report shows a net profit for the half year, after providing for bad and doubtful debts, of £83,280 ; balance of undivided profit last half-year £4983 ; total devisable, £88,203. A dividend of fifteen per cent was determined. The reserve fund was increased by £25,000. £BBOO was earned forward. Mischievous Boys.—We hear that a number of young lads in Waipawa amuse themselves by throwing stones at the passing railway trains. The police have been informed of the matter, and intend keeping a sharp look-out. For the sake of the boys themselves, it is to be hoped they will desist from the practice alluded to. The offence is by no means light in the eyes of the law, and if caught they may be punished severely. During the past few weeks several persons have complained of broken windows, caused either purposely or by indiscriminate stonethrowing. Some lads evidently require looking after by their parents.