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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3799, 8 May 1873, Page 2

Labor-saving appliances are the order of the day. Messrs Tonks and Beck's ship Wellington is being fitted-up with a stationary donkey-engine similar to that which was so much admired on the Brechin Castle. No doubt the enterprising owners of the Wellington will soon reap an advantage from the employment of such a useful piece of machinery, especially in these days of well-paid manual labor. ' The dispute between the journeymen tailors and their employers still coutinu es. Each side claims, as a matter of course, to have justice on its side, but unless some practical mode of solving the knotty point in dispute be hit upon the strike may drag on for an indefinite period, and be productive of a serious mutual loss ; or it may lead to the development of a phase of business now becoming very popular all over the world, that is, the co-operative system. There is certainly nothing to prevent the journeymen tailors of Wellington becoming their own masters and executing work for the public without the aid of any intermediate party. If the master tailors have hitherto been making an undue profit out of the labor of their I employes, then is there ample ind\icement for the employe to become at once master and workman. On the other hand, if the journeymen are making preposterous demands from their employers, putting their own desires to a practical test will open their eyes as to what is or is not a fair remuneration. Without any desire to uphold either the one or the other of the two classes of disputants, we cannot help observing, what no doubt has been often remarked by many more, that the tailoring business appears to thrive in Wellington. Every month the shops of that branch of trade appear tobecomo more numerous and better appointed than they were a year or two ago, and occupy the most expensive frontages in the town. The stocks inside of them too are generally large and recherche in the style of goods. Neither do the men themselves seem as if they have been utterly crushed by long hours and low wages. Generally their ouWard garb is intensely respectable, and the wearers exhibit a comfortable and selfsatisfied look. As none but the tailors themselves will be put to any very serious inconvenience by this strike it is to be hoped that for their own sakes they may agree to reconsider matters — say by a committee formed of half-a-dozen employers and aliko number of journeymen. It would be •id indeed if a mutually satisfactory solution were not evolved out of such a consultation. The College Governors and the Hospital Trustees met yesterday at the Provincial

! Government Buildings, there being present his Honor the Superintendent, the Mayor, Messrs W. W. Taylor, Gisborne, Brandon, Johnston, and Travers. The report as to the leasing of the reserves, &c, was brought up and agreed to, with the exception of the term of leases, which are to be twenty-one years, with the right of extension for another twenty-one years at an advance of 50 per cent. The Solicitor of the Board was instructed to prepare the necessary documents. The Chairman was instructed to write to the Chancellor of the University informing him that steps were being taken for having a course of lectures in terms of the affiliation grant from the University. Mr Tox ward's plans for the new College Buildings were brought up, but the discussion upon them Avas postponed until the production of modified plans at the next meeting. A meeting of the Football Club will be held at Donecker's Union Hotel this evening at half-past seven. The new engine recently fitted up by Messrs Jackson and Graham has been available in a new direction. While it pressed cargo for the Glenlora it also afforded motive power for the unloading of the St Andrew's Castle. This will be found to be a great convenience. The diorama is evidently going to have its day in Wellington. A capital gathering assembled at the Odd Fellows' Hall last evening, and there were not wanting those signs of satisfaction which unerringly indicate that a few good houses will still afford a cheerful encouragement to the valuable and self-possessed lecturer of the really excellent show. The entertainment is divided into three parts, with short intervals between, during which Mr Frank Milburn's comic songs form an acceptable diversion. The scenic and mechanical effects last night were excellent, and the sudden blowing up of the Bridge of Kehl was sufficiently natural to startle a great many, A conspicuoiis feature in the audience was the number of Maoris, and much amusement was created by their expressions of surprise and pleasure at the representations of a grim-visaged war and scenes entirely new to them. A very agreeable part of the entertainment is the excellent style in which Mr Francis accompanies on the piano. A mid-day performance is announced for Saturday, which will afford an excellent opportunity for juveniles generally to enjoy a description of entertainment which to them is always a great treat. It may be mentioned that the price of admission to the front seats has been reduced a shilling. Sheridan Knowles' great play of the Hunchback was produced for the first (and we hope not the last) time at the Theatre Royal last evening, and, notwithstanding the great merits of this piece, the house was not so full as we should have expected, or the acting deserves. Miss Colville's impersonation of the heroine, as well as the Master Walter of Mr Steele, was a great treat ; and in the last scene of the 2nd act and the first scene of the 3rd act both artists were warmly applauded and once called before the curtain. Mr Douglas appeared to advantage as Sir Thomas Clifford, and in tlie 4th act, as the discarded lover, and Secretary to Lord Tinsel, this young actor fairly earned the awarded applause. The Modus of Mr Booth, and Fathom of Mr Howard were exceedingly good, and the same may be said of the Helen of Mrs Howard. We cannot conclude this notice without adverting to the shortness of the intermission last evening between the several acts, a change which the audience evidently appreciated. Belphegor is to bs repeated again this evening, and Monf . Fleury will again take his place as leader of the orchestra, he having arrived from Duneclin yesterday under engagement for the occasion. The Borough Council meets to-day at four o'clock, when doubtless the plans for civic drainage will receive some attention. The settlers of the township of Carnarvon have chosen a site for a schoolhouse, and are determined to have one erected. By an oversight the letter from the master tailors of this city was left over yesterday. Yesterday being Hutt visiting day, Mr Crawford did not take his place upon the Bench. The only cases that presented themselves were a trio whose potations had been too much for them. W. Lyon, Esq, J.P., who occupied the Bench, fined John Holland ten shillings, with the option of forty-eight hours' imprisonment. Patrick M'Cafferty and Nicholas Farren were fined five shillings, or the alternanative of twenty-four hours' imprisonment, jj : innii The British Australian Telegraph Company (Limited) transmitted the following telegrams during the week ending April sth : — New Zealand sent 9 and received 3 ; South Australia sent 18, received 8 ; Victoria sent 20, received 34 ; New South AVales sent 19, received 14 ; Queensland received 3 ; Tasmania sent 2 ; the total number being 130. Dui-ing the week ending April there were 127 messages transmitted, which were apportioned amongst the colonies as follows : — New Zealand sent 4 and received 5 ; South Australia sent 5, received 5 ; Victoria sent 26, received 38 ; Now South Wales sent 22, received 18 ; Queensland sent 4. The Auckland correspondent of the " Hawke's Bay Herald" says that some of the bitterest opponents of the present administration of native affairs are men who, by underhand means, have repeatedly tried to force the opening of Ohineninri, in order that their land sharking schemes may succeed. The latest of those attempts was made last week, and like all the other efforts referred to, it was a failure, and needed no record were it not evident that these miserable plots further postpone indefinitely the unlocking and consequent settlement of Ohinemuri. It is not too much to say that but for the would-be monopolists, the Native Office long ere this could have succeeded in filling that country with several thousand bona fide diggers. At present it is well known that native land agents and qviasi or ex-native officials thwart the G<.V vernment at every turn, so far as lies in their power.