TRADE TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 527, 30 August 1900, Page 18

TRADE TOPICS.

Mr Sydney Laycock, who has made himself so popular during the time he has had the Ellerslie Hotel, has sold out his interest in that house to Mr A. V. Walden, who takes possession on the sth of next month. Mr Laycock intends taking a trip through the West Coast districts. Last week the European residents in the King Country presented a petition to Parliament stating that prohibition was introduced in the district 15 years ago, but, owing to the absence of hotels, accommodation is not available for travellers, and. the]petitionera believe that it would benefit the whole district if licenses were granted. “ Boxers ” is the name now given to the discontented ones of Mr Seddon’s party in the House. Some of them are strongly opposed to the proposed alteration of the Customs tariff. They already claim two successes, one in competing the Government to take back the Salaries Bill, and bring down more modified proposals, and the other in having brought about the postponement of the Financial Debate.

The Auckland Licensed Victuallers are to be congratulated at having secured the services, as secretary of that body, of Mr A. J. Tapper, the genial host of the Anchor Hotel. In Mr Tapper they have a thoroughly reliable, conscientious worker, and no doubt the presence officially of that popular tenor will add to the harmony that has always characterized the acting in concert of the Auckland Trade.

Mr Seddon stated in the House that the question of relieving local administrative authorities from the burden which they are called upon to bear by reason of the great cost of licensing elections, was a very large one, as to whether the cost should be borne by local authorities or by the Government, and as the local authorities got the money, he thought it was proper that they should pay the cost. If the local bodies would give the Government the license fees, the Government would hear all] the expenses of the elections.

The proposed penny post is intended to apply outside the colony only to countries within, thePostal Union that will reciprocate. It is thought that Great Britain will reciprocate, and also probably Canada and Cape Colony. Natal,, through the Postmaster-General at Pietermaritzburg, has cabled to the Hon J. G. Ward congratulating this colony on the forward step taken, and adding that Natal will reciprocate. Under the tariff proposals of the Government the revenue would suffer to the extent of” £158,253, made up as follows : —Tea, £40,000; currants and raisins, £21,000; kerosene, £41,913 ; rice. 16,809 ; salt, £6318; c ffee, £2182; cocoa, £4774; machinery, £4407; medicines, £BB9O y candles, £7300 ; drugs, £3000; matches, £1750. According to the proposals which the “ Boxers” will submit to the Treasurer, the loss to revenue through tariff re-adjustment would be £143,722,. made up as follows : —Tea, £40,090 ; kerosene, £41,913; currants and raisins (free), £42,000; rice, £16,809; drugs, £3OOO This would leave £14,531 to be further remitted by the Government on articles that cannot be produced in the colony.

Mr Harry Kerr, who shortly enters the ranks of the Trade again as proprietor of the Warkworth Hotel, will no doubt be remembered with pleasure as the late proprietor of the Criterion Hotel Cambridge. The genial Harry is better.-known to the older identities as the most popular Jehu on the road in the old coaching days, before the iron horse ran through and beyond Cambridge. The settlers of Warkworth and surrounding districts may be assured that in Mr and Mrs Kerr they will find a host and hostess, who will leave no stone unturned to provide every comfort for their patrons. In entering business in, to him,| a”new district, Harry|will no doubt be able to avoid participating in the rivalries between other parties, which at the best can only have a detrimental effect on any hotelkeeper. The recent court case, and the cancelling of pew rents in this district, are lessons easily read by any shrewd business man. “ It will probably surprise you,” said a representative of a firm of caterers to an Evening News representative “to learn that there are many waiters in London whose total earnings exceed £5OO a year. But that is the case nevertheless. It is not an uncommon thing for a smart waiter to have four engagements in a day. His first is luncheon, for which the fee is half a guinea, Then he trips off to a reception, for which he gets another fee of from half a guinea to 15s, His next engagement may be a dinner-party, and it is not unusual for him to finish the day by attending at an after-theatre supper table. The fee for dinner or supper varies. It depends to a great extent on the clothes which the waiter has to wear If a lady in the smart set calls for silk stockings and knee-breeches, the waiter’s fee is never less than a guinea, and is usually 255. A waiter frequently earns £3 10s to £4 in a day, and his tips may bring this up to £5. At any rata it only requires two days per week to give £5OO a year, and you can reckon on three full days for the best.” “ Two historic hostelries are about to be brought under the auctioneer’s hammer —the Golden Cross, opposite Charing Cross Station, and the Bell, at Edmonton. Who that has read the “ Pickwick Papers ” does not remember Mr Jingle’s graphic account of the famous arch at the Golden Cross from which the coach started with Mr Pickwick’s pilgrims. This arch is now the hotel entrance, and the lift at the end is on the exact spot where the accident took place. Within the past few years the Golden Cross has been altered and fitted up in a most luxurious style, and it now boasts of one of the finest buffets at the West End of London. It has lately been managed by an Australian, who succeeded in making it quite a colonial rendezvous. The Bel! # at Edmonton, is, of course, famous as the scene of John Gilpin’s start on his famous ride. The old inn, however, has given place to a modern public house, with the result that it is no longer the popular stopping place for excursionists, though many like to examine the spot on their travels. Personally, I think it is altogether a mistake for our historic inns to be pulled down, but as the neighbourhoods in which these are situated grow there seems to be no help but to provide increased accommodation, and this can only be done by rebuilding. I should add that the Golden Cross will be offered by Messrs Douglas, Young and Co, at theiMart, Tokenhouse Yard, on Thursday next, and the Bell by Messrs Belton and Sons at an early date, unless, of course, previously disposed of.—-London L.V.G-

The success of the Peace Celebration social, held on August 7th in the Victoria Hall, under the auspices of the Blenheim Licensed Victuallers’ Association, exceeded all anticipations. and the result of the gathering should be a substantial addition to the funds of the Peace Celebration Committee. The attendance was very large, and the proceedings were of a sociable nature. At the last moment the Hon. J. G. Ward telegraphed his regret that he would be unable to attend The arrangements of the occasion were generally voted to be quite exceptional in their completeness. The general effect of the decorations was particularly pleasing, but it was into the conveniencies and comforts of the social that the Committee had put their best work. The stage was prettily represented as a drawingroom ; the card rooms at the rear were nicely fitted up, and an excellent supper was served up in the marquee outside, which had a boarded floor and was lit up with gas. Mr Vannini’s orchestra supplied the best of music Before the commencement of the second part of the programme brief addresses, appropriate to the occasion, were made by Mr T. O’Leary, President of the Licensed Victuallers Association, and His Wcrship the Mayor. Later on it was announced that a quantity of the material supplied for the supper remained over, and that the Committee had decided to hold a social for the children between the hours of and 8 p.ir. the next day.