OUR WAIRARAPA LETTER.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 87, 6 November 1880, Page 3

OUR WAIRARAPA LETTER.

OI7R OWN CO«ItEdPOXDEJfT] G-kettovvn, October 25th, 1880. It is with regret I have to report that the dulness of the times is still keenly felt here, and m saving so must confess myself not a little disappointed, for we had, one and all, felt and hoped that business matters wowld mend with the incoming spring. But disappointments will come, and w« must learn to submit to them. This part of the country is well paraded with unemoloyed men, who seek, or pretend to seek work ; buf- many if whom will not lake work when offered them. They prefer going on their pedestrian tour, annoying people with fchpir repeated applications for food or money. A gentleman at JTeatherston the other day, had several of this class of men call on him. Ha offered some of them work at 4s par day, which they indignantly refused, saying they never did, nor do they intend now working for less than Bs. One man who said he had tramped from Napier m search of work, was offered a very light job at 15s per week and found, which he refused. This class of people who will not work at any price, make it very hard fop a really honest man who does desire to eava a. respectable living, because people are now growing|tired of seeing such people, and will therefore have nothing to do with them. ; " ' A start at the Featherston coal mines will be made m the course of a few days. Messrs. M'Shane and Taber have canvassed the district for subscribers to the prospecting fun'} .with great success, and s sufficient sum will, by these means be raised to enable the association to make a thorough practical test of the value of the mine. :In consequence of the G-overnment subsidies to the Charitable Institutions, as well ai to other local bodies being discontinued, the managing committees of the two Wairarapa Hospitals have issued circulars to all employers of labor, requeuing them before employing any men, to collect from them the sum of 5s per annum, towards the support of the Hospitals ; and which sum would then entitle them to free maintenance m the Hospital m case of need. On the other hand non-subscriber* would be required to pay the su«n of 2Qg per week whilst m the Hospital. The following question was last week propounded to the Editor of the Standard : — "Will you kindly inform me if another special privilege of a M.H.R. is the carriage of all goods, stores, &c, belonging to him,.se,lf (and for aught we know his friends \ ali|o} on the N. Z. Railways free of charge. j This, has been done on the Wellington--1 Featherston line." The question was answered m the following commendable manner:— *,', The best plan, if such a thing has. taken place, as is here complained is for those who have a knowledge of the facts to tell all they know on the subject to Mr. AsbcTofk ... Any information showing how tfye Minister "for. Bubjjc 'Works conducts the rat? ways of the Colony is especially valuable at the 'present tim'e.— : Ed. W". i." The pep.ple have good' cause, for complaint where they see such as this being done. If a storekeeper, or any other person requires anything conveyed by railway, he has to pay to -the half -penny , and I fail to see, with the. Featherston people why this autocratic M.H.R, who has chosen to take up his abode m ths,t townihip, should not be exposed for such acts, m so doing. Tbe gentleman complained of is he who a short time, ago m Parliament, turned his back upon Sir Greorga Grey, whom he wai pledged to support, and announced himself a supporter of Hall and Co., evidently with the idea of getting a portfolio by so doiq», however, m this j little game he was frustrated. Now funds being low is obliged to take up a poor country residence, and get bis goods conveyed thither for nothing if possible.