INTERPROVINCIAL

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 547, 11 October 1881, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL

THE RAILWAY STRIKE,

Christchurch, October 10.

At eleven o'clock this morning the Premier met at the County Council Offices a deputation of the railway employees connected with the recent strike. The spokesman of the deputation read a written statement containing a list of the grievances already published, winding up by asking that a board of arbitrators should be apappointed to litially settle the dispute, and also the question of wages. In the course of the discussion that followed it was shown, that, "contrary to previously expiosstjd statements, the men had received a reply to their requisition, recommending them to wait for a further reply before taking any rash step. During the interview some of the deputation said they regretted taking this step, and asked to bo allowed to go back. Another f-i'-skor h;m u

that some had made a mistake, and were not prepared for results. A majority, however, would icavß the country. He abked that the cluturo be lemoved from the former, and they be allowed to go buck. In conclusion, the Premier ppoke as follows :— 'An application for t.he reconsideration of the rates of wages would have been received if it had been made beforo you left the service, but it is now out of the question. With regard to your proposal for returning I can hold out no hope whatever. No private or public employer would think of agreeing to such a course. If he could not get good men at the ratea of wages he paid, he would simply have to give more. With regaid to the strike I admit you had the right to take that couiee but I am sorry you did bo. We have lost good men, and I think you havo lost good masters. I may tell you that there is no intention on the part of the Government that you should be permanently excluded from making applicacation for employment when vacancies occur, but of course we cannot discharge new hands, I shall be very sorry indeed if good men leave the country, but we can't keep them here by discharging men who have been taken on. in an emergency.' After promising the men a written reply the deputation withdrew.

PRESENTATION TO MR OLLIVIER. There was a very influential gathering this afternoon at the Oddfellows' Hall to witness the presentation to Mr John Ollivier by the lion J. Hall, on behalf of the people of Canterbury. Eight hundred sovß,, a piece of plate and an address were presented, the occasion being the commemoration of Mr Ollivier's 70th birthday. INCENDIARISM AT ASIIBURTON. Information was received this afternoon from Ashburton, that an incendiary has made a determined attempt thi3 morning to burn down Saunder's buildings, East street. About 4 o'clock ithe incendiary crept up the main stairs leading , to the second floor, with a ran of kerosene, pouring it out all the way along to the end of the corridor. He saturated a bundle of rags and paper, and set fire to them. The Dado burnt briskly, but the smoke awakened Mr Henry, a photographer, who slept on the premises, and he promptly extinguished the fire with a few bucket* of water. Had tliis building gone,, five others must also have been < destroyed. The police havo nn idea the} 7 can bring the guilty party to justioe.