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Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 880, 2 May 1903, Page 4

A correspondent of the Daily News recently gave a pathetic account of the position of Bethesda, where Lord Penrhyn’s quarrymen have been on striko for so many months. “What Lord Penrhyn cannot himself accomplish, famine may achieve,’ 1 says the correspondent. “ The quarrymen have been immensely encouraged by the help which has reached Bethesda from all over the country. But that help will have to be enormously increased if the men who are keeping the flag of industrial independence flying here are not to bo starved out. I have spent tbo last few days in visiting the homes of the people. I have found a mass of quiet, silent suffering, suffering which finds little surface expression. One may search the streets of Bethesda and never chance on an ill-clad figure. But in the little slate cottages set in rows up the mountain side, I have witnessed somo heartrending scones.” So far, the men have stiown no disposition to surrender, but another winter is before them, and every little child is “ a recruiting sergeant for Lord Penrhyn.” The strikers have been calculating their chances of holding out. In October, 1900, when the quarries wero working, they gave employment to some 2800 men, of whom IOUO wore quarrymen and the rest laborers. This was in tho off season, and the general average of hands employed lhad been 8500. At present Lord Penrhyn has only 920 men at work, not more than 450 being skilled quarrymen. Obviously, this position cannot be satisfactory to Lord Penrhyn, but he is much better able to face the winter than aro the unfortunate men who are standing out for tho rights of organised labor. It is estimated that a surrender of 200 men would put an end to tho conflict and give Lord Penrhyn a complete victory, and the efforts of the workers’ leaders aro concentrated on the prevention of such a development. The men receive 10s a week strike pay, a pitiably inadequate sum, and appeals are being made to the public for help for the women and children.

“ Tho street widening scheme of the Wellington City Council has cost up to date a pum just under 000,” said the president of the Ratepayers’ Association recently. 1 It looks to me,” remarked a membeV, “ that with the Town Hall and other schemes on hand, the Council will have to come to the ratepayers for another j£200,000 loan.”

The bulk of the flying foxes which have been such a pest in the Penrith district, New South Wales, have disappeared in consequence of their hp.viug cleared the orchards so completely of fruit that there is little or none of their favorite food remaining. Not a few only, but all the fruitgrowers in the district have been serious losers from tho ravages of the pest.

A very succulent weed, knowD as corn spuvr, or yarr, which grows about Ift in height, is at present infesting many fields in this district (reports the Wairarapa Leader). In Europe it is grown as a special herb, but in England and New Zealand it has been found dangerous and injurious to pastures, and, in addition, it tends to materially’ reduce the yields of cereals.

As an instance of Mr Kingston’s castiron method of administering the Commonwealth Customs Act, it is said that even when a merchant himself pointed out to the Customs Department that he had made an error and accidentally defrauded the revenue, he was not allowed to refund the amount without first appearing in the Police Court,