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Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1053, 21 November 1903, Page 4

The Agency-General is adopting a new departure in the shape of illustrated advertisements of land ppen for settlement in the colony. Pictures of New Zealand’s hot spriugs and geysers, and picturesque but grim looking tattooed Maori chiefs, may attract the tourist, but they are apt to inspire misgivings in the English rustic mind. The Would-be emigrant, with but a shadowy knowledge of the colony, thinks of New Zealand rather as a land of wonders than a land of plenty when he gazes on tbeso pictures, and for that reason it doesn’t appeal to him as otherwise it might. So Mr Kennaway has had nn advertisement prepared with a heading: “ Two million acres of farm-land open for settlement,” and illustrated with pictures of a harvesting scene in Otago, a Waikato creamery, the wheat-lands of South Canterbury, and so forth. These will convey to English eyes an idea of the agricultural resources of New Zealand—a feature which tho usual tourist placards and pictures are calculated to overshadow.

A former resident of Christchurch writes as follows in regard to South Africa : In the first place, I should strongly advise carpenters, bricklayers, painters, and plumbers to keep strictly away from here, as the place is simply over-run with them, carpenters in particular. You will understand when I tell you that all the building here is done with bricks, that there is not a great lot of work for a carpenter, compared with the houses that you are building in Christchurch. As regards bricklayers, there are too many here now, and those that are here would suffice if things got busy. The paintiDg and plumbing trades are employing a lot of colored labor,

and tradesman are only required to do tbe special jobs iu these trades. In the plastering trade thiDgs are fairly good, although wo have a big strike on in Durban, and I expect by the time this epistle will have reached tho Post Office that the wholo of tho trade in Durban, Bloemfontein, Maritzburg, Pretoria, and Kimberley will be on strike. Tho reason of this is that owing to tho slackness of trade, the masters have given notice of a reduction in wages of a shilling per day, and the mon will not accept the reduction. Business all over the country is very bad, aud I think will continue so for some time to come. Tho general opinion is that business will be very flat until the labor question is settled. Living is very dear and houso rents are very high. If things continue as they are at present, there will be a lot of people going back to Australia and New Zealand. Tho s.s. Essex is lying here now, and can get a full passenger list to these ports, and all Australian boats can got full passenger lists buck homo again.

Additional particulars concerning tbe wreck of tho Northern Monarch are given in the Normanby Star: The Northern Monarch left Newcastle on October 24th, and was bound for Callao, Peru, The usual course for sailing vessels is round Stewart Island, but owing to stress of weather Capt. Nixon decided .to make the voyage round the north. After some distance bad been traversed, the winds became again unfavorable aud the course was altered so as to beat through Cook Straits. At four o’clock on Saturday morning land could be plainly seen from the deck and at twenty minutes to seven the vessel was a helpless wreck. At the time of the accident, the first officer, Mr C. M. Evans, was in chargo, and the vessel had then, it appears, been hugging the coast for some time. The morning was delightfully clear, and a gentle breeze was blowing from the land. The barque was making about five knots an hour when she struck, and tbe crunching of the iron plates against the rocks told too plainly the extent of the damage. The Northern Monarch Sounded on, striking again and agaffi, tbe sides and bottom being torn against the reef. After ten minutes bumping the vessel appeared to become jammed between two sections of the rock, and her course was immediately arrested. Presently she began to settle down. Meanwhile all on board was commotion. The masts creaked ominously and every moment the great bars were expected to fall, bringing death and destruction to those underneath. Quickly the ropes that held the sails were slipped and the canvas flapped and cracked in the wind. A few minutes afterwards the hold was sounded ; it contained nine feet of water. 11 Stand by the boats ” was the officer’s order. Amongst those who made for the boats was one who had not previously appeared on board, aud whoso name did not appear on the ship’s register. He was a young man of about thirty years of age—a stowaway. The crow and passengers reached tho land in safety. The barque subsequently became a total wreck.