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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 440, 22 November 1866, Page 2

A Want Supplied.— The p.s. Sturt, which arrived here from Wellington early yesterday morning, was the bearer of, we understand, some 200 stand of arms, among which are some 80 carbines. Thus a want has been supplied, the consequence of which will he, the addition of some 40 or 50 more armed men to our little colonial army. Napiee Rule Volhnteees.—As our readers are aware this corps has during the last fortnight, been undergding a course of training. Last evening, some 15 or 20 only put iu an appearance. They fell in, and were almost immediately after dismissed, the high wind and perfect showers of dust rendering anything like drilling out of the question. This evening they again parade for the last time at present; and it is to bo hoped that wind and weather permitting, there will be a good muster. Wholesale Evictions in the City op London.—A very distressing scene was witnessed on the 14th August ia the Sheriffs’ Court, before the Common-Sergeant. More than twenty ejectment summonses were taken out against poor laborers and women and families who lived in lower UnionCourt, Holborn-hill, and defendants attended to dispute them. Mr Fidge, the landlord, deposed that the premises in which these poor creatures lived were required by the corporation for city improvements. He had given his tenants due notice of this, but they refused to leave, on the plea that they had nowhere else to go. Ho had no fault to find with any of the tenants, who had always paid their way and conducted themselves properly.—The defendants, each answering to his or her name, appeared to have been in the greatest distress at being turned out of their homes. One young laborer said “If I am turned out I don’t know where I can go. I hare a wife and t.'.reo children, and have walked many miles looking for a place. I cannot afford to give much rent, and now that the cholera is so much about people will not take us in. There is another thing, too ; I work for the Sewers Commissioners, and of course people will object to my brooms.” —llls Lordship said he was sorry for the defendant, but he must go out in ten days.—-Defendant: I don’t know what to do. His Lordship remarked that great efforts were being made to provide, houses for the poor, and he hoped proper accommodation would soon be afforded to them.—An elderly man here came forward, and said lie had lived in tho court some years. It was all very well to say they must leave, but where could they go if they could find no places. Rents of rooms were now nearly doubled, and how the poor were to get on he did not know.—His Lordship confessed that all this was very painful, but the law must be carried out.—A tidy-looking old woman was the next defendant, and she said she had lived in the Court 25 years, and had kept a mangle during the whole of that period. It was extremely hard that she should bo turned out now for nothing at all, and if she had to leave shot would certainly be ruined.—His lordship asked the plaintiff if tho corporation had not given any compensation to the defendants. Ho thought sometimes under these circumstances a small compensation was given.—Mr Fidge did not think any had been given in this instance. He had not heard of any.—His Lordship, after hearing all the defendants had to say, observed that he really felt very sorry for them, but they must go out, as the property was required for a great public improvement. The usual ten-day ejectment-order was then made, and the defendants left the Court in a wretchedly disconsolate manner. It is felt that there will be very great difficulty in removing these poor creatures, the usual course being in the event of tenants not leaving at the expiration of the time given by the Court to turn the things into the street.—News of the World. Fall in the Peice of Flohe.— The Sydney Morning Herald thus commences its leading article of the 31st ult.:—The immense reduction ia the price of flour will, of course, tell upon the agricultural producer, and offer for the time but a very discouraging market. It must, however, ba recollected, that depression is one of the stages through which trade in all articles of great consumption is often passing, where markets are so limited, and where miscalculations are so easy. For several years the price of flour has been high. Previous to the last year it would have reached a famine price but for the large importations. Aa it was, it offered a margin for speculation extremely seductive. Rut the effect of high prices is almost uniform. There has been little accommodation for ships in general commerce. Tho ports of South America and San Francisco were crowded with vessels, all prepared to supply tho large apparent demand likely to spring up. Had the harvests of the colonies been unpropitious, the speculation would have been highly successful. At the same time an immense benefit would have been conferred upon the population, who instead of languishing in misery, and consuming all their earnings in bread, would have been kept at any rate well supplied, although at an enhanced price. A population, whoso subsistence depends chiefly on pastoral pursuits, or mining enterprise, cannot afford to pay a high price for bread, although it may incidentally advance the welfare of one section of the community. We see that the lowest quotation for flour of a fine quality was on Saturday last £lO 17s 6d. Such a price must leave an enormous loss to importers. Flour l cannot be procured at that price, even in the countries from which it is imported. Consequently aU the intermediate expenses are a sacrifice. A great benefit, however, is conferred upon the consumer.