LATEST TELEGRAMS

Kumara Times, Issue 1153, 9 June 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS

[united press association.] Christchurch, June 7. A meeting of the unemployed was held this morning, and strong disapprobation expressed at the way in which immigrants were brought- out under false pretences, and as the establishment of a soup kitchen here to make people think they were paupers instead of laying out the money in finding work for idle hands to do. Some very absurd language was used, but one man spoke well and dispassion-t ately, and made out a very strong case. Amongst other things, he had heard a good deal of the Weka Pass works, and had walked 48 miles thither, unknown to any of the men, to see for himself. He found there that rotten tents had been provided for the men to live in ; that with the per day stopped for wood, and other stoppages which the speaker went into in detail, a man who left his wife and family in town (and he could not take them as there was no place on the works fit for women and children to live in) would just he able to send 9d a week out of his 28s he was earning, and this was what Hall called providing for the unemployed—[disapprobation]. A contractor in the Horth Island with less severe weather had erected temporary huts for his men, and if the Government wished to do them good they should have followed that example at Weka Pass.. He stated in conclusion, that he would ask 12 others with himself to,form a comto- eonpu union te. with other large

centres of population to agree to a, petition to the American Government asking them to assist the people to emigrate to that country—-[loud applause], Perhaps when they were gone the Government wonl 1 come to their senses. A committee was then formed to draw up a draft petition. Ti.uaru, June 7. A woman named Mrs Morrison was found drowned in the river near ; Pleasant Point to-day. She is supposed to have been crossing the river and been swept away'. The Tiraaru School Committee tonight declined tp bring- the compulsory clauses of the Education Act into force because the school was already over-? crowded, and it Was doubtful when'' extra accommodation would be provided. Duxedin, June 7. Over 500, persons attended the meriting to-night to consider the Property Tax. , A resolution was carried almost unanimously in favor of the repeal of the tax as being unsuited to the Colony. WelungtoXj Juuc 7. At a meeting, of the Licensed Victuallers’ ‘Association, this day, the new Licensing Bill was discussed, and the following amendments were proposed:— “ Fee to be reduced to £3O, with uniform 11 o’clock licenses; family hotel licenses to be struck ontj as the result would be that sill the' boarding houses would get licenses; clubs to be owned jointly, oy members, and to be under the supervision of'the police; malt liquor not to be sold in less quantities' than five gallons.” It was stated that menP hers of the Legislature supplied tlieir private cellars from Bellamy’s at cost nrice, and a resolution was passed that Bellamy’s should stand in the same posi-' tion as A club. •