TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1890. Eight Hours Bill.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 20 May 1890, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1890. Eight Hours Bill.

*, So much is being said about the necessit)' of an Eight Hours Bill, that the opinion of Mr Bradlaugh, on the sainu question, will prove inter eating. In the " Fortnightly Review " he thus sums vp — (a) That Parliament should only interfere in industrial pursuits of adults where necessary to protect life or limb (including in this sanitary legislation) ; (3) That no such general necessity exists in connection with the hours of adult labour ; (c) That though the shortest hours of labour consistent with profit are iv all cases desirable, Parliament is not the fittest tribunal to ascertain what number of hours is most desir able in any given industry; (d) No general hard-and fast line can be applied alike to all industries, or even to one and the same industry, under different conditions ; («) That the shortening of the hours of laoour should be effected in each industry by mutual arrangement between the employers and the employed ; (/ ) Chat a dissentient minority of workers ought not to be subjected to legal penalty for refusing to accept the decision of the majority ; [g) That when the workmen are well organised no statute is needed to fix their hours of labour; (A) That where the workmen are not organ ised they do not deserve . statutory aid, nor will it really help them ; (»") That the imposition of a statutory limit may be fatal to many home industries ; (j) That the industrial wealth of this country has been in the main part created, and the condition of our workers ameliorated, since the repeal of the old statutes fixing hours of labour and imposing restrictions on the labourer; (k) That the grandeur of our country in the line of industry, has been achieved without the sta?u tarj regulation now sought ; (/) That

this demand for an Eight Hourß Pill is only part of a growing tendency to look to the Legislature or to the Executive Government to supply immediate remedies for evils wh eh can only be alleviated by persistent individual exertion ; (/«) That sucti legislation is weakening to, if not destructive of, the self-reliance for which this country has been famous. I shall therefore by pen, speech, aud vote oppose any Eight Hours Bill for adults

Last Saturday an ambitious Aboriginal attempt to race the Government railway — a most will attempt when it is remem bered the rate they travel — and in crossing the road bridge, the horse became convinced of its folly and therefore jumped the handrail aud precipated itself and rider into the O^-oua river. The horse was killed outright, but the rider Buffered little inconvenience. The Committee appointed at the last meeting of the Hemp Millers Association to discuss Mr Gardner's scheme for a Grading company, met yesterday morning, when it was decided to issue a prospectus to each member of the Association and request them to meet early and go fully into the question. We understand that it is Mr J. G. Wilson's intention to address his constituents in this town, next week. A good feeder who can . attend to the stripper is wanted at the Waverley hemp mill. The s.s. Kennedy on her last trip here brought over a consignment of Californian quail from Nelson. These are most delicious little birds, when properly cooked and served on hot buttered toast. We can recommend them highly. Last week as Mr (rower was bringing in a mob of cattle from Carnarvon, he had the inisfortuna to get a large buPoc swamped in the treacherous piece of ground near the 4 mile peg. This piece of road needs fencing. Mr William J. Ferguson is requested to communicate with his mother. We are glad to learn that Mr Greig has purchased the plant of the Eclipse mill, and will, under a more auspicious name, commence working in about three weeks time. We wish i\Jr Greig better luck than his predecessors have experienced. Another item ol hemp news is the intended issolution of the firm of Messrs Walden Brothers. Mr John Walden being the retiring partner. The rates and concessions made on the railway for the Queen's Birthday are notified in another column. The first drainage contract, in connection with the Kai/ausa drainage disaict, -is now open for tender. Drawings and specifications can be seen at the Public Works Office, Palmerston North. In another column the Surveyor-General gives notice that Scott's Ferry, at the mouth of the Eangitikei River, has been placed under the control of the Manawatu County Council. " lolanthe," in her letter to the Christchurch Weekly Preis, says : — " There is considerable discussion oegining about the candidates for the va r :ious parliamentary seats. It is probable that Sir Walter Buller may again contest the Manawatu seat with Mr J. G. Wilson." Walter Clayton Brown, who was arrested in Wellington on a charge of wife desertion was brought before the Resident Magistrate at Napier. He was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, and to find heavy bond for the payment of £1 a week, or in default four months imprisonment. At the Royal Colonial Institute Sir Charles Dike referred to Australia as the safest part of the Empire, aud relatively the best prepared for war. The Westport coal mines, he thought, ought to be de # fended. Sir Walter Bul'er huencls to stp.rfc his sons in business in Wellington as lawyers. The Flyger v. McNeil will case came (o a close, so far as evidence is concerned, on Thursday says the Chronii'k after a hearing of 20 days. On Wednesday, Mr Brker called rebutting evidence, putting iv the box Mr and Mrs Flyger, Mr McDougull and Mr A. Hannah, who denied several of the assertions made by witnesses on the other side, more particularly as to the evidence given by the Rev. Mr Wright and D. M. Hanna. After the evidence was ooncluded Mr Baker asked that the case be referred to Wellington for further consideration, and said that he might be abJe to put forward important evidence as to the Spice letters, regarding which the other side had made assertions to the effect that they had annoyed McNeil, and so induced him to leave them out of the will. His Honour then declared the evidence closed, the counsel agreeing to argue the question in Wellington. It is Btated that the 'oss on catile exported from the United States to England during the early part of last win er amounted to L 2 or L 3 a head to the ■nippers. Among the passengers who sailed for London by the H. M. S. Tongariro from Lyttelton last Thursday afternoon were the Dean of Christchurch and Mrs Jacobs, Mr and Mrs J. Prouse and family, and Mr and MrsF. W. Frankland. Persons are cautioned against removing anything from the Oriko mill or premises. We are sorry to learn that the railway employes down South have voted in favour of extreme measures being taken in the avent of the Bailway Commissioners not complying with their wishes. They knew how to run races in the Chatham Islands. The condition of one event — the Medley Race — were : — Jockeys start with their saddles off their horses ; after the start to saddle-up and go halfway round, tlien to dismount and turn their coats inside out and remount, and 50 yards from the winning post to dismount and turn their coats right side out and win. In another race it was stipulated that the jockeys were to dismount 50 yards from home and run in on foot, leading their horses. The Shaw Savill and Albion Company have in contemplation the building of two extra cargo steamers to carry 30,000 carcasses of mutton and 0,000 bales of wool each, besides a large quantity of dairy produce. These will be specially constructed for the requirements of Oamaru, Tiniaru, and the Bluff. What a contrast to the action of some young couples, does the following story (said to authentic.) A certain Russian nobleman visiting Paris was noticed to be constantly plunged in deep sadness. He wore on the linger a remarkable ring, large enough for a bracelet and which extended over his hand .like a buckler for the ring finger. It was of a greenish colour, and was traversed by red veins. It attracted the attention of everyone, but no one was bold enough to interrogate the mysterous sirang'.T, until one day a lady meeting him in pnViiic, venturfd to say, " You wear a very handsome ring." The Russian made & movement as though he would conceal

his hand, but that Reeling gave way to a desire to unburden himself. "It is not a ring," he answered, " but a sepulchre !" A shudder passed through the whole company; "This Jewel," he continued, "is J»y wife. I had the misfortune to lose »ier some years siuce in Russia. Sue wp.a an Italian, and dreaded the icy bed which awaited her after this life. I carried her to Germaiiyj where I was acquainted with a delegated clieitoist, whom I directed to iiiake of the body a solid substance which I could carry about with me. Eight days after he scut for me and showed me the empty coffin, and a horrid collection of instruments and alembics. This jewel was lying on the table. He had through means of some corrosive substance, reduced and compressed thn* which was my wife into this jewel, which shall neve. 1 more leave me." Australia is likely, before many years, to have no kangaroos except in its museums. The chief objection to the adoption of nieasu.-es for the effectual protection of the marsupial is his vigorous appetite. One kangaroo is said to consume as much giasa as six sheeep, a fact to which sheep-far-mers are painfully alive. It is said, howeve:-, tliat if the kangaroo is likely to be exterminated, a new introduction — the v.'ild biiffplo— has found a home in the plains of Northern Australia, where it is now to be met with in vast herds. These animals, which are said to be of extraordinary size, and io possess splendid horns, jvc, apparently, the descendants of the first buffaloes which were landed at Port Essingioa, in NoVth Australia, about the year 1829. A drover was driving a flock of sheep from StaweU to Hamilton, says a correspondent of the Melbourne L ade.r, whej grasshoppers in millions passed over. The sheep greedily devoiv/ec! all within their reach, and appeared to be greatly delighted with \Wiat they evidejtly considered a dainty repast. Messrs Noble Campbell & Co., says the Press, have received from the Maaawatu District p. consignment of sides of bacon of really phenomenal size. There was altogether Iweaty sides, and not one of them weigh less t.iau 2«wt, and many of them weigh almost Hcwt, tiad are a foot ia thickness. In Florida a band of Mormons was mobbed by the populace and driven into a swamp, where ujey perished. A<?di;ional punislnne it, in the shape of a soum 1 flogging, was dealt out w he female converts. The scu'ling race be .reen P. Kemp and J. McLean, for £200 a-side and the c ia..ipionship of the world was rowed on the afternoon of the 15th on the Parramatta Pviver. Kemp was the favourite. Both men gripped water together, and Kemp, with a stroke ol 41, slightly lead his opponent, who was pulling the same stroke. A great race took place to Uhr's Point, where Kemp took a leading position, and, crossing o»'er to the be?.con, he increased his advantage to two lengths, McLean at this ti ne was dipping deeply and pulling p jerky stroke. Kemp shot the mile-post in 6mia 16sec, and t.ie race at this time was one of the greatest ever rowed on the rive. 1 . Crossing at Putney, the champion gained another length, and here McLean made p, brilliant spurt, but was unable to reduce the gap, and Kemp with the greatest ease maintained his advantage and won as he liked by six lengths. Time, 21min 46f sec McLean rowed a very plucky race. W. C. McPherson, a Sydney athlete, can 220 yards in 23sec, which is equal to two yards under the world's amateur records. At New York W. Murphy, of New Zealand, has received the. belt as light-weight champion of the world. Allan Wight, who was engaged by the Government to report on phylloxera in Whangarei, says he only saw traces of t!;e blight on two vines growing close together, which were at once destroyed by the owaei-. The vinery is three miles distant from any other, and he is of opinion that there is no immediate danger. Hatriek and Co.'s grain store on Taupo quay Wanganni caught fire on the 15th and was gutted. A thousand sacks of grain, with a large lot of grass seed, hay, si,raw, and chaff, was destroyed, out the f jont potion is intact. The insurances are as follow : On the stock ; Nortaern, £400 ; London and Lancashire, JS4OO; Phcenix, £200 ; olonial, L3OO. On the macln.ievy ; Colonial, L 100; and on the building, New Zealand, L4OO. Mr Hatriek eaii.naLes his loss over insurance at about LIOOO. Cyan ow-er -in Council sliais, vrcaseis, and mongoose are protected. The Government offices will be closed on Monday, tJe 26th instant, ia honour of tue Queen's birthday. Notice is given in the Gazette that while dredging operations are piooeecliug at G.'evmouth the following signals will be shown on the dredge : — On the side ol the dredge thai, all vessels should pass, a red flag v.Tll be shown by day aud a red light by night : a white light will also be shown on ilie bi( ; e opposite to the red light. Masters o " steamers passing the dredge at night are requested to stop their eu^ines when practicable, iv order to avoid fou : ing moorings.