A WORTHY EXAMPLE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 93, 18 April 1872, Page 2

A WORTHY EXAMPLE.

The name of Messrs. Rqnsome, of the Orwell Iron Foundry, Ipswich, Suffolk, is a household word in all parts of the British Empire, for there is no portion of her Majesty's dominions to which their agricultural implements have not penetrated, and husbandry owes much to the mechanical skill and ingenuity fostered by that firm. The Messrs. Kansome employ about 900 men, half of whom have been in their service for an average of twenty years, la November last, a deputation of the men waited on Messrs. Ransome, to request that the day's labor might be reduced to nine hours. The concession was granted with a promptitude which doubled its value. To celebrate it the whole of the workmen united in inviting the members of the firm to a soiree. One of the partners in the firm declared that they and their workmen bad that niphfc formed a new bond of union and friendship, and were about to start upon a new era. He looked forward with pride and satisfaction to the progressive elevation of the men, to their inhabiting better homes, enjoying larger political powers, acquiring increased intelligence, aud attaining, in consequence, a greater amount of happiness. As to the employers, he went on to say " so lo»ig as those who are at the head of a business like their own are actuated by sentiments of truth and justice, both towards their customers and their workmen, so long as they stood shoulder to shoulder, they needed not fear that competition would take away the profits of labor. For remainder of news see fourth page.

. Another of the partners, while affirming his. entire approbation of the nine hours' movement, told his hearers that he regarded a factory as a kind of family, in which the masters were the parents and the workmen were the children ; adding that as they were each dependent on the other, they should all share in the prosperity of the firm. One of the most practical of the speches delivered on the occasion was that made by Mr. Biddell, the manager of the work?, who pointed out very acutely the distinction between workmen and working men. The former made use of their brains, the latter of their hands only. He was of opinion that a greater amouut of superior work is capable of being executed in nine hours than in ten, provided manual labour was directed and instructed by mental capacity. "He did not want them," he said, •' to increase their elbow grease, or to take all the steam out of them, so that they were fit for nothing when they left off work. " Let them put their brains into what they did, and they would find it easier for themselves and more profitable for their employers. In order to increase the leisure available for recreation and culture, he recommended them to take another hour or two from the publichouse.

From Mauritius comes the news that Adelaide butter was sold there at about 37 dollars per 100 lbs., or at about Is. 6d. per lb. This is au excellent pi ice, leaving ao ample margin of profit for the producer. From this fact, and from ne r vs previously published as to the prices realised by preserved butter in India, we cannot but think that the attention of our farmers should be turned to the establishment of n co-operative dairy, by means of which their butter might be shipped to good markets such as tliese without the intervention of the middlemen.— Herald.

The " New York Herald " on a Probable Was. — The Herald of February 17 says : — "Jonathan's bill of damages against, John Bull is creating quite a stir abroad. The latest files of ihe English and continental papers discuss the question at great length. John Bull thinks a three hundred pound shot would change the popular feeling in America. The Irish Fenian wants an opportunity to whip John Bull. An Irish Orangeman thinks Irish Protestants still loyal, as well able to fake care of themselves as they were in Derry in 1688, while an American in a fine vein of sarcastic humor accepts the offer made to have all the fighting on our side done by Irishmen. He says by all means let their offer be accepted ; it would be killing two birds with one stone; America would have so many less of the finest peasantry in the world — a loss which they might possibly survive — and England would have an opportunity of paying off old scores by punishing rebels and serving America at the same time. What a noble army of martyrs they would be. While believing that the English are too much of cowards, it says if Grant should declare war his name would be immortalised for ever both by Americans and Irishmen. Success to the right.

111-treatment of a Child. — The Argus of the 2lst says : — The charge against the Rev. Mr. Abraham and his wife for having ill-treated a child under 14 years of age, was commenced yesterday in the Emerald Hill Police Court. From the evidence giveD, it appears that the defendants obtained a girl named Mary Jane CJarlton as servaut from the Industrial School early in January, 1871. According to the child's statement she was well treated at first, but after being some months at Mornington, where the defendants resided, 1 Mr. and Mrs. Abraham began to illuse her, frequently beating her about the head. Her ears swelled from the effects of these beatings, and after a time she became deaf in the right ear. On one occasion, Mrs. Abraham threw boiling waiter over her, and scalded her forehead and. ghands. The defendants afterwards removed to Emerald Hill, and there the girl stated that Mrs. Abraham beat her with an axehandle on one occasion, and threw a flat iron at her on another. The girl was cress-examined with extreme severity by Mr. Wisewould, who appeared for the defendants, but though much frightened and rendered doubtful about some portions of her narrative, she never varied in her description of the assaults. On the Bth of the present month the child ran back to the schools, and was followed by Mr. Abraham who took her away again. The same evenfng Mr. Durbss removed her from Mr. CJAbrahatn's house. When brought back to the schools, she was examined by .tbe medical officer, and" found to be covered with | bruises of a very : severe character.' $fie waa-ajsain a very sickly condition. Though only five 1 witnesses were examinedf the case- occupied £he whole day,.;»na ois. there was. ricr prospect of terminating ;:it that day, the further bearing was postponed until' Wednesday; [Tftie? prisoners have since' 'been committed for trial]. s

Husband- Selling baa been inaugurated in Adair County by a Mrs. Alexander, who recently offered to "swap" htr husband for a sewing-machine. Multiply 2 bushels, 3 peeks, and 1 quart by 24 rods 6 feet and 2 inches, add 10, pounds, 2 ounces, and one grain, and see if you can lift it without straining yourself. If you pass along by a front gate at, ten o'clock at night autl see a yourg couple, and hear a smack like a horse pulling his hoof out of the mud, the proper course to pursue is lo go right along about your rpgular business, and let nature take its course. There is a wicked story sometimes told in quiet country parsonages of a class of boys who had been taught to repeat the Creed phrase about. One day, on being put through tli is performance, a bny got misplaced ; and, when the gentleman was surprised by the cuiious jumble thus produced, one of (he scholars volunteered an explanation — "Please, sir, it's all that boys fault. I atn the boy as believes in the Holy Catholic Church, but that boy there, it's him that believes in the Life Everlasting, Amen/ Love us' Verses in the Visitors' Book at Niagara. — One thus records his experience : — '•On Tiible Boc-k we dil embrace, And then we stood loth face to face ; The moon was up, the wind was high, I look'd at she, and the at I." Language failed him after this effort, and he could say uo more. The next gentleman must have had a- difference with his lady-love ; at all events, he eases his mind by a profound reflection : — '• Great is the myslerj 's of Niagara's water?, . • But more mysterious still are some men's daughters." Another swain, deeply enamoured, but more of a wag than a poet, writes from his heart, and with a daring rhyme : — "Next to the bli-s of seeing Farah, Is that of seeing Ni a-ga-ra."