CALIFORNIA.

Southland Times, Issue 1321, 14 October 1870, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

A contemporary has been favored with permission to make the following extracts from a private letter, received per last ' mail, from San Jose, St. Clara County, California, under date Aug. 7th: — " Everything is so dreadfully bad here that there is no chance of obtaining employment. There is great suffering and want among those of the laboring classes who are outside trade-unions. These trade- unions are a great curse. Society here is altogether out of joint. The people here boast of their freedom and free institutions, but those institutions are corruptly worked. From the seat of justice downward, they are all demoralised. I am heartily sick of tlie country and people.," "Sou in New Zealand don'c know how to value the privileges of your free country. The States are in the same position as New Zealand ; — every branch of trade overdone and at a standstill. Artisans have acted very foolishly by refusing to work over eight hours per day, and capitalists have sealed ! up their money bags ; consequently, all building and improvements are stopped. The* reserve funds of the Union are getting low, through the heavy drain on them. The Carpenter's "Union had the assurance to come to the City Council and demand as a right, 250 dollars a week, to enable them to keep up their " ring " — yet the demand was only refused by a bare majority. These " rings "i are becoming dangerous — no man is safe in touching a tool against their rules. Life is not valued here. It is a common everyday occurrence to hear* of some fellow being shot over the veriest trifle, and the Courts are so corrupt that nothing is heard of the murderer after the first examination. All take " tip," from the Judge downwards. The writer goes on to say that he purposes leaving California as soon as possible, and to go to Honolulu, which, he says, is the best opening in the colonies. . .-. .

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