AN IMMMIGRANT'S LETTER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 346, 11 April 1874, Page 3

AN IMMMIGRANT'S LETTER.

From Miss Martha Potter, Housemaid. Dear Susan, I take up my pen just to Avrile These few lines, as tho mail is a leaving today; Which I hope all arc well down at Biddicum Bight, As it leaves me at present I'm happy to say. Oh ! Sukey, bo sure you come out by next ship, For this is a sensible sort of a place, No missus out here dares to screAV or nip. And going to service ain't thought a disgrace. Disgrace ! I should think not ; why, Susan my dear, Domestics out hero meet with proper respect, Wo move in a very superior spear, And leave if the neighborhood isn't select. Why, only last week a fine lady came down And begged very hard that I'd come as her cook ; But, Suke, when she mentioned she lived out of town 'Twould a taken ahartist to picter my look. Now, Susan, old girl, don't you make a mistake, And slave along there t'other side of the hearth, As soon as you can, sich hard labor forsake, And comb to a land where they value your worth. But master is waiting to take this to town, So Sukey, good-bye — do come over the waves ; For everything here is just turned upside down, And servants aro ladie3 and missuses slaves. — S, A. Register,

One question agitating the public mind of Christchurch. just now, i 3 the disgraceful manner in which bank and other clerks are being overworked. Go through the town whatever time you like at night, and there at tho banks and many large commercial establishments you will see lights burning, and clerks grinding aAvay till all hours. This is getting profit out of labor with a vengeance, especially as in the first instance clerks, as a rule, are miserably underpaid, and not one cent is allowed for overtime. Numbers of working men in jumpers, water-tights, and moleskins, being wage-paid, beat the welldressed gentlemanly salaried clerk by at least fifty per cent. One ardent sympathiser recommends them to rebel in a body, and to form a co-operative establishment, where their respective specialities will receive a fair remuneratiou, and where they will not be at the beck and call of hungry and remorseless capitalists. At the Kaipara, there are lying five barques, one ship, and two brigs, loading timber on that magnificent river, the Wairoa. These vessels are for Australian and foreign ports, I and independent of costal or interprovincial trade. The Tuamarina Hotel Avas burnt down at midnight, . It is believed to have been caused from a fire left smouldering on the hearth. The total loss is £880. The landlord is the owner of the house. He is insured for £450 in the New Zealand Company. The family were in bed, and escaped by the window, The population of Marlborough is 6143, an increase of 908.