The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1883. WAGES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 3 January 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1883. WAGES.

The Massachusetts Bureau of Labor Statistics is published annually, and is regarded as a reliable wages barometer of one of the most thickly populated districts in the United' States, We learn from this authority: Tha increase of wages in this Stafco to working men in the following occupations from 1860 to 1881 were as follows in per cents. Tho increase iu twenty-one years in Agriculture .. .. .. 33.3 BlackamitMng • .. .. 54.6 Boot and thoemaking .. 1.8 Building trades 22,4 Cabinet-making .. .. 5.4 Carpet making .. ~ 21,5 Carriage-making ... ~ 23.ti Clothiug 42,1 Cotton goods 37.(5 Leathor 35.1 Machinery 55.4 Metals.. .. .. .. '42.5Paper 45.8 Printing 43.5 Woollen goods 33,1

Average 31.2 The cost of living in 1860 and 1861 —The roport quoted give* the per cent of increase in the cost of living in Massachusetts as follows Groceries 2li 3 Provisions 527 "Fuel 38.6 Boots and shoes .. ~ 15/1 lienta ~ -68.8 Board 69.4 Dry goods decrease 3,7 Average per cent of increase 41,3 It will be observed that though wages during the twenty-one years have increased by one-third, the working men of America are worse off now than they were a generation ago. A similar contrast would, we believe be found to exist in New Zealand had we any reliable statistics of wages on record. Take Masterton for example. Five years ago wages in this town were much the same as they are now, but rent and groceries were certainly far higher than they are at present, and our working men are decidedly betteroff now than they were during what areusually supposed to be the palmy days of Masterton. It is an important fact to all dependant on wages that though their earnings may increase, they do not.derive any benefit from an advance' if the cost of living increases in an equal proportion'. The lesson tb be learned from tlie : Massachusetts Eecord is that a vapid inflation, of wages is often though an apparent benefit an absolute misfortune to working men. We have'on a previous occasion drawn"

attention lo American labor; statistics; because history is always repeating; itself, and .a "chapter fi'ora a : chiiSsetta labor record of to-day will in all hupmn probability be a literal and! oxact; report .of the . labor market" in' New Zealand in a few years time, As we before pointed out the conditions of the recipients of wages in New Zealand are now favorable to accumulation. Every maR who enjoys full employment and standard wage's 'at the presont time ought to save money Years hence he will, unless in the interim lie' protects himself by accumulating a portion of his earnings, have to labor Under conditions which will not allow him to put by any of his wages. In Massachusetts-a man can now make a living, but ho cannot save money if lie has a family dependant upon him. In New Zealand he can, make a living and save money, but : in time the, state of the labor market] in Now Zealand will approximate to that of Massachussets, and we cannot too strongly urge industrial classes in this community to realize the fact that their opportunity for advancement is not'in any remote or imaginary future but that it is" now," and if, during the presont day they fail to make use; of the comparatively favorable conditions under which they are living -it will possibly never return,

Tenders are invited for supplying stores and provisions tho Mastorton Hospital for the current year. v The Greytown Borough Council's usual monthly meeting was postponed fro'mlast Monday evening till to-morrow evening,

The case of Mr Waller Moriaon is expected to bo henrd at the Supreme Court sitting at Wellington on the 17th inst;; ' The Butter and Cheese Factory, Grey town, commenced 'operations yesterday, when IoG gallons of milk were supplied by the farmers. It was not expected to have started till to-day, hence the small supply of milk, but to-morrow several hundred gallons are expected. ' j At a meeting of the stewards of the Featherston Racing Cliib held at tho Victoria Hotel on the'night of the races it was decided to allow ft week's time for producing evidence in the proiests against Fawa and and ILiutra in the hack raoes. Konini having weighed short weight in the Consolation Handicap tho Rtakes wore awarded to Septimus, the second horse. A cricket match will. be played at Featherston on Saturday next between the Mastevlon and Foiithera on cluba i Tho Mastertou crickuteis will meet for practioe to-morrow aftonmon at Mrs Yates' paddock, Upper Plain, at 4 o'clock sharp. 1 Mr F. H. Wood holds his monthly sale at- the Pastoral Society's Yards, Carterton, at 2 p.m. to-morrow. We publish in another column a biography ofM. Gambetta whoso death" we reoordod yesterday, A later cablegram informs ua that the cause of death was erysipelas and pytemia. The remains will be publicly buried at the exponße;of the Statei J

The pirents of Mr W. W. Corpe, the senior pu'tiier of Corpe and Son, of Makino, have just oelobratoil their golden wedding at Somerton, Somersetshire, and tho event, as we gather from a Home paper, was the occasion of great family rejoicing. There were present several sons and daughter*, also grown-iip grandsons and er.ind-dauj;htora, and we learn ihatit only needed tho presence of the Messrs Corpe and Son, of Makino, to mike the family circle complete. The party was photographed, and the group must form a yery interesting picture. : Mr Bulkley, late of the well-known firm .of Irvine and iJulkley, of Christchurch, •'who has now permanently settled in Wellington calls attention clsewhero, to the fact of l.is supplying artificial teuih guaranteed to glvo every satisfaction at 1 very moderate prices, Mr Bulkley has a very fine suiio of rooms in the heart of Wellington for his practice during the dky, also sees patients al oilier hours, at his private residonoa in Willis-street. • A« no charge is made unless satisfaction is given it i'b but fair to supposo that Mr Bulkley will keep up the; high reputation his firm enjoyed in Christchurch, .

'The annual treat and distribution of prizes to the children of St Mark's Sunday school, Carterton,. took place in the paddocks in the rear nf the church and parsonage on New Year's Day, and brought together fully lour hundred of all sexes and ages. The children assembled at the church and after a Bhort service and address from the Rev W, T, Western, marched up the town preceded by the brass band, who kindly gave their services for the occasion, The school banner—a white ground with the inscription "St .Mark's Sunday school," " Little children, love one another," in blue and gold lettering, with deep amber fringe—was carried at tho head of the prooesaion, the children carrying innumerable binuereta, which gave a very cheerful aspect to the scone. On the return to the grounds the swings soon found numerous occupants, and all kinds of sports and games, including a scratch match between two elevens of the Carterton Cricket Oiub, were vigorously proceeded with, while the band discoursed pleasant music. At five o'clock the children were marohed to tho schoolroom and partook of a plenteoas feast of good things, the room boini; very nicely decorated, About seven o'clock the children were formed into a circle, while on a table in the centre were displayed (lie prizes, forty in number, for regularity in attendance, good conduct, and proficiency in the several classes. The children having been seated the Rev Mr Western addressed them, and invited Mr Boys to dislribu'e the prizes. Mr Boys then proceeded with the distribution, addressing a few appropriate remarks to each recipient as he or she came up to the table, after which cheers were given for Mr Boys, the teachers and. those who, assis'od in carrying out the treat, Mr and Mrs Western, the visitors, and the Queen, and the day was • brought to a pleasant close by a distribution of buna, cakes, and lollies to each and all of the children.

, The ;«iblio are notified that the Great Gift Distribution commences to-morrow at lUpp * Hare's Emporium. Every cash purchaser of 2s fid worth of goods will be presented with a Ohromo-Litho Picture, and every purchaser of goods to the amoiint'of 20s will be allowed to chnoso their own present to the value of 2s Gd. For Grocery,, Olothing,; Boots and Shoes, Ironmongery, and Crookery, I'aff & Hake c'lnnot be beaten;-Advt, The annual distribution of Christmas Gifti is now taking place at Tq Aro House, and will continue tliroushout the month of December. We have provided a large hasortment of really artistic chromo pisturea which will be presented tb overy purchaser of 5s worth and upwards. Great care has been taken to provido suoh only as shall be worthly of acceptance by all who may pay a" visit to.Tc Aro House. The subjects of these chrome's aro many aud varied, comprising landscapes, seascapes.' copies of Laiidseer's most favourite and popular works, and will bo exceedingly attractive to visitors and ( purchasers of Te Aro House, The mode in; jwhidh it has been determined toissne these 'nifts is nf a moat liberal character, and will during the' irierry Christmas season,' be * soiirce of gratifeatit'h to the aniitiiroiii'etw* tomersof James smith,' To AroTo me, Cuba* street, Wellington,- Advt,

v and lotus advertise entries fof'their sals at the annual Bam ! iind Ewe Fair at Carterton, on ihe 15th. February j!t- ' . .Mm J The illustrious Captain graphed j<>(; Manterton to arruigMbr. leotore irT thia iowo. His visit J3™Bably ; . will take plftce early next week; W' %

Major Atkinson has boen again Buffeting from ill health'and overwork, He left .Wellinßtou.fov.TariinakiJo.vdayt,

. A meeting of the directors of tho Taratahi Dairy Company, took place on Tuesday at "officethe" Company. A fourth prowess payment of £6O was passed in favor of the contractor, and live extra barrels of cement direoted to be added to the top layer of the flooring in the receiving room, The secretary was directed ;to write to the roatiaiier of the Ashburton factory for further information ai to 'plant, and a vote of thinks to Mr Morgan passed for the bonus giyeii by him for the supplier of tliei largest amount of milk in proportion to the cows milked during the first season, The next meeting was fixed fur' Tuesday, the 30th ilist.. , .

A serious accident,' that io more than likely to provo fatal, happened to a man named Thomas Peel-it the Albion Sawmills on Tuesday, -.The' hbraes /bolted, and he was tluwu' : 'under the (trucks, being fearfully injured about the head, legs,'and arms. Wo are given to Understand than one of liiai arms' will have to be day ; (Wednesday) • The suflerer was at once taken to the Greytown Hospital, and is in.a very precarious state,

» What might, have ticcasioned a;serious Masterton, this afternoon, It'appoars iome children had been playing-with matches inYlarge paddock noxt to Mr Oroßß',residence, and the long, dry gra'ss being of a very inflammable nature,,, and a light breeze .blowing at the lime, it quipkly ignited ;and apreadv rapidly. Happily, however, it \m noticed by sumo'of the residents near at hand, an] buckets of water and a vigorous application .of old sacks siion extinguished.,, it. Parents should 'be more careful iiVtrusting ohildren with matches, ormore'serious results may occur. '' ";' ! "