HAMILTON. (From our Own Correspondent. )

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 383, 27 October 1874, Page 2

HAMILTON. (From our Own Correspondent. )

His Honob the Superintendent, acorni named by Mr Holloway, tlio ajjpnt for tlio Labourers' Union of England, arnve.l hero on Friday hit. In the course of the afternnon a deputation consisting of the members of the \W*t Hamilton Town Board waited upon his Honor in n>-fi-rrnce to a dispute which had taken place rs to the preci«e line of demarcation between the respective districts of Kwt and West HHinilton. The question was— Which district sliould keep in repnir the portion of tho roal immediately lending on to the Punt landing-place. I\\t> Wrst Hamilton Board, a* moit people are awore, receive tho revenue deriyable from punt feei and ther» fore agree to keep the punt and its " approaches " in order. What then are " approaches ? " Does tho word •' approach " extend onwnrds beyond the bunk of the river. His Honor »aii«ficd the doputution on the point, and remarked that, he •howl I be glad to see an amalgamation of clutters of Hiuhwny B -ards in the district, for which provision wat made in tlie Uighw&ji Act. They fcould then be ablo to «ct in concert. He intimated thut »here was n good prospect of pecuninrv assist anoe being obtained from tho eale of lands, tho proceeds of which, M<- Voucl liad agreed should be laid out in the province ; but bo was not quite certain if they would bo locally expended. Mr Hollowny was then introduced, and a number of infliienlinl settlers entered the room. His Honor stated that Mr Holloway was the representative of at lenstlOOOOl) labouring men in tho old country, and wns amiom to get round the district and ascertain what ad>nnlagea it might J offer for settlement of his fellow-lab.nirors. Tho n^rictiltural ! population in England were an^v» at the hnrshnes* and injustice of many of their emp!o\m, mid Intel sent out two j d(?lc«n(eb to report upon the different Bniuii rolonies, willi a view to extenw immi>jration. Mr An-li had «ono to j Canada and Mr Hollow nv hud been deputed to visit New 1 Z-ilund. Mr Hollow jy intended to i^certuin, a* f.n- us hit li ni(^,l itny wohM pumit, the >uHnlnli(v of the Wnikato Di-fr.ct .-is a future buirm lor hi* coiiMiiu.-nM >it honn 1 . Mr Morrib etiid that men cume out u> New Zealand an immijjrantj who were totally unfitted f< r the work they hud to I do. They were quite uiuuuusto.i.u I to tbo class of uorL

invited m the uul.my, and > •! v .m.^.t l.iirrwehos very l.inllv ile.vlt by if they \u-re o--iul K-* . t'.in 7-i por diem. If they were o! the -i/Ii!, lLh-., t'u«.) «u ill wkhi learn their vro'k, and would tl\en be able to e.irn good w ue* Ati Si'ddon vaid £'iai do was n f.-rmer -n lue old country, and he v.-cd U> emplt>\ seven miii on IOOm-ies lleie li cnlv kc;jC t>w> men oa 360 i.eres He found li.at lie cud 1 | not, iFo.-d ty pay ,C 75 :i year for each nun \\f »mjilo\«'d. lie dut i'otbt 'i-vo he hid obtained u gtentav r % - > » »■ ji'.iv i'>r | beef than 4i 1 per pound, tie ha\ lienr i ;!, n i,e w-mjt o1o 1 i cottage ac(ommodi\tion, and a cotnfortnble home, nluuh mo<a labourers had in England, was a great »t,umbhn2>bloc< ! in the way of intending immigrants* of this c!a»< He had ' uo doubt that if the right sort of men were brought out this ! want would be at once supplied, but no one would build cottages where there was a possibility of occupants not being forthcoming. He told nn amusing story of a so-called agricultural labourer coming to him ior employment who could neither dig or plough. Such men wera of no u»eto Waikato settlers." Mr flinton said ho was a carpet' weaver and a col firherman in the old country, and in bit belief when- tliere was n will there was always a way. Hh Honor said that th* meeting must, re.Ti*mber that the Co ouial Government wore no! preacin.,' the m^n Mr Hollowm represented to leave tin' old country. This Labourer's Union wu« a movement in tinted amongst themselves. Tliey did not attempt to seduce them by inducement* an 1 promises to leave Englmid. At ttie »amo ti-ne it wa3 needle^B to observe that »ucl> mm us thoie on whose behalf Mr Hollowny was travelling, would be welcome in the colony, and he d>uld tell Mr Holloway that this ntaa country wheie honest in dusiriou* labouring men could not tail of iiicr<a<. The toi was iood anl tue climate permitted work to be continui-d without interruption during th» entire year. T'te present class of immigranta gave great dissatisfaction throughout the colony ; they wero the sweeping* of tbe lun;e towns, and utterly uutuited for colonizing purposes. This state of things would be rectified if the men described bj Mr Hollo way were inttodueed aa immigrants. Mr Hammond said that he thought the country in the province of Auckland would be far moro suitable f ing emigrants than the South Island. In tbe latter portion of the colony tin* holdings were large and proprietors would not consent to cut up their lukU, but here there was a chance of a labouring man acquiring a piece of land for liim«elf ird improving his po>ition, which he imagined was what Mr Holloway wan «ci'kir.fi. Mr Vulou suid he thou d like to sresomr* mechanics intro duced i»» well as agriuultuittl abourers. He whs a\v,ire that Mr Holloway ropre-'cnte 1 tlio latter class, but ho thought it proh&b'e th.vt ho would be brought in contact with many of the former class who wi'iild usk his opinion in reference to the country lie hud visitfd. H' c<)ukl tell Mr Holloway tliatasoofl m. chimis couli-l Cn-l fotntant Clllph)\ meilt at hi*h vu^ea in tKia luloiy A> for the men now comuit; out he would aooii'r havo a hi'f oducftU'd Vjjpi'eutice th'iu the , so called \i tibiin emigrants. I Oii<tattt Stci'Je said there were some 2iimmii;ranto brought j to the Wuikato, -'n 1 of this number oulj four wert; kinvul<ur>U hihoiirer*. Tfie re-t had no ideu of a (inj's work. He wuhed to unpr-'ss upon M H >i!owiy thit there would be no nlHculfy ab nit wajen it they oiilv m<t tho right men. H'- • li<l nut believe thai 2J per tent of thi> immi^mi t-i hnhert>> brought out were aiiicutut'ul labourers. He c>uld not at • i»e present tune gel five ploughmen in the distiict without causing thi»>« air c. y -'iiga^e Ito leave their em.ilov. So far as it bad at pit-sent, gonc.tlio immigration su'ii'ine had proved u failure. Tliey git a quint ity of* city gamins who generally design itud themselves " navvies." If the right sort came they would toon find employment. Mr Holloway referred the meeting to an article written by hi'nuelf, published in tlie Labourers 1 Union Chronicle of July 111 I', 1874, a d re-publisUod in the Taranaki Neies of October 3rd 1874, bearing out the views expreiaert by the meeting uen-rally. His Honor stated that Mr Holloway's ttay in the Wuikato could not extend over Sunday, as he had to leave the colony by the end of tho month. Great dissatisfaction was expressed by those present with this arrangement, and it was determined to ask the Superintendent to communicate with ttie General Government asking for an extension of Mr Hollaway's time in New Zealand. A. memorial was duly signed and forwarded to his Honor, setting forth that it was impossible for Mr Holloway to pro perly investigate th« capabilities of the Waikato District in the short time proposed for his itay, and praying that the Government would defray his expenses if remaining to thoroughly examine the country Telegrams were accordingly forwarded to the proper quarter by his Honor, but the request of the settlers was met by a peremptory refusal. I shall take euro to uiid you for publication full particulars of this latest injustice to Auckland Province for your next issue. The facts, when fully disclosed, will add another atrong proof of the fact that we dare not tru»t ourselves in the hands of a Southern Ministry, and that it is absolutely necessary that we should not take the "half- loaf" to much talked about until we arc certain that tho corresponding half will be immediately forthcoming.