ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.
fi is a curious thing that ju^t immediately after wo hid Mich an outeiy about the "unemployed," and weie told that theie were ho many moil who had got no work to do, tlicie should luvebeeu a "strike" among the caipenter-. The reason was that the i>mployers,"finding that there was a glut in in the l.iboui maiket, decided to reduce the rate of wages from 10s to 9s per day. As is usual in most cases, theie is something to be said on both side. The employers say that there are so many men out of work that they can get all they want at the lower rate, and that on account of the keen competition which exists m all business, the men can buy as much for 9-! as they could for 10s a year ago. On the other hand the men say that the contracts on which they are employed were taken when 10s jeday was the ruling rate of wages, and that, therefore, they should be paid on that scale, and that is not an excessive rate, taking into consideration the amount of broken tune caused by wet weather, and the fact that each carpenter has to provide an expensive kit of tool", and to pay 2s or 3s per week to replace those lost or broken. No doubt there is reason in the aiguments of each party, but the fact remains that wages, like everything else, must bo regulated by the relation between supply and demand. I think that it would b8 a fair plan if employers and employed would adopt what I believe is the plan in England, and give three months' notice of an intended alteration in the rate of wages. On the one side this would enable employei s to make their calculations w ithout running the risk of heavy loss through an advance in the rate of wagei, while their contracts were in progress. On the other hand it would give the employed time to ascertain whether they could get better wages by going elsewhere. The weather was ail that could be desired for the Christmas holidays, and the people turned out in thousands to enjoy themselves. On Boxing-Day, the principal atti action was, as usual, the Ellerslie racecouroe, where the first portion of the Summer Meeting attracted an exceptionally large concourse of people. As far as racing was concerned, nothing could have baen better. There was a magnificent collection of horses, good fields staited foi each event, •iveiy race was well contested, and, in most instances, the horse moat fancied by the public was the winner. As usual, the railway arrangements were just as bad as they could possibly be, and the totalizators were worked with the customary disregard of the convenience of the public. This is a most disgraceful proceeding on the part of the racing club, considering what a large revenue it deii\es fiom the totalisators. On Boxing-Day upwards of £9000 were put through the machine, so that the club's profit would amount to £900, less the cost of working, &c, which would not be largo. Seeing that so much money is paid by the public to the club in this way, the least the •ommittee could do would be to take steps to provide for the convenience of the public. v)f coui>c, the same remark would apply to the railway authorities, but I am afraid that they are, like the little boy who was learning the Shorter Catechism, " Past Redemption." Tn the race for the Auckland Cup the favourite did not win, Major George's Nelson proving the victor. The consequence of the unexpected happening in this case was that the totalizator paid £50 17a for each €2 invested. There were two or three _jood stories told in connection with this. One was that some officers of H.M.s. Nelson, now in our harbour, knowing nothing of the merits of the various horses put their money on the one which bore the same name as their ship. Their esprit de corps was handsomely rewarded. Another was to the effect that the hon. W. Reeves, the nvner of Stoneyhurst, which was one of the fuountes, is a guest of Major George, md, out of compliment to his friend and host, took three tickets in the totalisator on XeKon. His act of politeness brought him a .substantial consolation for the defeat of his own horse. Mr Justice Gillies seems to be anxious to maintain the dignity of the Supreme Court, .is I notice that he refused to consider an application made to him because it was iddressed to him as Judge Gillies. The reason he gave was that the judges of the Xntive Lands Court were so addressed, and he thought it beno ith the dignity of his high position that he should be addressed, in the same style m gentle■nen who are, many of them, quite as ible and some quite as good lawyers us he is, and who often have to adjudicate in cases quite as important and involving as large amounts of property as -my that come before the Supreme Court, [f Mr Justice Gillies is so very anxious to maintain the dignity of the bench, I •vould suggest to him that he might follow the example of the Amerioan Judge. V man had been brought before him charged with an offence. He was found guilty and sentenced. When the court officials were about to remove him he -howed tight and a severe scrimmage enMied. When the Judge saw that his side were getting the worst of the encounter he ;iroceeded to assert the dignity of the bench by descending therefiom andghing the prisoner a seveie thi ashing. He then • eturned to his judicial seat and sentenced the prisoner to an additional thirty days' imprisonment for contempt of court. Talking about thrashings, T believe that a Queen-street shopkeeper the other day receivod one from the effects of which he has not yet recovered. He went with a p uty of fiiends to one of the islands in the gulf, where thoy landed and proceeded to enjoy themselves. Shortly afterwards, some youths arrived at the same place in their yacht, from whioh they went ashore lv the dingy. After mooring it they had gone away but a short distance when one of them, a lad of seventeen, saw Mr Shopkeeper get into it. He ran back and requested him to let it alone. The honourable member for Queen-stieet siid he would not, as he was going to take some ladies out for a row, at the same time saying that the boat belonged to the owner of the island. The lad replied that thfi dingy belonged to his brothers and hunsolf, and that, without their permission, no one had any right to touch it. He then seized hold of it to prevent it being taken away. The shopkeeper, who is rather a tall man, thought ho was more than a match for the youth, and tried to drag the boat away. Finding he could not do so he stiuck the lad. Then an elder brother of the latter went to his assistance. However, the plucky youngster did not require any help. He told his brother to keep possession of the dingy while he disposed of tho man. There was a tight, but it did not last long before the man had two black eyes and a bleeding nose, and had measured his length on tho grass. He did not take the ladies for a row that day. « * A rather good American notian has been introduced here, and is, I think, likely to become popular. It is what is known as a " Surprise Party." The clergyman of one of the suburban districts was about to leave and some of his friends decided to make a presentation to him before his depaiture. The usual "tea-fight" was proposed but, for various reasons, had to be abandoned. Then someone suggested a " Surprise Party." There was some doubt about it at fyst^ but, whoa tho uJU4ue oper&n<U ww
explained the proposal was taken up con amore and well cairied out. After finding on which evening the clergyman and his wife would lie at home the ladies who had taken up the matter completed their arrangements. One undertook to provide tea, another cako, another btrawbcrries, another ciram &c. On the evening of the day appointed they all mot at the parnonage and very soon a splendid tea was on the table, the cleigyman and his wife being for the nonce guests in their own hoime. After tea the presentation was made. Then the tea-tliings were i amoved and those present spent a quiet but most enjoyable evening, the plea«iue being inciea«ed by the no\ elty of the party. I am too late to wis.li the readers of The Waikato Times a Meny Christinas. Indeed by the time those' lines appear in print it will be rather lato to wish them a Happy New Year. However, on this the last day of 188 j I must express my wish and hope that 1860 will prove a happy and prosperous year for all. Before laying dim n my pen I mnht .say " Good-bye" to all those who ha\e been so kind as to take an inteiest in the '• Kchoes from the Cafe," as this is the last of them, for the present at any rate, If they have not always been very interesting, if they have not been amusing, it has not been altogether my fault, because, as a rule, we dineis at tho Cafe aie a rather prosaic lot, and it is difficult to gut blood from a stone. In conclusion, I must thank the Editor and Proprietor-! of The Waikato Times for their unifoim Kindness, and the " intelligent compositor" and leader for having made .so few mistakes, despite my pecularities of caligraphy. Sr. Mungo.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2104, 2 January 1886, Page 3
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1,652ECHOES FROM THE CAFE. Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2104, 2 January 1886, Page 3
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