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August 23, lbt4
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COPVR(iHltP
CHAPTER L
If there be aught in presentiments, I
Was well warned by that first glimpse
of, the inn. The monstrous balk of
les, sloping roofs and lean chimneys
iched blackly against the sky would
.ve scared a bolder spirit in an mino.
1 day I had walked under blue sky,
between green hedgerows, with light
heart and whistling lip. Confronted in
the twilight by so sinister a scene, I felt
qualmish. Bagged clouds dropped their
fringes over sullen western red, around
spread the salt marshes, evil in their
desolation, and I, with chilled blood,
tared at the lonely mansion dominating
the outlook. Here, thought L an adven
ture awaits me. The hour,' the house,
the scene, hint at romance, and. that of
the strangest
So much were my spirits dashed by
" these ominous environments that it was
in mv mind to walk the farther 10
lies and shelter for the night at
hminster. Yet some fate compelled
y unwilling feet toward that inhospi
table door, and almost before I knew
my own mind I was knocking louaiy.
It opened while my hand was still raised
for the final rap, and a handsome wom
an presented herself to my astonished
eyes. What beauty did among the tombs
I know not, yet there she smiled.
Though handsome, she was not a lady
and lacked the undefinable stamp of
birth. At the same time she was above
the commonality. Not a lady, not a
servant, but something between the two.
Her appearance confirmed the promise
of romance.
"I have walked from Eastbury, " said
I, cap in hand, "and wish to put up
here for the night "
"Marshminster is only 10 miles
way," answered she, in nowise dis
posed to admit me.
"And for that reason I want a bed
here. Twenty and more miles walking
der a hot sun has wearied me consid-
2i
1 ,'. I
'f. am sorry we cannot accommodate
Vwsir." ..
T'"Tbis is an inn," I said, glancing at
the sign.
"The Fen inn, sir, " she replied, still
smiling, "and full of guests for the time
I being."
"Full of guests in this locality I You
1 must then entertain waterfowl, for I
I have seen no human being for the last
12 miles."
She made no direct answer, but shook
- heread and prepared to close the door.
Piqled by the discourtesy and still more
, by the mystery of this reception, I was
. about to insist upon admission when
my attention was attracted to a face at
, 'the near window. I recognized it as that
,f of a college friend and waved my stick
in greeting. '
"Hello, Briarfield I" I shouted lust
ily. "Come and help me to a night'e
lodgings."
The girl was surprised by my remark,
and, as I thought, changed color. She
;epped aside to let tsnarneld pass ana
iVted further astonishent at the ur-
'anity of our greeting.
What wind blows you here, Den-
ham?" asked Briarfield, shaking my
hand.
"I am on a walking tour, "I an
swered, "and hoped to have reached
Marshminster tonight, but as it is 10
miles away and I feel weary I wish to
sleep here. This young lady, however,
ays the inn is full of guests and"
"Full of gueste!" interrrupted Briar
field, looking at the girl. "Nonsense,
Rose. I am the only guest here!"
"We expect others, sir," said Rose
obstinately.
"You can't expect a sufficient num
ber to fill the house," he retorted.
"Surely Mr. Denham can have a bed?"
"I shall ask my father, sir!
When she disappeared, Briarfield
turned to me with a smile and asked a
strange question.
Now, I'll be bound," said he, "that
on don't know mv first name!"
Telix."
'No! You are wrong. I am not the
rich Felix, but the poor Francis. "
"You see the result of being one of
twins, " said I impatiently. "If at col
lege I could not distinguish between
you, how can yon expect me to do so
now? I haven't seen either you or your
brother for at least two years. Where is
Felix?"
"At Marshminster. "
"And what are you doing here?"
"Ah, that's a long story! If you"
"Please to walk in, sir," interrupted
Rose at this moment "My father de
vf 'aires to speak with you. "
f "I have, then, to submit myself to the
I BrtriwriTTn 1 s Va 1 a n A 1 rtrd " aaiA T an3
tmjix vt ui ut tug muiuiuiu piuu uhu
forthwith entered the house, followed
by Francis Briarfield.
The landlord, a lean, saturnine man
above the common height, saluted me
with a sour smile. In appearance and
demeanor he was quite in keeping with
that dreary inn. About him lurked a
Puritanic flavor not ill suited to his
somber attire and unctuous speech. He
was less like an innkeeper than a smug
valet I mistrusted the man at first
sight
"I can give you supper and a bed,
sir," said he, bending his body and rub
bing his hands, "neither, I regret to say,
ofjthe first quality."
'Never mind," I answered, unstrap
g my knapsack. "I am too tired and
gry to be particular.
"We have only lately taken up this
house, sir, " he continued, still bowing,
"and things are a trifle disordered. "
v A
3 imiP
ifc9 Br TC AUTHOR
i glanced around. Despite the cheer
ful blaze of a fire, the room had a mil
dewed look, as though long uninhabited.
Traces of hasty cleansing were visible in
all corners, and in the dim light filtered
through dusty panes the apartment had
a singularly uninviting aspect Again
that premonition of misfortune came
over me.
"I wonder yon took up the house at
all, "said L "You won't make your
fortune in this locality. "
The landlord made no reply, but mut
tering something about supper left the
room. His daughter had already depart
ed, presumably in the direction of the
kitchen, and I found myself alone with
Francis Briarfield. He was absently
looking out at the window and started
when I addressed him directly. I
ngured mystery therefrom.
"What's the meaning of these myste
ries?" I asked abruptly. The horror of
the place was already influencing my
spirits.
"What mysteries?" demanded Briar
field in a listless manner.
"This inn has been uninhabited for
some considerable period. A suspicions
looking rascal and his pretty daughter
have taken up their abode here with no
Dossible chance of getting customers. I
light and find you here you of all men
whom I believed to be in South Amer
ica. Don't you call these mysteries?
"If you put it that way, I admit the
mysteries, replied Francis, coming to
ward the fire. "I know little about the
inn, still less about the landlord and his
daughter. As to myself, I am here by
appointment to meet my brother Felix.
Came from London to Starby and rode
from thence to this inn. "
"Why meet him in this murderous
looking house?'
"He named the place of meeting
himself."
"And you?"
"I only arrived this month in Eng
land from South America. I wrote him
from London, asking to 6ee him. He
appointed this inn as neutral ground for
us to meet, so here I am. "
"Why neutral ground? Have you
quarreled?"
"Bitterly."
"You did so at college," said I, look
ing steadily at him. "Strange that such
ill blood should exist between twin
brothers."
"The inevitable woman, " said Fran
cis in a harsh tone, quite at variance
"with his usual soft speech.
"Oh! And her name?"
"Olivia Bellin!"
"I know her. Do you mean to say,
Briarfield, that"
"Hush!" he said, rapidly indicating
the door, and there stood the girl Rose
listening to our conversation. Her face
was pale, and it was evident that the
mention of the name had powerfully
affected her. Seeing our eyes were on
her, she apologized in a low, nervous
voica
"Your pardon, gentlemen, " 6he said,
placing a tray on the table. "I did not
intend to interrupt your conversation.
Allow me to lay the table for supper. "
"First show me my room, " said L
picking up my knapsack. "I am dusty
and wish to give myself a brush up. "
Rose nodded and preceded me out of
the apartment I glanced back and saw
that Francis had returned to his old post
by the window. Evidently he was
watching for the arrival of his brother.
"When does Mr. Felix Briarfield ar
rive?" I asked Rose as we ascended the
stairs.
"I don't know the name, sir, "she
said, with an obvious effort
"You don't know the name?" I re
peated, seeing she was lying, "yet Mr.
Francis Briarfield is here to meet his
brother. "
"It may be so, sir. But I know noth
ing about it Mr. Briarfield is a stran
ger to me, like yourself."
"It is to be hoped yon received him
more willingly than you did ma "
My words fell on the empty air, for
after her last remark she hastily depart
ed. I mechanically attended to my
wants and wondered what could be the
meaning of the girl's attituda
j "She knows Miss Bellin and Felix
' Briarfield," I thought, "perhaps not
personally, but at least their names.
She is also aware or the intended visit
of Felix to this place. I must find out
from Francis the reason of that visit
and it may throw some light on the de
meanor of Rosa I am glad 1 came here
tonight, for that landlord is scarcely a
person to be trusted. Certainly my pre
sentiment of romance is coming trua "
When I descended to the dining room,
I found supper laid and Francis impa-
j tiently awaiting my arrival. A lamp
: was lighted, and for the first time I saw
his face plainly. The alteration in his
looks and demeanor since our college
days was astonishing. Felix had always
been the graver of .the twins, and it was
the distinguishing mark between them.
Now the livelier spirits of Francis had
calmed down to a subdued gravity which
made the resemblance between them
still greater. We seated ourselves at the
table in silence, and he colored as he
caught my earnest look.
"You find me altered?" he asked,
with manifest discomposura
"Very much alteied and more like
Felix than ever."
"I haven't seen him for over a year, "
said Briarfield abruptly, "bo I don't
know if the resemblance is still strong. "
"It is stronger," I answered emphat
THE WEALTH MAKERS.
ically. "I saw Felix two months ago,
and now I look at you tonight I can
scarcely believe it is Francis and not
Felix seated before ma"
"We are alike to outward view, Den
ham, but I hope our natures are differ
ent" "What do you mean?"
"Felix," said he, with marked delib
eration, "is a thief, a liar and a dishon
orable man."
"Yon speak strongly."
"I have reason to."
"The before mentioned reason, Briar
field," said I, alluding to the feminine
element
"Yea By the way, " he added fever
ishly, "you said Miss Bellin was known
to you."
"In a casual way only. She is a soci
ety beauty, and I have met her once or
twice; also her very silly mother. The
latter is as remarkable for folly as the
former is for beauty. Well, Briarfield.
and what about Miss Bellin?"
"I was engaged to her. "
"You are engaged to her?"
"I said 'was,' " he replied, with em
phasis. "Now she is engaged to my
brother."
"Of her own free will?"
"I don't know, '.' said Briarfield. "1
really don't know. When I went to
Chile, I was her affianced lover. Now I
return and learn that she is to marry
my brother. "
"What explanation does he make?"
"None as yet Tonight or tomorrow
morning he comes here to explain. "
"But why here, of all places?"
"Miss Bellin is in Marshminster.
Felix is staying there also, and in his
letter asked me to see him at the Fen
inn, as he wished to explain his conduct
fully before I met Olive again. "
"And you agreed?" .
"As you sea "
"In your place, "said I meditatively,
"I should have gone at once to Marsh
minster and confronted both. There is
some trickery about this. "
"You think so?"
"I am by nature suspicious, " I an
swered. " Perhaps too much so. Yes, I
think there is some trickery. "
Francis frowned and glanced at his
watch.
"It is now 8 o'clock, " he said, re
placing it in his pocket "too late to
go to Marshminster. "
"Besides which," I added, "our
worthy landlord has doubtless neither
trap nor horsa"
By this time we had finished supper,
and Rose - came in to clear away.
Thoughtfully filling my pipe, I watched
her closely. Undeniably she was a very
beautiful woman and ill suited to her
present occupation. Why a girl so hand
some should bury herself in this lonely
inn was a mystery to ma I felt sure
that there was a purpose connected with
her presence here, and that inimical to
Briarfield. The landlord did not make
his appearance, which was to me a mat
ter of some relief. I disliked the fellow
greatly.
Francis, smoking hard, sat staring at
the fire and took no heed of Rosa Once
or twice she glanced in his direction
and looked as though about to address
him. Catching my eye, she bit her lip
and desisted. Finally she disappeared
from the room, with manifest anger at
not having accomplished her design.
"Strange, " said I, lighting my pipa
"What is strange?" asked Briarfield,
looking up.
"That girl knows your brother."
"It's not impossible, " he answered
carelessly. "Felix always had an eye
for pretty faces, and as he appointed
this inii as a meeting place he has prob
ably been here befora Rose Strent no
doubt draws him hither by her beauty. "
"That is not a compliment to Miss
Bellin."
"1 know it Felix is a profligate
scamp and will make her a bad hus
band. He shall not marry her," added
Briarfield angrily. "I say he shall not
marry her and make her life miserabla
I'll kill him first"
"Man, man, think of what you are
saying your own brother!"
"My own brother my twin broth
er, " scoffed Francis, "is that any rea
son why he should take away from me
the woman I love?"
"She is not worth regretting if she
forgets you so soon. "
"She has not forgotten me,1" he said
earnestly. "I assure'you, Denham, she
loves me etilL The last letter I received
"I say he shall not marry her and make
her life miserable. I'll kill him first."
from her gave no hint that she wearied
of ma As you say, there is some trick
ery about it I'll have an explanation
from Felix," continued ha striking the
table with his fist "or, by heaven, I'll
kill him!"
"Where did you meet her?" I asked,
ignoring this last remark, which was but
idla
"In town over a year ago, "he re
plied, calming down. ."She is, as you
know, very beautiful, and her mother
wished her to make a great match. I
am comfortably off, but have not a title;
therefore Mra Bellin would not . sanc
tion the engagement Then I had to go
to South America on business connected
with my property. Before I left she
promised to become my wife and swore
that nothing should part us or render
her false to ma See, here is the ring
she gave me," he added, stretching out
his hand, "this pearl ring. I was to be
back in six months, and our engagement
Was to be made publio. I am back in
six months, tnd the first thing I hear
is that she i to marry Felix. "
"Did she write and tell you so?"
"No. But Felix did and asked me to
meet him here before seeing her. "
"Now, I wonder if this apparent
treachery of Miss Bellin has anything
to do with your twinship?"
"What do yon mean?' ' asksd Briar
field, starting up.
" You are so like in appearance, " said
L "that no one could tell you apart
Tou have lived constantly together save
for the last six months and know every
action of each other's lives. It may be
that Felix has passed himself off to Miss
Bellin as yon. "
"Impossible! She would detect the
deception. "
"I doubt it, save by intuition. I as
sure you, Briarfield, that the resem
blance between you is most perplexing.
There is not the slightest differenoa
You dress the same; you have the same
gestures; you almost think the sama It
is scarce possible to tell which is which
when apart I thought tonight that
you were Felix. "
"It cannot be; it cannot be, " he mut
tered feverishly. ' 'Her own heart would
tell her the truth. "
"Did you tell Felix of your engage
ment?" I asked abruptly.
"Yes. ItoldhimalL"
"And when did you hear last from
Hiss Bellin?"
"Some three months ago. It was be
cause she did not reply to my letters
that I came back so soon. "
"To whom were your letters sent?"
"To her, of coursa"
"Care of Felix?" said I, with in
stinctive suspicion.
"Why, yes," he said, with a sudden
frown. "I did not want Mra Bellin to
know of our engagement, so did not
dare to write openly. Felix undertook
to deliver the lettera "
"He may have undertaken to do so,
but, " I added forcibly, "he did not "
"Denham!"
"The whole case is as clear as day, "
said L "Felix was in love with Miss
Bellin and wished to marry her. Know
ing she was in love with you, he was
well aware he had no chance, so resorted
to trickery. When yon left for Chile, he
gave her your letters for three months,
then, saying he was going abroad, osten
sibly left England, but really staid and
presented himself as you. "
"As me?"
" Yea He has traded on the marvel
ous resemblance between you. He
knows all your life, all your love affairs,
and I have no doubt that Miss Bellin
believes that he is Francis Briarfield,
her lover, returned from South America
in three months instead of six "
"If I thought so," muttered Francia
biting his fingers, "if I thought so"
"I am sure it is so. Now you see why
it is imperative that he should inter
view you before you meet Miss Bellin.
He wishes to reveal the deception and
throw himself on your mercy. "
"He'll get no mercy from me if this
is so," said Briarfield in a somber tona
"Oh, fool that I was not to write direct
to Olivia when I came back to England!
But it is not too lata When he comes
here, I'll learn the truth and denounce
him to Olivia. Then our troubles will
be over. "
"A man capable of such a trick is
capable of worse, " said I sententiously.
"I advise you to be on your guard
against Felix. "
"Do yon think he'll kill me?"
"I don't go as far as that, " I replied
cautiously, "but your meeting will be
productive of trouble. . Just now yon ex
pressed a wish to kill him. "
"And I shall if he has tricked me as
yon say."
"Nonsense, Briarfield, you talk wild
ly. This matter can surely be settled in
a less melodramatio fashion. I am glad
I am here, as perhaps you will permit
me to be present at the interview. "
"Willingly. I know how clever you
are, Denham. You may assist me to un
mask Felix."
"Do yon think he'll come tonight?"
said I, going to the window.
"His letter said tonight or tomor
row." "Then it will be tomorrow. Felix
wouldn't risk meeting you at night if
he had thus betrayed you. Let us go to
bed and tomorrow settle the matter. "
At first Francis was unwilling to re
tire, but when the landlord came to lock
np for the night and laughed at the
idea of any one coming there from
Marshminster he fell in with my desira
Together we went np stairs and parted
on the threshold of his room. It was
five or six doors away from mina
"Lock your door," said I as we part
ed. "What, do you think I'll be murdered
in my sleep?"
"No, but I don't like the inn, and I
dislike the face of Strent, the landlord.
Besidea"I continued, tapping Briar
field's breast "that girl Rosa "
"What about her?"
"She knows Miss Bellin. Good
night"
With that I departed, notwithstand
ing his desire for an explanation of my
last worda So wearied was I that de
spite my suspicions of the inn I speed
ily fell asleep.
(To be continued.)
WALTER BAKER & GO.
The Largest Hanuiactnrers of
PURE, HIGH GRADE
COCOAS AND CHOCOLATES
On this Continent, har neohrol
SPECIAL AND HIGHE8T
AWARDS
on all their Good at tha
CALIFORNIA
MIDWINTER EXPOSITION.
Their BREAKFAST COCOA,
I Which, nnlikt tha Dutch Proem,
M. mad, without th in of AlkaJiw
I or other Chemical, or Dya. I, abto
lutelr dun and aoltibla. and ftoata
let than on cent a cup.
OLD BY GROCER" EVERYWHERE.
WALTER BAKER A CO. DORCHESTER, MAS&
1
m mu
mm
GOVERNMENT ROADS
IS PUBLIC OWNERSHIP PRAC
TICAL AND DESIRABLE-
How tarn FIm Buceeadi la Haw Zea
land. SO. L
Under the above head we propose to
rive to our readers a series of articles
on the public ownership of railroads.
Many honest and otherwise well in
formend persons believe that publio
ownership of railroads is not only im
practical but a new and untried
theory. In the outlet we want to dis
abuse their minds of this error. Pub
lie ownership of railroads is as old as
the invention of railr. ads. If anyone
will take the pains to look it up they
will find in the America nRevision of
the Encyclopedia Britannka, Vol III.,
pages 1303-6, that the following
governments own railroads, most of
which are operated by the state:
Austria owns and operates nearly
2,000 miles of railway.
Baden owns 820 miles of railway.
Bavaria has 2,800 miles of railway
owned by the government
Belgium owns about 2,000 miles of
railway.
Borne 181 miles of railway is owned
by Ceylon.
Chill owns 670 miles of railway.
China owns and operates all her
railwaya
The United States of Columbia
owned 218 miles of railway in 1800.
Denmark has about 1,000 miles of
railroad owned by the government
France owns about 2,000 miles of
railway, but most or quite all is
leased to companies.
The German empire owns about 21,
840 miles of railway.
England and Wales own 14,034
miles.
Scotland has 3,118 miles of railways
belonging to the state.
Ireland owns 2,701 miles of railroad.
Hesse owns 226 miles of her rail
way system.
A large per cent of the railways of
Italy belong to the government, but
are leased to companies.
Japan owns 603 miles of railway.
The colony of Natalowns 305 miles
of railway.
The Netherlands has nearly 1,000
miles owned by the government
New South Wales owns 2,182 miles
of railway.
New Zealand in 1800 owned 672
miles of railroad.
Norway has 020 miles of railroad
all her own.
Portugal owns about one-half of
the railways in that country.
Oldenburg owns 222 miles of her
railroads.
Peru has 1,625 miles of railroads
owned by the state.
Roumauia in 1880 owned J, 500 miles
of rai' way.
Poland and Caucasia own 5,065 miles
of railways.
Sweeden owns 1,645 miles of rail
roads. Victoria owns all of her railroads
2,341 miles.
Some 1,137 miles of road in Findland
belongs to Russia. About one-tenth
ot the roads in that empire are owned
by the government
Servia also has a few lines of rail
way owned by the state.
Brazil owns and operates 2,091 miles
of railway.
South Australia owns her railway
system.
With regard to the practical success
of state ownership of railroads
and other public utilities, the
United States consular report of
New Zealand for May, 1894. contains
some very valuable information. It
reads some like Populist literature,
yet it is an official public document
prepared by a man who admits in the
report that this class of laws is
repugnant to him."
On pages 59 and 60 the report says
"Though many of the laws that have
been placed upon the statue books of
New Zealand during the last few years
have been characterized as "socialistic"
and "revolutionary," they ara all work
ing admirably, giving the utmost gen
eral satisfaction. It can be truly said
that the tendency of legislation has
been to reach the landless clats, and
to teach them their rights and how to
obtain them. There has been no at
tempt to tear down established inter
ests, but at the same time no effort
has been spared to elevate the condition
of the masses by placing within their
reach all that rightfully belongs to
them, or that would tend toward their
education and material prosperity.
Eveij unselfish aud unbiased person
must admit, no matter what his per
sonal predelictions may be, that the
country, in the short space of three
or four years, has made wonderful
progresa Here the state is
looked to to do almost everything.
The state is expected to form roads
and build bridges in the country, to
find remunerative occupation for the
unemployed; as well as to support
asylums, hospitals, and charitable in
stitutions for the aged poor and the
helpless and infirm members of so
ciety. It owns and operates the rail
roads of the colony, the postoffices,
the telegraph and telephone lines,
out of which there is made a consider
able annual profit that goes to swell
' the general revenue, thereby r el lev-,
lug taxation to that extent There;
is also a government life lnsuranee de
partment which enters into spirited
competition for business with both
local and foreign companies.
There is also a government sav
ing bank which, with the in
stance (department, yields a hand
some profit every year. All these
profits are available to assist in dt
; fraying the expenses of the govern
ment
The public works of the colony are
now conducted on the co-operative
principle When a railway or high
way of any kind is to be constructed a
government engineer makes a survey
and estimate of the cost Upon tha
basis of this estimate the work is given
in small sections to gangs of men who
each receive an equal proportion of
the money earned. There is no call
ing for publio tenders, thus dispens
ing with the contractor altogether,
whose profits, if any, are divided
among the men. The government
supplies tools and necessary material,
if the men are unable to do so, charg
ing first cost only for whatever is sup
plied in this way. The work is con
ducted under the nominal direction of I
the government engineer, whose dutyi
it is to give measurements and levels,',
and generally to see that the w- rk is
properly done. The men work very
hard and earn good wages. By this
means they are enabled to pocket the,
profits that would go to the contractor j
under the old system and the govern-1
ment gets the work done at no greater
cost than formerly. One peculiarj
feature of this method is that h
young, robust, and middle-aged men
worked together, while the weaker!
and less vigorous are formed into
gangs by themselves. The younger
and stronger men object to their older
and neoessarily weaker brothers be
cause they are no longer able to per
form their full share of the work.
The old men are, however, perfeotly
content to have the opportunity to j
earn a livelihood in this way and they
do so very comfortably. The co-operative
system has given great satisfac
tion and has to a large extent solved
the problem of the unemployed in this
colony.
Another excellent system which
works in conjunction with tfce co
operative principle is the 'labor bu
reau.' There are several of these
; bureaus in charge of government
' agents throughout the colony, where
i employers of labor ean send ordirs
' for men. If a man is out of employ
ment he makes application to the
agent In charge of the labor bureau
in his district, who sends him to some
suitable occupation, paying for his
, transportation if necessary, and hav
ing it refunded from the first money 1
the man earns. In this way the labor j
' market is always open, and inform
tlon is obtainable free of charge to
employer and employe.
There are many other institutions
of a character similar to those men
tioned, all of whi h are calculated to
relieve distress.
Notwithstanding the decidedly pa-,
ternal and in many respects social
istic tendency of legislation in New
Zealand, some of which is naturally
repugnant to those who, like myself,
have not been accustomed to 'state
socialism,' yet the fact remains that
it all appears to blend harmoniously
with the sentiments and requirements
of the people. This Is the best evi
dence that can be adduce! upon a
closer acquaintance with its practical
working here in New Zealand that it
is not the 'bogy it is generally be
lieved to be"
Now here is a practical test of the
systems and principles proposed by
the Populists. . We ask in the name of'
reason why the Populists should be
termed "cranks" for advocating the
adoption of systems which even the
enemies of those systems, npon in
vestigation, are compelled to acknowl
edge a success.
Mr. J. T. Farrell of New South,
Wales in a recent letter to the St
Louis Courier, commenting on the mar-:
velous escape of the colony of New Zea
land from the general depression says:i
"Under the rule of the new political
element which came into action there
at the last general election, the pros
perity of the colony has been amazing. .
To-day it is incomparably the best:
colony of the group for a majority
of wage-earners, and its advantage
increases The latest returns show a
great increase of imports, a heavy
surplus of current revenue over cur
rent expenses, made up of advances
in the returns from every department
of public service, great expansion of
national wealth as shown by large de
posits in the savings and other banks,
and an almost total disappearance of
j the local unemployed.
; Mr. Henry Matthews, lale home)
secretary of England, says of New
Zealand: ' Altogether it seems to me
a most desirable p. ace to go to They
have the labor difficulty there, of
course, as elsewhere. There seems
to be so much scope for individual
enterprise that it is well nigh pos
sible to obtain labor for ordinary
purposes at reasonable rates. But
this difficulty will, I suppose, be over-
come in time."
' It will be noticed that the "labor
difficulties' to which Mr. Matthews
refers is, that every man seems to be
engaged in individual enterprise and
don't have to work for others, really
a very desirable and happy condition-
(TO BBCOHTIXUER)