Reports as to the demand for skilled labour in Dunedin go to show that in several trades there is plenty of work for the men available. Carpenters are keenly inquired for, and there are absolutely no competent men at the present time out of employment, while the joinery works are fully staffed to cope with the orders being received.
There is an actual shortage of plasterers, while bricklayers, painters, and plumbers are finding no lack of employment, the first-named especially being kept hard at it on the many buildings now in course of construction in the city.
It appears, too, that the town is in the happy position of looking forward to a continuance of this trade prosperity, seeing that the erection of the new Technical School and other large structures will shortly be commenced.
The boot-making trade is also keeping busy, good bench hands being at a premium.
In addition, merchants say they have no reason to complain of bad debts, and that far the greater part of their business is run on a cash basis, there being only a small proportion of "paper" in evidence.
One prominent Dunedin merchant yesterday stated that it must be a source of great satisfaction to the Otago public to know that its chief town was as "solid" from a financial point of view as it ever was, and was, though perhaps not to the same extent as some other northern centres, steadily advancing.
• Favoured by delightful weather, the children's excursion to Lawrence yesterday in connection with Daffodil Day was an unqualified success. In the two trains which left the city in the morning there were some 950 children, 400 adults, and 100 teachers, and this large number of persons, on arrival at Lawrence, proceeded to Weatherstones, where the magnificent panorama of living gold was spread out before their eyes. The marvellous display of daffodils caused no little wonder among both children and adults, and many of the excursionists with a more than usually fervent love of Nature, never grew weary of feasting their eyes on the beautiful sight.
During the day a visit was also paid to a couple of sluicing claims, both of which were in active operation. The youngsters evinced great interest in this industry, and the immediate result of their visit to the claims was the springing up of a crop of juvenile miners.
• Preliminary work at the Harbour Board's quarry at Sunshine is now being proceeded with, in readiness for getting out the rock required for the wall to be constructed across the head of the harbour in connection with the reclamation work decided on by the board. The rock which will be used is of a somewhat soft, chalky nature, but it is asserted by those competent to judge that this stone will prove more resistant to wave action than even the best bluestone, for the reason that it soon wears quite smooth, and, furthermore, that a green seaweed finds in it sufficient sustenance for a good growth, the smoothness of the rock and the weed combining to counteract to a large extent the action of the water.
A railway line is to be run along the foot of the quarry, and the board is at present taking steps to secure a small engine. The line will be constructed out into the harbour on piles as the wall proceeds, and will run alongside it, the stone being ejected from the trucks at the side.
A visit to the locality and a view of the proposed route of the wall shows that the work now is of some magnitude, and it is anticipated that it will be some four years before the wall is completed. - ODT, 11.10,1912.
