Smoko-Ho. September 7, 1895.

*THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, SEPTEMBER 7, 1895.

Smoko-Ho.

DON'T forget the WORKER Enlargement Fund.

ASSOCIATED Workers' Union at Mackay doing well.

THE Torres Straits Pilot says "other items are unavoidablly crushed out by the large Japanese advertisements."

A MACHINE for extinguishing bush fires has been patented under the name of "The Oondouroo Bush Fire Extinguisher."

THE Colonial Sugar Refining Company are said to have purchased nearly all the cane grown on the Johnstone River this season.

MAKE the premier co-operative Labour paper in Australia the most attractive by assisting to swell the fund for that object.

"WHEN I get mean as you I'll crawl out of this," was the ready response of Labour Member M'Donald to the query of two-faced Barlow.

THE Croydon Mining News thanks heaven that the £100 sent from that minin town to Michael Davitt did not pass through Tommy Brynes' hands.

IN the public library of Melbourne there are 152,711 volumes. The Queensland Government would do well if it spent some of the surplus in a simlar institution.

PROFESSOR Loisette, who is now in Sydney, states his method for perfecting people's memories is the correct one, but he does not pretend to mend fractured ones. No hope for Tozer.

DR. Bevan, of Victoria, is of opinion that, so far as the administration of the law goes, magistrates are about the most shameless set of men that he knows of. That's nice characterfor the judgement seat.

AT the sugar plantations on the Johnstone River coloured labour is largely employed in the field, in the mill, and at the fires. Kanakas in this district act as cooks, build houses, sink wells, &c., &c. The law is not enforced.

IT came as a surprise to the members of the Victorian Temperance Alliance at a recent meeting held in Melbourne to learn that some of its execative were good, sound whisky drinkers. In moderation, you know; only in moderation!

THE following advertisements have appeared in the Melbourne Age; "Wanted a kind person to adopt retrenched bank clerk." "Shorthand writer and typist wanted, mercantile office; salary, 10s. weekly." What price brains as a commodity?

SINCE 1888 no less than 23 large vessels bound from Newcastle and Sydney to foreign ports, coal laden, have gone a missing, and with them the lives of 500 seamen. If ever the sea gave up its dead, the unscrupulous ship owner will have a lot to answer for.

THE general secretary of the A.L.F. desires to inform applicants to him for "Merrie England" that the local supply has once more been sold out. A fresh stock is expected in a week or two, and as soon as they are to hand orders will receive immediate attention.

THE twenty-second celebration of the eight-hour demonstration in Adelaide was held on Tuesday last. The demonstration was a most successful one. During the day the foundation stone of the new Trades Hall was laid by Mrs. Kingston, the wife of the South Australian Premier.

A SAD accident has occurred at the Cosme settlement in Paraguay. The eldest son of Mr. Lane, whilst playing at cricket, was struck by the ball over the region of the heart and died shortly afterwards from the effect. Much sympathy is felt both for Mrs. and Mr. Lane in this bereavment.

THE legal defender of Deeming, the notorious murder, says all murdering must be opposed, whether carried out in the name of Bill Sykes or Her Majesty the Queen, and whether directed by a Judge Windeyer or a Deeming. This is rather a nasty insinuation against Bill Sykes and Co.

A TOOWOOMBA man relates that he consulted his solicitor regarding some people who were circulating objectionable statements about him, and was advised not to take action as they were only

men of straw and not worth going for. He was further advised to meet them in some dark corner and kick them.

MAJOR A. J. Boyd gave an interesting lecture at the Royal Geographical Society's Rooms on Saturday evening last, on :Antarctic Exploration." The object of the lecture was to stimulate Australians to take such an interest in the subject of the lecture as will lead to the equipment of a suitable vessel to explore the Antarctic Sea.

THE first number of the Jerusalem Star, published in London, says; "We shall be happy to supply Christian evidence lecturers, Sunday school teachers, hallelujah tub-thumpers and Gospel-grinders on the usual terms; but any bishop or archbishop can have a copy gratis on applying at our publishing office, as we expect they cannot afford to buy a copy, having given to the poor all they posses."

THE load lines on ships and steamers is for the protection of life against the carelessness and greed of shipowners. The Victorian shipowners want a postponement of the new load line regulations for the reason that in New Zealand and South Australia load line acts had been passed but were not applied, while in N.S.W. and Queensland nothing in that direction had been done. Capitalism is against every reform.

THE destitution of the working classes in Adelaide was brought under the notice of the Legislative Council of South Australia by labour Member M'Pherson reading a letter in that exalted chamber which stated t5hat women were compelled to offer to make girl's serge dresses for 3d. each, whilst women who formerly received 6d. for the same kind of work were turned adrift because thet refused to accept the lower rate.

In spite of the general depression in trade which existed everywhere during last year the Thirty-fifth Annual Report of the Amalgmated Carpenters and Joiners, for 1894, shows a splendid record. Its income was £115,759 17s. 01/2d. and expenditure £114, 561 1s. 10d., closing the year with a cash credit balance on hand of £74,119 6s. 51/2d.; 666 branches of the society are spread over Great Britain, the United States, and Australasia, the membership being 39,753.

ONE Andrew Spence, who wheels round in the State of California, is said to be the only bicycle missionary in the world. He has rigged his wheel with a sail, and gets considerable aid from the wind when it happens to be blowing just right. The Ten Commandments are printed on the sail, and the masts and yardarms are used for the display of religious charts. These charts, according to Spence, show when time shall end. It is said that Spence is now on his way to Queensland for the purpose of converting the Ministry.

GEORGE Wilson writes to a Melbourne paper; "I am a cabinetmaker and can do my work as well as any man in Victoria. I used to earn my £4 per week some four years ago, but since the warehouse people have taken to buying off and indirectly employing Chinese makers I have suffered considerably. I have a wife and nine children, and all I can get now is an odd day now and again, and that only at 5s. per day, such as packing furniture, repairing same, and a little upholstering. My wife - God bless her - tried to earn a little at washing; but the Chinese seem to be on her track also. A Chinese laundry has started close to our little house.