368 



KEJV SOUTH WALES. 



work of mining coal earn from 2s. to 3s. per ton, or from 8s. to lis. per day. A large 

 number of persons are emploj'ed in mining at various occupations at rates ranging 

 from a few shillings per clay ; on the other hand, foremen, overseers, paymasters, over- 

 men, engineers, and others receive better wages. On the gold-fields a large propor- 

 tion of the work is done on tribute — that is, the miners take a certain proportion of the 

 gold won as their share, in payment for work and labour done. In this way (say) 20, 30, 

 or 50 per cent, of the gold is paid to those employed in finding it, according to the richness 

 of the field. The rates paid on the silver mines are about on a par with those current 

 for coal-mining. 



House Rent. 



This important item in the cost of living may be estimated at about one-fourth or one- 

 fifth of the. ordinary earnings of artizans and mechanics with families. Rates vary greatly, 

 according to position and the distance from the city. The same style of house even in the 

 same street frequently commands a difference of several shillings a week, simply on account 

 of its position. Rents are generally paid weekly for the smaller class of tenements, 

 and fortnightly, monthly, or by arrangement, for the larger ones. Briefly stated, house 

 rents in the city and suburbs are as follows : — "Workmen's houses, in the suburbs, of about 

 3 or 4 rooms, 7s. to 10s. ; houses of 5 or 6 rooms, 15s. to 203. ; and 6 or 7 rooms, 20s. to 

 2os. per week. These are chiefly terrace houses, and, as a rule, include kitchen, with all 

 conveniences and offices. Detached houses of 7 or 8 rooms are somewhat difficult to find 

 unless at high rents ; those within easy access by tram, train, or ferry command from £65 

 to £100 per annum, and for gentlemen's residences, with grounds, in the suburbs, some 

 little distance from town, £100 to £250 per annum is demanded. In the provincial towns 

 rates are much lower, and, as a rule, more land is given to each tenement. The rates 

 enumerated above are within the range of twopenny and threepenny fares by 'bus or tram, 

 or one penny by ferry. 



Board and Residexce. 



Living in apartments, with or without board, is comparatively cheap ; in fact, the scale 

 of "quality and price" is sufficiently varied to suit all degrees of tastes and means. The 

 following gives a fair idea of the cost of living under such conditions : — Mechanics and 

 labouring classes can obtain fairly good accommodation from 15s. to 18s. per week ; 

 ordinarj' board and residence in private families, or at boarding-houses, from 18s. to 25s. 

 per week ; superior accommodation, from 25s. to 30s. per week. Hotels charge 8s. to 

 10s. per day. "Weekly rates in first-class hotels vary from 30s. to 60s. pei* week. Coffee 

 palaces charge fromOd. to Is. for single meals, and 2s. 6d. to 4s. for single beds. Charges 

 in the country are about on the same scale, perhaps a little less. A large number of 

 persons rent single furnished rooms at 4s. to 6s. per week, and obtain their meals at 

 restaurants. 



The Price of Food. 



The necessaries of life in the way of food, fuel, light, &c., are prociirable in this colony 

 as cheaply as in any part of the world. There is an abundance of meat, fruit, and all 

 kinds of farm produce which is at the command of all classes at prices varying somewhat 

 according to the consumer's proximity to the locality where his requirements are dis- 

 tributed or produced in large quantities. In the city or suburbs the ruling rates for pro- 

 visions vary according to the season of the year, but may be approximately set out as 

 follows : — 



Meat. — Retail prices for prime joints in the city and suburbs are — for mutton : fore 

 quarters, \h\. per lb. ; hinds, 2d. per IT). ; chops, 2d. to 3d. per It). ; lamb : fore-quarters. 

 Is. 6d. each ; hinds, 2s. to 2s. 6d. each ; ribs of roasting beef, 2d. to 4d. per IT). : sirloin, 

 4d. to 5d. per lb. ; rump steak, 6d. per lb. ; plain, 2^d. to 3d. per IT). ; corned beef, 2d. 

 to 3d. per lb. ; pork : loins, 5d. to 6d. jjer lb. ; legs, 5d. per lb. ; sausages : beef, 2d. to 

 3d. per IT). ; pork, 5d. to 6d. per lb. ; veal : fillet, 5d. per lb. ; loin, 4d. per lb. ; breast 

 and shoulder, 3d. per lb. Poultry commands high prices at Christmas and Easter. 

 Orilinary retail prices for live poultry range as follows : — Fowls, 3s. to 4s. per pair ; 

 ducks, 33. 6d. to 4s. 6d. per pair ; geese, 5s. to 6s. per pair ; turkeys : hens, 5s. to 6s. 



