LEPROSY AMONG THE MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 174, 25 July 1890, Page 2

LEPROSY AMONG THE MAORIS.

Quite recently, as some of out readers may remember, we published a cable message from London which had reference to a " Miss .Marsden, from ftew Zealand," haying interviewed M. £tfcteur, the Celebrated Frenoji scientist, on the subject of the inoculation care for leprosy among the Maorie. Nobody here, we imagine* iiad "any idea Vho the lailjr Was; Bα* appearl thit she is identical wrtfiß all.iel Kate Mareden, who is described as being

"of a certain age," and who for a time acted as lady superintendent of Wellington Hospital. Thia lady has gone to England, and has been making herself conspicuous as an authority on leprosy, and an enthusiast of the Sister Rose Gertrudo order. She did nob go to Molokai, bub having managed to get interviews with Queen Victoria and the Princess of Wales, she through the latter obtained an introduction to the Czarina of Russia, who procured for her a commission to investigate leprosy throughout all the Russias, and Dr. Duncan, Chief Imperial Medical Officer, ab St. Petersburg, has been ordered to accompany the heroic Miss Marsden on her extensive travels ab the Czar's expense. These particulars, and some more astonishing ones to follow, have been published by the "Pall Mall Gazette" in an article headed " Another Leper's Bride," which bears to be an interview with Miss Marsden. Her New Zealand experiences are thus referred to:— *• I went out to New Zealand, where my last sister was dying of consumption. A week; after I arrived ehe died, and I accepted the place as Lady Superintendent at the Wellington Hospital. Then I heard of the miners in the South Island, many of whom live several days' journey away from any place where they can get medical assistance in cases of accident. You can imagine what a man's sufferings must be if he breaks or injures a limb, and has to remain unattended to for days and days till a doctor is brought to him, or till he ia taken a long journey to where the nearest medical man lives. In order to enable them to holp themselves and each other till medical assistance can be obtained, I went among the miners all over the island and gave ambulance lectures. It was a strange experience. Sometimes I had to travel four ; or five days to get to them; then I gave my lecture, sat with them by their camp fire, slept in a tent which they had specially put up for me, and rode off again next day bo another place. On these tours I saw a good deal of leprosy among the Maoris, and a few months ago I came home to England, thiuking to go to Molokai and there make further studies of the disease." The Wellington "Posb" points out as something curious that Mies Marsden makes no mention of a serious accident which befell her while in Wellington, resulting in a long illness, followed by her resignation of her post—a supposed hopeless invalid. If her bodily powers were im- , paired, her mental faculties appearjto have been vastly stimulated, nioro especially ; her power of imagination. There is an unexplained inberrognum, too. It is some . years since Mies Marsden left Wellington, and the " Post " hae no information Kβ to her whereabouts during the time that 1 elapsed before her return to England " a ; few months ago." Can she possibly have been living in tents in Westland and Otago during those years, "seeing agood deal of leprosy among the Maoris V As our con- [ temporary remarks, it would be something remarkable if ehe even saw Maoris there— to say nothing of the leprosy. Considering that the authorities on thab dread disease \ are nob agreed as to the existence of a single case of true leprosy among the Maoris, and that people have lived a lifetime among the natives without seeing a leper, ib would be curious if even, after a lengthened residenco in the North Island, Miss Mareden hadfound the diseaso so prevalent. It would be aleo interesting 4,0 learn whether any of the hardy miners in the South Island remember those picturesque camp-fire lectures by the elderly maiden lady who took pity on their forlorn condition—her special sleeping tent, and the affecting farewell as she rode off next day. What, by the way, had become of the goldfields hospitals and regular medical practitioners ? The romanticetory seems, ab all events, to have served Miss Kate Marsden's purpose. She has cajoled tho Autocrat of Russia into paying the expense of her leprosy commission to the remoteeb bounds of his vast empire. Miss Mareden will doubtless gain a mass of valuable information during her tour, and if ehe embellishes it after the manner of her Now Zealand reminiscences, ib will be really interesting reading. It would be highly instructive were she to undertake a lecturing tour of this colony to enlighten us on "Leprosy in Russia." Per- j baps the enterprising R. S. Smythe will get hold of the much-travelled lady ond persuade her to come. Ab the meeting of the City Council last evening, a telegram was read from the Town Clerk at Chriatchurch, asking, on behalf of the Christchurch City Council, that the Auckland Council should support an amendment in the Municipal Corporations Acb restricting representation for boroughs with a population of under 25,000 to two members for each ward. It was resolved to send a reply fchab as the population of Auckland is over 25,000 the Council haa no suggestion to offer. Black, chargod at Gisborne with the murder of hia friend Streeter, has been committed for trial. The case occupied the Court again yesterday. F. McDonald, stockman, gave particulars of a conversation with the accused aboub Strceter's disappearance. Black told witness he parted with deceased two and a half miles from the camp, that Streeter had been home, kicked up a row with hie missus and cleared out. He said Sfcreeter had been seen at Mohaka. Arthur Parkinson, a member of Black's camp, gave evidence as to what took place at the camp on March 30th. Waring went for stores, and witness to McDonald's. Streeter and Black starred out with the intention of shooting pigeons. Waring and witness were back ab four in the afternoon, when Black returned without Streeter, .and said he had gone to town, he having given him £3. Witness had good reason to believe that Black had not £3. After a visit to town the accused told witness that Streeter had been in and gone away. On Saturday, April sth, Black suggested to knock off work early in the afternoon, and they did so. Witness and his mate returned to the camp, Black saying he would go into the bush to havo 8 look afc the trees to be felled. Next day ho found a spade and an axe on a branch track near where the body was found. This led them 'to search that spot for the body. Black returned at seven in the evening, seven hours after them. He said he had been lost in the bush. A petition from seventy residents of Hobson-street was read at the City Council ineeting lasb evening, requesting the Council to erect three more lamp 3in Lower Hobson-streeb, which they allege is at present left in almost total darkness ab nights, because from the corner of Wyndham-street to tho steps leading into Customs-sbreeb, a distance of 270 yards, there is no lamp. The petition was referred to the Streets Committee. At a committee meeting of the Martini Rifle Ciub held lasb night, it was decided to pub ah extra match on the programme for August 2nd, viz., 10 shots ab 600 yards, with handicaps according to the shooting merits of members. As the Mounb Eden Range Commibtee has given the Club the use of bhe Range the first Saturday in every month, the 600 yards range will be available for the first time, and a large field is i expected. 1 In the Divorce Court at London Viscount , Dunlo has deposed that he knew nothing against hie wife beyond bhe statement made to him by Robinson aud the Messrs Lewis. He admitted that his wife begged bo be al- ■ lowed to accompany him on his visit to Australia, and . thab he made no provision for 1 her support. Letters irom both display continuous affection, and after swearing his affidavib charging her wibh adnUery, Vis- , count Dunlo wrote to his wife expressing 1 disbelief in the charges.

In the local produce market there are some changes to report in various lines. In farm and dairy produce both butter and eggs have advanced eomewhab in wholesale prices. Fresh butter has risen from 6d, Bd, and 10d per lb to Bd, 10d, and Is, for first, second, and third qualities. Egg ß are somewhat scarcer, and are now fetching Is 3d per dozen wholesale. Maize is quoted ab 3a to 3s 2d ; milling wheat, localand Southern,is rather firmer in price; seed and fowl wheat sells freely. A large business is doing in flour. Large orders for potatoes are in the market from Australia. The kauri gum market is considerably firmer, prices having advanced £2 or £3 for good and ordinary since last report. Fair to good ordinary is quoted at £40 to £41, and best parcels are fetching £42 per ton. The supplies of gum for the month to date are 470 tons. Captain Edwin wired as follows at Ip.m. to-day:—" Expect north-east to north and west gale, with more rain; glass further fall." At the meeting of the City Council last evening, a letter was read from Mr W. Gorrie, on behalf of the Auckland Bowling Club, requesting the Council to erect a strong fence between the Bowling Green and the Domain, as cattle from the latter may get in and spoil the Green. Mr .Gorrie thinks the Council should bear the whole expense, as the fence is quite strong enough for anything but to keep cattle out It was resolved thab the Council will pay half the expense. Particulars of the lamentable loss by drowning of the late Captain Norris, off the cutter Tokerau in the Bay of Plenty, have been received at Tauranga from Captain Norris , nephew. He states that about 4 o'clock yesterday morning he heard Captain Norris eboub "Man overboard," and rushing on deck ha found he had disappeared. Ho brought the veasol to on the other tack, and the cook threw a line to the captain, who was to the "leeward. Aa the line fell a heavy sea broke over him, and he sank, and did not appear again.. The vessel lay by for half-an-hour, and then ' stood for Mercury Bay. Captain Norris Was alone on the deck at the time of the accident. The annual report of the Dunedin Re--1 frigerating Company shows a credit balance to profit and loss account of £2,383, out of • which it is proposed to pay a dividend of 8 per cenb. and carry forward £468. During the year there were frozen and shipped 232,333 carcases sheep and lambs, and 8,312 ' quarters beef, being an increase ol 54,829 sheep, but a decrease of 3,150 quarters beef. Of these J 19,307 carcases were frozen 1 at Oamaru, and 113,206 at Burnside. These rigures would have been much larger but ' for the scarcity of tonnage. The Company have purchased the ship Ottalina, to be ■ used as a refrigerating hulk. At fehe request of Mr J. J. Craig, a trial ■ was recently instituted sit the Western Springs pumpiner station between Kamo and Taupiri Extended coal. The .Engineer reporte that after a careful trial he finds that it coebs abouto £2 8a 5d to raise a million gallons of water with Kamo coal, and about £3 2s lid per million with Taupiri Extended. The City Council decided last nig he to inform Mr Craig in terms of the Engineer's report. His Worship stated that Kamo coal was now in regular use. An extraordinary case of polygamy is furnished by a correspondent to the "Indian Daily Notvs." This is what he saye :—"A Brahmin of Bengal gave away hia six aunts, eight sisters, and four daughters, in a batch of altogether eighteen, in marriage to ono person, a boy less than ten years old. The brides of three generations were in age from about fifty to three months ab the lowest. The baby bride was brought to the ceremony on a braes plate. !&mong the Kuliri Brahmins, as a rule, the man who receives in marriage the majority of the daughters of a family is also bound to have the rest, otherwise the minority must suffer a lifelong celibacy. Hundreds of instances like the above may be given if needed." This, says tho " Times of India," is scarcely credible; but a contemporary happens to know that Kulin Brahmins are allowed unlimited scope in matters matrimonial. The Arch Hill Wesleyan School-room was crowded to the doors last evening by an appreciative audience who had assembled to enjoy a concert given by the bachelors of the. district. * Mr Hodgson occupied the chair. The programme was highly interesting and was as follows:—Two glees by five gentlemen ; flute solo, Mr Marks; recitations by Messrs Moody, Allen, White, and Williams ; two solos, Mr Wakerley ; solo, Mr Jas. Allen (encored); harp selection, Mr Carder (encored); song, " Rustic Bridge," Mr Cacketb; comic farce, " Starvation." This was the subject of much fun, the five actors taking fcheif parfes very well. Violin solo, Mr Bettany ; comic reading, Mr Bellhouse. Tho last item bu,b not least was a comic song in character by Mr Walter Tucker, who received o wellmerited encore. The fortnightly entertainment of the Burns Club took place last evening in the Masonic Hall, Newton, Mr A. Murcbie in the ohair. During the evening Mr Wm. Forsyth presented to tho Club an enlarged photograph of Burns's installation as a Mason. He had it handsomely framed especially for presentation to the Auckland Burns Club. This will be a pleasing addition to the already increasing collection of relics now in possession of the Club. The following contributed musical and other items to the evening's entertainment, a most enjoyable one: —Mrs Murchie, Misses Wright, Adams, Lye, Falks* and Taylor j Messrs Simon Fraser, Armstrong, Parish, Foray th, Carter, and McNab, and the ■ Masters Fraser. Mr Jno. Henry also gave : a very clever ventriloquial entertainment. ' After this date a roller ekating rink is to"' be opened in the Choral Hall on Saturday afternoons, commencing on Saturday next. With good music and a good floor a pleasanb afternoon's recreation may be expected. Ladies and children will be charged sixpence. Messrs Cruickshank, and Co., of Queenstreet, announce thab the recent pleasure excursion trip from Sydney to China and Japan in one of the E. and A. fine line of steamers, which was so very successful, is to be followed shortly by another, arranged on the same lines, and affording a splendid opportunity for a leisured colonist wishing to , make acquaintance with the wonders of the Eaßt. Messrs Cook and Sons have arranged the details of the' excursion, which leaves Sydney, probably in the s.s. Guthrie, on or about August 20th. The trip is expected to be a most pleasurable one. Brisbane will be the first port of call, thence Towns- ' ville,/Cooktown, Thursday Island and Port Darwin, will be called at. A course will then be steered for Hongkong ; and Canton and Macao, two very interesting ports, may be visited. From Hongkong the steamer goes on to Nagasaki and' Kobe (Japan), where a very interesting inland tour will i be arranged. Returning to Hongkong the steamer returns to Australia, reaching Sydney in November, after a trip of ten or eleven weeks. The Gospel Temperance Social was presided over last night by Mr E. G. Carr, who gave a capital address, and the choir and friends supplied a good programme as follows :'—-Chorus, "Tie on the Ribbon of , Blue," choir; solo, "Shadows," Miss Edmonds ; recitation, "A Noble Lad," Miss Parkinson; solo, "Half-mast," Miss Little; reading "Moderate Drinking," Mr Ross; solo, " Allan Water," Miss Edmonds. Hymn,," Longiin Darkness," choir. Some pledges wera taken, and the Benediction closed the meeting.' i Mr Pletnitig, writing to the " Pall Mall Gazette,, , ' says that a Pacific cable Would be useless.if the colonies guarantee the Eastern Extension Company. '

The members of the Star of Newton Lodge No 4, 1.0. G.T., met last night m the Protestant Hall, Karangahape Road. Bro. Preston, W.C.T. presided. The members of the Finch Memorial Lodge, Onehunga, paid a visit in regalia. The following programme was gone through:—Song, "The Bells," Sis. King ; " When You and I were Young, Maggie," Sis. Brown ; " Shakspere's Seven Ages," Bro. A. Diamond ; " A Light in the Window," Bro. S. Diamond; " I Was in It," Bro. Baulder; •'Forgive and ForgeV Sis. Chase. The duet, " Both Sides of the House," was eung by Sis. King and Bro. Burnett. Bro. Hayden read " The Temperance Meeting, , and Bro. White recited " Sal Grogan 8 Face." A public meeting was held at Dunedin last night, under the auspices of the Protection League, bub was only moderately attended. Mr Swan, president of the local Association, presided. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted :—" 1. That in the opinion of this meeting, a goneral policy, based on the principles, cf protection, is absolutely necessary to pro-. mote industries and develop the natural resources of New Zealand, inasmuch as lopg hours and cheap labour of other countrine enable foreigners, under the,, present Customs tariff, to take possession of our own manufactures. 2. This pledges itself individually and collectively to accord support ab elections to the platform of the League." The West End Musical Union, which gave such successful performances during the Jubilee week in Auckland, announce elsewhere their intention of giving the 1 musical public of Auckland another pleasanb evening's amusement on Monday next. For the last few months they hava been rehearsing the beautiful oratorio, " Captives of Babylon," composed by George Shinn, Mus. Bac. This composition is of a very high order of merit, both for vocal and instrumental music, and no doubt lovers of oratorio music will avail themselves of the opportunity offered ofliateningtotheinter- • probation of one of the beet works of fcnis great composer. Bread is the staff of life, but good bread and cheese is a luxury. People who wish to thoroughly enjoy this luxury must obtain the best cheese. Manaia factory ; cheese, which is the finest quality in Auckland, weigh over seventy pounds each, and ' are rich in colour and splendid in flavour. The firsb shipment to Auckland this season ; has been bought by Mr W. Earle, the well- ' known provision merchant of Queen-street. 1 Those who wish a real relish should call ' aud sample.—(Advx?) ' Do nob be "a penny wise and a pound . foolish," bub ask for and buy Brown, ! Barrett and Co.'s genuine pepper. Ib is { cleaner and cheaper than the adulterated stuff cold Aβ pepper. To make sure of get--ting our manufacture, ask for tins. Every tin bears our guarantee.—Brown, Barretb, and Co., Coffee and Spice Manufacturers.— (Advt.) ■.