DISTRESSING CASE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 6

DISTRESSING CASE.

A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. c (By Teleeraph.—Suecial OorresDondcnt.) f ' Auckland, July 28. An instance of the evils of the "white plague" has come under the notice of the I Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in Auckland, which, taken from all points of view, appears to be a most distressing case. The sufferer is a youth between 17 and 18 years of age, whoso mother died in Australia when lie was but three years oid, and his father after another three years. That left hini to care for a sister, who died in the same fell disease last year, and the lad in question, being nt the time in a sanatorium, left it in order to pay the last tribute of respect to tho one who had taken the place of his dead mother. As far as ho knows, ho is now ' entirely without a relative in the world. J The name of the lad is John M'Donahl, who, with a companion, was a stowaway ! from Sydney to Auckland by the Huddart- ' Parker steamer Victoria, about 1$ days ' ago. When the vessel arrived at Auckland tho two comrades were handed over f to the police, and upon being charged ! with the offence of travelling without pay- ' ing for a passage, the matter having been ' published, Messrs. Ellis and Burnand, of ' Maugapcehi, wrote to the authorities srtnt- ! ing they wanted boys at the mill, and wero willing to take the lads into their ' employ. Under the , circumstances, the 1 Court decided to let them go, on the un- • dersfemding their passage money would in f duo course be, forwarded to tho shipping ' company. The boys nccordingly went to ■ Messrs. Ellis and Burnand's miU, when M'Donald soon after had the misfortune 1 to have his finger badly cut by a circular ■ saw. He kept on at his job until it wns found that his strength was not sufficient 1 for the work, and ho was then sent down ' to tho doctor at Taumarunui, who, otter ! examining, gave him a certificate to enter : the Hamilton Hospital. He was, however, ' only one night in that institution, being ' sent to Auckland the next morning. His ■ fare was paid for him, but unfortunately i ho was not furnished with any money, \ and no telegram' was received by the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid 1 Board notifying that the lad-was returning. Ho was, however, accompanied by a constable, but wa-s not of course in charge, lie wns told at Maniilion that lie was suffering from consumption, anil must be sent back to Sydney. I'iider (he circunisbuicas the poor lad arrived at Auckland without any money, and was taken to the police station, from which place Mr. A. .lones, of the Charitable Aid Board, was rung up by a constable (» n.'oprlnin what should be dono with the youtli. That gentleman arranged for the unfortunate lad to l>3 provided for at the Workmen's Home for the present, and the following morning had him examined by a medical man, who gave a. certificate stating that M'Donald wns suffering from phthisis, and that ho must have been so sufferiug for tlie Inst IS months. The document ends: "In hit opinion .he should never have been allowed to land here, and should be returned to Xew South Wales." Mr. Jones next interviewed the shipping company, and received a message tin's morning to the effect that they would take the lad back by tho steamer leaving on Monday week. Unless the Health Department orders his removal from his present, quarters, M'Donald will bo kept there until that date. Meanwhile the unfortunate sufferer is stranded, penniless, amongst strangers in ,\ strange land.