A HARD CASE.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 284, 4 December 1877, Page 2

A HARD CASE.

This afternoon, on the Resident Magistrate's Court resuming, Mr. Gordon Allan asked per- i • mission to call the attention of the Court toi i> case of great hardship, and which he wished , to have the advice of the Bench. When the „ ship Zenlandin arrived recently with disease oa board, and was put into quarantine, the clothes of the crew were ordered to be destroyed as a necessary sanitary measuro, towards securing complete disinfection. This ship was taken under the Health Act, which authorised the destruction of tho clothiug. Sec, but unfortunately was silent as to who should bear the cost of such destruction. Application had been made to the Government for compensation, but Mr. Seed, the Secretary of Customs, had given it as his opinion ' that the destruction was for the benefit ot the ship, and that therefore the ship should bear the cost. He asked for au expression of opiuion on the part of the Bench. Mr. Crawford said he did not see what the Bench could do in the matter. The case certainly was a very hard one, but perhaps the Press would direct attention to the matter. Mr. Allan hoped this would be done, and that if no compensation could be obtained, a public subscription would be started, as the men were reduced to great distress, not having even a change of clothing. They were a very quiet aud orderly set ot men, and hitherto baa not attempted to call attention to their hard case, but as they could not obtain any compensation, they were obliged to make this appeal.