REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS. A WARNING TO THE PUBLIC.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 125, 28 May 1898, Page 6

REG IS TRAT IO N OF BIRTHS. A WARNING TO THE PUBLIC.

A rnther painful though necessary duty devolved upon the liegistrar# of Births, Marriages, and Deaths (Mr. F. AY. Mansfiold) this morning, he being required to prosecute a number of persons for failing to register the births of children, the little ones not being now alive. It seems that there is a good deal of misapprehension concerning tlio necessity for the registration of births. The law allows two months in which to register. After that time, and up to six months from the time of birth, registration can take place on payment of »i fine. the six months have expired, registration can only take place, alter a conviction for failing to register. This lastmentioned course Mr. Mansfield was compelled to lako in the present cases. But for tho deaths of the children in question, and the registration of the deaths, it" would never have been officially known that the births had occurred. As Mr. Mansh'old pointed out, if within a period of 12 months so many as 20 of the children who had died during that time should be unregistered as to birth, how many of those living must also be unregistered ? The cases brought this rooming were twelvo in number. Several of the defendants at first pleaded Not Guilty. One of them informed the Magistrate (Mr. H. Eyre-Kenny) that the undertaker who had attended to the interment of tho child had been authorised to register the birth and death, but had failed to do so. Another stated that he had informed the late Registrar of the birth of his child, but through a clerical error he must have failed to record it. Neither of those excuses, said tho Magistrate, condoned the breach of the law in the slightest /tegree. In tiie first instance the father was still the responsible person, and in the second, it was not likely the late Eegistrar would admit that the fault was his. It would be very simple for anyone to come to the Court and plead that " he had told the Registrar," but, tho excuse was quite valueless. Upon Mr. Kenny intimating that if a frivolous defence were set up after the full explanation of the Eegistrar he would, if an offence were proved, inflict a substantial fine, all the defendants entered a plea oi Guilty. Mr. Mansfield intimated that though, he had been instructed to prosecute, as the law demanded, he did not press for a heavy penalty. The Bench accordingly ii, flicted, in each case, the minimum penalty of sSymitho'ii>i£Ju. Ms. Kjuny i /.*"••*• cim ■Jt^,wiiin'4 Jt&jcv.tmAmmm., '« $ ,e.4/D of

miblio to what Mr. Mansfield had said, that '• It must be distinctly understood that if a child has lived at all— however short a time —its birth must be registered."

Our London correspondent writes: — '' The "War Oflice lias selected for the Now Zealand Permanent; Artillery Lieutenant, ('. 13. Mackenzie, it.A., and Quarter-Master Sergeant Instructor l)uv:ill, R.A. .Both will leave for the colony about tho end of Juno." The Freemasons of Petone will attend Divine sorvicn at St. David's Church tomorrow evening, when IJro. the Itev. A. Thomson, P.U.0., will ollieiate. Members of other lodges are invited to attend. The women's branch of the Loyal Orange Institution will hold a social gathering on Tuesday evening at the Foresters' Ilall, Tory-street. The wintpr session of the Trinity Wesloviin Mulual Improvement Scciety was opened lnsL evening with a lecture by the Key. "\V. Baumber on " Charles Kingsloy." Mr. Murphy, caretaker of the sports grounds at Palmerston North, has been appointed custodian of the Wellington Athletic Park Company's grounds. " How Wo Build Character " will bo the subject of address tit the Theosophical Society's Lodge-room to-morrow afternoon. David Crole has recently published a book on " Tea and its Treatment." An advertisement in thiirishue contains extracts from his work under tho heading v " What a Teaplanter Says." Statistics are surprising 1 . It is estimated that no less than 500,000,000 people drink toa, 100,000,000 drink coffee, 55,000,000 drink cocoa, and that the cup of fashion is Empire tea, sold by tho Empire Tea Company, Wellington, which also advertises Dragon egg powder. Dragon custard powder, Clark's Opfcimus coffee extract, and Cameron's New Venus tobacco. Messrs. Inglis Bros., Willis-street, have just opened up a large number of ladies' and gentlemen's Kaloigh bicycles, beautifully fitted up, and with all the '98 improvements. They have also on hand a splendid stock of SilliUrioa. The firm's new advertisement will appear in this paper on Monday. The public are reminded in another column that li. H. Walne, the champion of Australia, climbed to fame on a Dayton bicycle, and that tho coining champion (L. Corbett) is busy climbing now on his Dayton. O. M. Gardnor, tho champion of tho Fire Brigade sports meeting, also rides a Dayton. Messrs. B. W. Mills & Co. advertise a special shipment of tho noted Yarmouth oilskin clothing in qualities from the gosi>amerlike silk fabric worn by ladies to tho heavy overcoat worn by the sailor or expressman. The goods aro guaranteed thoroughly waterproof, and will be sold wholesale or retail. A slump in blankets is advertised by Mr. C. Smith, tho Ca«h Draper,^Cuba-street," ho having purchased eight balay that had been seized in transit at a veryf substantial discount;, and as his stock is already very heavy, he has decided to offer them at the following- low prices : — Single bed blankets, 5s lid, (is lid, 7s lid, 8s lid per pair ; double bed blankets, 9s lid, 12a Cd, 14s Cd, ICs <id best twilled colonial blankets, single bod 14s Gd, double bod 19s (3d. Inspection always solicited at C. Smith's, the Cash Draper, Cuba-street.— A »vt.