DISEASED POTATOES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 84, 10 April 1911, Page 3

DISEASED POTATOES.

NEW PLYMOUTH, 9th Apiil. On Saturday moi-iing Mr. F. B. Gardiner, Di?tiict Health Officer, paid a visit to the railway goods shed, auction marts, and stores where potatoes which recently arrived from the South are lying. Alter inspecting them he prohibited the sale of them, on the ground that they were unfit for human consumption. Beyond this he could not go. A health inspector may prohibit the sale of_i'ood which in his judgment is unfit for human consumption, but he cannot prevent the diseased potatoes being sold for pig food, and so spreading the disease, nor can he prevent the diseased tubers being picked out and the remainder sold. The orchards, gardens, and apiaries branch of the Agricultural Department also took action, as a result, of which the local stock inspector (Mr. Munro) took formal possession of all infected shipments in the town until Mr. Kirk's division, takes further action. NOT UNDER PROPER CONTROL. CHRISTCHURCH, Bth April. A case marked by some shocking features came before Mr. Bishop, S.M., at the Juvenile Court this morning, when a fourteen-year-old girl was charged with not being under proper control. The father of the girl is the subject of a prohibition order, but he apparently does not obey it, as his demeanour in court drew from the magistrate arid the police the opinion that he wae under the influence of liquor. The mother is a respectable woman, and it waa when she was absent, engaged in work, that the girl fell into evil way*. Being left to her own resources, she did as she pleased, and, according to the police report, ehe slept in a stable one night instead of going home. The magistrate said it wa3 a shocking thing that a child should be allowed to drift into evil ways in this fashion, but there was no reflection on the mother, who was a, hard-working woman. It was ncr misfortune to have a ne'er-do-well husband. His Worship, referring to the breach of the prohibition order committed by the girl's father, declared that it wa-s a scandal to the community thaf these orders should be treated as they were. He said that he expected constables to do all in their power to see that these orders were respected, and to exercise special supervision oA'er cases of thie kind. His "Worship then committed the girl to the Te Oranga Home. He made an order for the payment of 8s a week against the father, and instructed it to be registered against his property. THE STRANDING OF THE BOVERIC. AUCKLAND. 9lh April. The steamer Knight of St. George, which arrived to-day, brought details of the stranding of t-he steamer Boveric at Nukualofa.. The Boveric, when entering Nukualofa on 29th March, under easy steam, and in fine weather, grounded on the end of a reef at the entranco to the Narrows. Efforts to get her off at high water faUed. The Knight of St. George arrived on 31st March and tried next morning to tow the Boveric off, but without success. She tried again on 2nd April, but the tow-line parted. Next morning n third unsuccessful attempt was made, and on 3rd /April the Knight of St. George left- for Auckland, leaving the Boveric's , position unchanged. It is considered that probably a por-' won of the reef is penetrating the Boverie's hull, and that she will have to be considerably lightened before she can be floated. The Knight ot St. George suffered some slight damage while, endeavouring to pull the Boveric off. NEW HOSPITAL FOR GISBORNE. GISBORNE. Bth April. Plans for the proposed new hospital submitted by the architects (Messrs. Atkins and Bacon), and approved. It is anticipated the total cost of the buildings, grounds, furnishing, etc., will be clcee on £60,000.