CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 12871, 21 July 1906, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Every letter must be accompanied by the name and address of tie writer, not necessairiy for publication, but as a guarantee of good faxtb. Rejected letters cannot be returned under any circumstances whatever* Oorrespondente ara advised to keep copies of their letters, as this rule will be adhered to strictly, CR WALKER IK REPLY, TO TTTE KDITOE. • S^ r '- As to your article in toP a P er I was entirely wrong in tho remarks I made at the last- Council meeting Vl r re ^ er ’ Jn^e to (ho shutting, down, of Messrs Moms :md Ob.’s works (which you claim was necessary, owing to the interior quality or pressure of gas supplied), you yourself bear out :n to-naght’s article llio contention I then endeavored to explain—viz., that Messrs Morris and Co. made no complaint m reference to defective gas on Tuesday-*-tire day they closed down—and also that on Wednesday, when they made the complaint, tho engine was working in a few minutes after the complaint was made. Sir, it seems a singular thing to mo, if Messrs Morris and Co. wore so certain that the gas was at fault, that they did not immediately ring up the works, as in that case Mr Hunger fora would have given tho matter his attention. Another point which is plainly evident ia that the absence of complaints from .other consumers proves most conclusively that the gas supplied to them answered their purposes and kept the engines running satisfactorily. This, ti . any unbiased nunti, ; proves tnu-c there . must bo some detect cither in the engine car service pipes. - The question of tho engines giving trouble “in damp, dirty weather ” previously, as mentioned by on© of the employees, is rather a singular orue, and if gas engines stop on account of weather I am afraid they would stop, rather frequently in Dunedin. The number of gas engines in use in Dunedin is 186, and 1 have been assured by ia number of manufacturers who have the largest engines in use that they haye no complaint to make, the engines giving them no trouble. Again, the point raised by the engineer that the' engine required’ no attention, and would run for months, is’a debatable one, ns, like other machinery, a very alight wont of adjustment fn certain parts of the engine will stop .the working, and, vice versa, will lead to the restarting. As chairman of the Gas Committee, I certainly think that your article is, under the circumstances, misleading, as you take one side without hearing what the department has to say in defence. Then, the fact that the other consumers were working their matehaaes with tho same quality of gas is all against Messrs Morris and Oo.’s contention, and the que iiun that they never notified the gas department, believing there was something wrong with the shafting (vide your report), justifies m© in what I slated at the Council meeting. I regret aa much as anyone that any trouble has arisen over the supply of gas, asnd that consumers have been put to loss and inconvenience oyer tho matter, and can assure tho ptfblic that the department will do all in their power to rectify any complaints requiring attention should it’ be proved that the gas is at fault; but the onus of notifying the department falls on the owner. After having done so, should the power be insufficient and tire complaint not rectified, it is time for the Press to give publicity to tho complaint. Thanking you in anrierpatinn, and for tho fair and courteous cbnsaderaition that your paper has always extended to mo in my official capacity—l am, etc., Jas. H. Waiocgh. -July 19'. , BOGUS ELECTRIC BEt/JS, TO,THE EDITOR. last X tea that aonreone has been brave enough to take action against a chain bolt company, os reported in a local in your issue of last night. A groat many of the public are already aware, to their cost, be it said, of the kind of busi? ness done by these people, but having bean victimised onoo, are reluctant to have their folly advertised in the Magistrate’s Court news. It is pretty evident, however, that the visits bf people who have been guaranteed a euro had become tod frequent to tho Wellington office of one, of fh© com- - so.t he.iiim Jjy®

Moved to where they could'not be reached by enraged patients. , It seems a monstrous thing that the law allows such evident deceptions to be advertised in the .colony. According to the English * Truth ’ the ■ German Government are . hot as- slow os ,the New - Zealand Government in-looking after the interests of their people, as the firm mentioned-in last night’s local were practically warned out of the country by the police. In. this connection it is pleasing to note that the Medical Association in Wellington, together with the White Cross League in that * city, sent a deputation to the Minister of Justice to endeavor to set in motion the machinery of the taw in order to-prohibit the newspapers of the colony printing the indecent advertisements of the chain belt firms. If the public of New Zealand would only take muted action and bring pressure to bear, the Government would be compelled to cleanse this canker from our midst, and it would mean the dawning of a better day for the young men of New Zea-land.-—1 am, etc., /Electrician; July 20. BIBL&READIN6 CLASSES. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-Through you lot mo for just five minutes, the attention of interested parents who have children in -attendance at the city schools. The numbers, in attendance at our Biblcreading classes this week were;— Girls. Boys. Total. Monday ... _ 96 41 137 Tuesday ... 80 64 144 Wednesday ... 156 69 215 Thursday ... 74 52 126 Friday'... „ 114 90 204 520 306 826 The targe room at Arthur street- is entirely crowded and tho proportion of boys excellent. Albany street sends the largest number of girls, but the proportion of boys is disappointing. W© have room at Union street, High street, and George street for both boys and girls. Will you help us? Respectfully I submit that this is from every standpoint a parent’s question, and I beg that all fathers and mothers who approve will gladden our hearts by prompt and kindly co-operation. When the difficulties of the situation are considered, we have reason to bo thankful for the measure of success during the past ten years, but we aim at and hope for even better numbers and greater results as the years go round.—l am, etc., D. Weight. July 2L THE CRAZE FOR OPERATIONS. TO THE EDITfli-Sir,—-At the “ abolition vivisection ” meet - ing Mr Shaw asks the following question-. Why is it that surgical operations come into fashion and go out of fashion, like hats and collars? Does nob the enclosed excerpt from a late English paper answer it, particularly as regards the somewhat fashionable one for inflammation of the appendix?—l am etc-, F.M. July 21. Professor Dieulafoy made a statement today at the Academy of Medicine which will lead to a good deal of discussion among the faculty. He said that/ numbers of people were operated upon for appendicitis who were quite free from it. -{They were simply suffering from typhlocolitis of the mucous membrane. Very few persons were troubled at the same time with typhlocolitis and appendicitis, but, unfortunately, many and increasing blunders were committed in diagnosis. Typhlocolitis was quite apart from appendicitis, and the operation could not possibly cure it. Professor Dieulafoy added, in conclusion, that it was high time to stop all this useless surgical interference. Good diagnosis was tho one thing needful.