Late Cable News.

Hastings Standard, Issue 134, 30 September 1896, Page 4

Late Cable News.

THE DANGER OF IMPORTING TICKS.

THE ADELAIDE HOSPITAL SCANDAL.

Adelaide, Sept 28. The South Australian Register is responsible for the statement that since the four house surgeons have left, the condition of the Adelaide Hospital has been most unsatisfactory, the Hospital being sadly undermanned. It alleges that great dissatisfaction exists, the nurses having to perform extra work, and a number of cases admitted are inadequately looked after. The medical students refuse to perform certain duties required of them by Doctors Smith and Napier, also to attend the lectures given by the new principal doctors.

Brisbane, Sept. 20. Mr Gilruth, the New Zealand Veterinary Expert, has returned from an extended trip in the Northern districts. He made a practical acquaintance with the tick pest, and inspected a number of the meat works. The principal object of his visit was to ascertain if Queensland hides and bones could be safely introduced into New Zealand without introducing ticks. Mr Gilruth has come to the conclusion that if the hides are properly salted there is no danger in importing them. As regards bones, they are subjected to heat, and the only chance of transmission of ticks through their agency will be on the bags in which the bonedust is packed. This is a matter of detail easily overcome. Referring to the dipping remedy, Mr Gilruth is of opinion that no means have been taken to stamp out the pest. He thinks that stock attacked to a slight extent only, if dipped and then recover, will not be subject to further attacks after about two successive dippings.

BRITAIN'S SUPREMACY AT SEA.

Sydney, Sept. 28. The Hon. Thomas Brassey, son of Lord Brassey, and editor of the Naval Annual, in an interview on the Eastern Question, said he thought that Britannia could hold her own against France and Russia. It might prove a tight fight, but the strength of our Navy was such that Russia, which possesses no fast cruisers to act as the eyes of her fleets, must be considerably discounted on this account. No first-class battleship that she possesses is at the present moment satisfactory. Britain has, according to Mr Brassey, a superiority of five first-class battleships over France and Russia combined, and a superiority of one ship, even if we include Germany. In most modern and most powerful ships she has an overwhelming superiority, and there is no possibility of losing her superiority in that respect before the close of the present century. At the end of 1898 she will be possessed of 18 of the highest type of ships to 12 possessed by Russia and France combined, and be able to build ships in two or three years which would take foreign dockyards five. Suppose war were declared to-morrow, four first-class ships now building could be got ready for action before the end of the year. Subsequently Mr Brassey had a conference with the Steamship Owners' Association on the question of manning the mercantile marine in such a way as to strengthen the Naval Reserve. In the course of his remarksjhe pointed out that foreigners are gradually replacing Englishmen in the mercantile service. This was a matter of great national importance. He made the following suggestions for the consideration of the Association: —That the members should consent to a number of lads being taken aboard vessels trading along the coast to be trained for, say, three years, afterwards under--going a shorter term of training in sailing ships, and returning at the conclusion of their training to their original employment, having in the meantime become enrolled as members of the Naval Reserve. He further suggested that say £2O per annum be paid by the Imperial Government to a steamship owner in respect of each lad, half to be paid to the boy at the completion of his term. The idea of enrolling in the Naval Reserve was that he would be available for the Royal Navy in time of war. It is stated that Lord Brassey is endeavouring to make arrangements by which colonial youths, who have parents able to pay a premium of £7O to £BO, might be trained as officers of the naval marine. Shipowners have promised to give the subject careful consideration. Lord Brassey has already submitted a similar proposal to Melbourne owners.