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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 202, 29 August 1867, Page 2

In the notice of the amended Medical Practitioners' Bill which appeared in our issue of Tuesday last, we pointed out, as its only blemish, that it recognised unqualified persons, in practice before 1857, and stated that this concession had been made in view of the case of some one who had turned homceopaibisfc without medical training. We have been at a loss to discover why the Examiner so strenuously opposed the measure in all its stages, but it "lets the cat out of the bag" this morning, by inserting a long and rambling letter asking us to withdraw our observations, from its reputed editor, Dr Giles, who tells us that one of the persons whose interests the bill might have affected, was his friend and colleague for four years. Dr Giles states that instead of calling his friend an artist, ifc would be more correct to use fche euphuism that "he has considerable skill with the pencil," which, to our mind, savors very much of a distinction without a difference; that he had met him during the last four years in practice; and that this is ample proof that he had studied the subject previously to coming to Auckland fifteen years ago, his (Dr Giles's) testimony superseding the necessity of any, other certificates to that effect. Dr Giles naively adds, " I believe" my friend holds a Berlin diploma, not recognised; by the municipal law of Prussia ; "I think" he left without.being entitled to a full license; the defect in his qualification " appears to be" only technical, therefore the Mail ought to withdraw its unkind remarks ! Now, as a matter of fact, Dr Giles's friend j will shortly have an opportunity of show- j ing before the new Board any testimonials | he may have, when, if he can do so, we j shall be quite ready to make every apology, but we are not prepaied to do so ori the strength of Dr Giles's very uncandid and evasive "I believe," "I think," and "It appears to be." It is notorious to everyone conversant with the recent debates at Wellington that the exception was made, at the instance of the Auckland members, chiefly in favor of Dr Giles's friend; and surely no stronger proof could be given that he does not possess the regular'qualifications. Dr Giles, says- that "if the individual alluded to had not been a homoeopath, nothing would, ever have been heard, of his .-being unqualified." f .On , the'contrary; if he had been an allopathic

practitioner it is pretty certain that his qualificationVtfr the.fwant of it, would have been „long; since Ai ascertained. Dr Giles is also Tin^. error in stating: that the bill without this exception would have prevented a gentleman of |fifteen years ? standing from earning a livelihood. It contained : no such provision, and allowed auy or every one to practise and receive payment as heretofore, preventing them ouly from assuming fictitious titles, the beneficial results of whieh provision to the community at large must be obvious. Our readers will remember the edict; issued by Mr Stafford to the various Government departments, threatening any officer who supplied information to the newspapers with instant dismissal, a notification which, we may add, has had the effect of depriving the public of much valuable information to which they were undoubtedly entitled. It is satisfactory to find that Ministers have recognised the necessity of modifying the terms of this very sweeping ukase. In the late debate ou the Coroners Bill in the House of Representatives, Mr J. C. Richmond stated distinctly, in reply to a question from Mr A. S. Atkinson, of Taranaki, relative fco the refusal of the coroner at that place to let an insurance office have the evidence he had taken iu an inquiry as to the cause of a fire, thafc the circular in question, which was similar to one issued in the neighboring colony of Victoria, referred to political [intelligence ; and he did not know how such a construction had been placed upon it as thafc referred to by Mr Atkinson. We may therefore presume tbat the Government officials will have no hesitation in furnishing the press with any information which may benefit the public, provided it be' not of a political character. The question of *** separation from Canterbury and annexation to Nelson" seems to have been practically settled by the inhabitants of the Grey district. The meeting on the 16th instant, held for the purpose at Greymouth, decided unanimously in its favor. A petition to' the General Assembly is in course of signature, and active and energetic measures' are being taken to secure, this, object. The Hokitika people still hold out for a separate province, bufc it seems highly, improbable that the General Assembly wonld ever consent to-., place the administration, of the revenue of Westland in the hands of a population of so accidental and transitory a character. The Grey River Argus of the 20th thus concludes a leading article on this subject : — "The past policy of the Nelson Government and the general morale of its administration justlygive confidence . to the people of the Grey district that they may safely place themselves under its authority. We have a perfect right to regard the liberal policy consistently pursued by the Nelson Government towards its goldfields, as a guarantee that it will continue a course so manifestly to -its interest; and we firmly believe that any departure from tnat course would by no one be more strongly denounced than by the inhabitants of Nelson themselves. So much for the predisposition of this district in favor of annexation. Without disclosing the tacticß of the Annexation Committee in detail, we may state thafc the hopes of success are based upon the following grounds:^—lsfc, The unanimous wishes of the population, supported by stroug arguments in their favor; 2nd, That the placing the whole Grey district tinder one Government will best ensure the development of its.; rer sources and its permanent settlement;. 3rd, That the proposal has the recom mendation of not clashing with the views ofany.particular party in fche House; end 4th, That ifc will have the co-operation of the Government of Nelson." ..'".. We are informed by a passenger who arrived here yesterday, by the Beaatiful Star, that when that vessel left Westport on Wednesday morning, there were no less than 8 steamers and 12 sailing vessels in port. There waa about 14 feet" of water on the bar. Little gold was coming in, and trade was by no means lively, : yst, hotels, stores, and drapers' shops were cropping up like mushrooms in all directions. - ..... :.'-■■■- J_ a Ay'yy'y We believe that the competition' by the , various .Volunteer Companies/of Nelson for the prizes annually given by the Provincial Government will take place about the 15th October. There are ,, eleven prize rifles/^Terfy and Calister'fc breechloaders) to be shot for, the distances to be 300, 400, and 500 lor the adiilfc companies, five shots at each range, and 100, 150, and 200 for the Cadet Companies, "also with five -shots : -'at; each ranged ■*;."-' ' C ' '** ;'' < *' '" ; •..,' ';. , ' .'" ; A--yy}~.

We learn, a with na small sur firis©,. that j telegram was "' received to-day from th< Hon. Major Morse, at Wellington, stating that certain members of rtKe Assembly were proposing to ! strike out the vote or the Estimates for the Volunteer service. We have inspected some fine specimens of quartz from tho' Waimangaroa Reefs about 15 miles from Westport. A crushioo machine is erected. Shares are now wortl £3 each. The yield is about 3dwts. to i half dish of small stuff.