HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 51, 28 April 1868, Page 3

HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

To the Editor of the ' Nelson Examiner.' Sir — Please allow me to correct a statement in this evening's Mail, in regard to the aged man, Henry Enghman. Wilh all due deference to the Mail's informant, I believe little more than fifteen minutes passed before he was admitted into the hospital, and no doubt it will occur to the writer, that even that time might have been saved, if the man had been brought up at once by those who were standing by. No unreasonable delay occurred after it was found to appear to be an urgent case. Although instant admission in many cases might be of some avail, the examination of this has proved that the poor man was dead to all intents and purposes the instant he felt the rupture of the bloodvessel on the brain ; ami while overv one must regret any unnecessary delay, I believe the medical testimony in this case will show that the man died of apoplexy after all proper remedies had been applied. In future, I would advise the informant to be careful " not to extenuate, or set down aught in malice." I am, &.c, Nelson, April 27. James Barton.

Local Fire Insurance Company. — At a public meeting held at Christchurch, on the 22nd instant, it was resolved that measures should be taken to establish a local Fire Insurance Company in Canterbury. The Dunedin Mayoralty;.— The polling for a successor to Mr. J. Hyde Harris, who had resigned the office of Mayor of Dunedin as well as that of Solicitor-General, took place on April 21, when Mr. J. Birch wad elected by a majority of 2G. The numbers wero— Birch, 403; Driver, 377; and Grant, 57,

Confession of thh Convict Swales.— This man, lately executed in Canterbury, for setting fire to his premises and causing the death of his partner, made the following confession before his execution :—": — " I desire before I die to satisfy the public mind, as far as possible, by stating what I can recollect of the circumstances of my crime. I believe that it was some time in the mouth of June last that 1 first made an attempt to set lire to the house in Colombostreet, by leaving a candle burning in a box of paper. The candle had not burnt low enough to reach the paper when Mr. Rankin and I returned. Ho was in first, and put it out before it had done any damage. I did not tell him that I had done it, and ho never charged me with it. The reason why I did it was to get tho value of the place and leave it. Since June to February tho 7th, 1 had often thought of setting fire to tho placo at some future opportunity. I did not meditate doing it on that day. I went out about six o'clock that evening, but. do not know how or when I returned. I remember lighting tho canvas and paper of tho wall by the window in the lean-to. I then went up stairs, and laid upon the bed in my clothes. I recollect coming down stairs, but whether I came down to light it, or whether I lit it before I went up, I do not know. I believe I was in a Btato of stupefaction through drink. I wos roused by feeling suffocated from smoke. I got up and opened the window. The room became clear, and 1 saw Rankin in bed and asleep. I did not sprak to him as I have stated that I had done. Why I did not I cannot say. I did not toucli him, nor did I wish his death. I then took up my bag, which was close to my bed, and threw it out of tho window as I went down stairs. I never thought about Rankin. I rushed down stairs, and into the lean-to, which was all in a blaze, and out into the yard. I took up my bag and carried it to some place down the yard, and left it there. I then went round to the front, and went into Mrs. Pope's shop, and carried two or three boxes out. I then saw Allen, and asked him if ho had seen Rankin. Ho said ' No.' I said ' 1 was afraid he had not got out,' and I asked him if he would assist me to look for him. He said it was too late. I did not see anything more until I was brought up to identify Rankin's remains. I ought to say that my carpet bag had been packed up some time previously with a view to being in readiness when I should burn the place. I am extremely sorry for the injury I caused to my near neighbours and kind friends which I caused by my wicked act, hoping that everyone will forgive, both here and in England." The Cultivation of the Cinchona Plant. —A correspondent of tho Wellington Independent lately contributed tho following letter to that journal : — "It might urove useful to persons having plants of the species mentioned in my last letter, if you would permit me to give a few directions as to their xreatment, kindly furnished by Dr. Mueller, Melbourne: 'The cinchona requires deep, rich, and rather loose soil, which though under any circumstances must be well drained, should nevertheless not to be too dry, or at least capable of being irrigated ; shelter against strong wind and the too powerful rays of the sun aro also requisite, fern tree gullies would be most likely to answer. They can bo propagated by layers or cuttings (if no seeds are available) but in either case they fear too much moisture. It has been found very useful to rest the end of the cutting on bits of brick or for layers to insert a small piece of brick in the slit, as this prevents tho shoot from rotting. In India a small quantify of bark is obtained from some of the branches after five or six years. It remains to be seen whether here the trees will grow with the same celerity. The plant will not stand frost, though in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, some plants of the cinchona which were exposed did not die, though off en during last winter the thermometer stood at 2i)| dog. Tea will grow best in similar localities but it is a great deal more hardy, the severest frosts never injuring it. Tho same is the case with the cork oak and mahogany. Capers like a damp rich soil, and in winter they frequently die down to the roots. Coffee appears rather doubtful. It may live but perhaps would not flourish.' My experience of the coll'ee plant inclines me to think that it will succeed in many portions of tho North Island, os in tho large plantations around Kandy, Ceylon, tho thermometer ranges from 40 to 90 deg., and on a first-class coffee plantation, I have seen the following growing beside the coffee plant, viz, bringal, pumpkin, cucumber, bean, spinach, tomato, sweet potatoe, yam, cauliflowers, cabbage, peas, potatoes (English), peach, and strawberry, the most of which would grow on any good land in this Island. In the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, the coffee plant, as far as my observations went, stood some sharp nights and keen winds, and though a little weather-beaten soon recovered and bore abundance of berries. The first coffee-planters lost money in the experiment, but those who persevered, are now as a class, wealthy men. We might also try tho cinnamon plaut and citronella grass, by and bye, as they are very easy of cultivation, and require first-class soil. The famed cinnamon gardens around Colombo are situated 01 a coarse gravelly soil, and would not excite attention save from the aromatic scent which floats around.