Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 213, 9 October 1875, Page 14

Town News.

Dr. Redwood, Homan Catholic Bishop of Wellington, has returned to town after a visit to Wanganui, the West Coast Settlements, and Taranaki. It was announced by Sir Donald McLean on Wednesday, that in consequence of the report of the Ohinemuri Committee, the Government had dispensed with Mr. Brissenden’s services. The s.s. City of Melbourne, which left Auckland on the 3rd September with the outward San Francisco mails, arrived at San Francisco on the 26th of the same mouth, four days under contract time. A deputation waited upon his Honor the Superintendent yesterday with a petition, which appears in our report of the Education Board meeting. In reply his Honor promised to give the matter his careful consideration. We learn that Mr. McKirdy, the wellknown successful railway contractor, has obtained the incline contract for the Masterton railway at a figure something above £50,000. A soiree was held on Friday night at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, under the auspices of the Star Boating Club. Dancing commenced at eight o’clock, and was kept up with great spirit until early this morning. The members of the Wellington Mutual Improvement Society held their usual fortnightly meeting last evening, the Rev. W. 11. West in the chair. It was decided that a special general meeting be held on Thursday next, the 14th inst. We publish telegrams from England to-day supposed to be of special interest to New Zealand, and on that account charged one shilling a word. They contain news that Sir Julius Vogel is to come out by the December mail, and that the ship Strathmore, from London to Dunedin, is 181 days out. The first of these items is also contained in the ordinary telegrams ; as for the second, we may say with the novelist “we knowd it afore.”

Mr. Wakefield on Friday introduced into the Assembly a Bill having for its object the enfranchisement of lodgers. The members of the General Assembly, we understand, propose giving their annual ball on Wednesday next, the 13th inst. The ball will be held this year in the Museum building, which is now nearly completed. The Kinfauns Castle brings to this port eleven pure-bred Southdown sheep, also a purebred shorthorn bull and cow. They have had a considerable shaking during the voyage, but it is expected that they will begin to look up after a few days spent in browsing on our New Zealand pastures. Mr. Monteith, assistant-surgeon, has furnished us with the following return of patients in the Provincial Hospital during and ending the mouth of September, 1875 : —AdmittedMales, 12 ; females, 4. Discharged—Males, 12 ; females, 3. Died—Males, 4. Left in Hospital—Males, 31 ; females, 7. Total in Hospital, 38. During the hearing of the case against Eliza Smith yesterday, one of the witnesses, a married woman, twenty-seven or twenty-eight years of age, stated that she had been born at the Hutt, had been brought up in the same district, but had never seen the inside of a schoolhouse, and could neither read nor write. Henroost robberies are becoming prevalent in the city just now. A resident in Herbertstreet on Friday morning found one of her fowls, with its legs tied, outside the roost. The would-be robbers were doubtless alarmed before they could get it away. Messrs. Edmondson, Sellar, and Co. have on exhibition at their warehouse quite a model in the way of a cooking stove, the heating power in which is supplied by kerosene. Within a small space it comprises all the appurtenances for baking, boiling, and frying; and a bachelor possessed of one would, as the saying is, be really independent of hotels. A telegram was received by Mr. O’Neill, M.11.R. for the Thames, from the Mayor of that place on Monday, stating that public opinion there was very strong against the Representation Bill. The opinion entertained was that it would be a great injustice to the Thames if that district were only allowed two members. The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the incline contract of the Wellington and Masterton railway :—Accepted—Charles McKirdy, Wellington, £49,029. Declined—Allen, Kingstreet, and Lockie, Wellington, £57,892 ; Owen Jones and Co., Auckland, £58,651 ; John Henderson, Wellington, £61,125 ; D. Proudfoot, Dunedin, £66,000 ; Martin, Danagher, and Co., Auckland, £69,453 ; Alex. Tawse and Co., Wellington, £78,257. The Wellington College annual sports will be held on the Basin Reserve, on Monday, ISth October, the anniversary of the opening of the new College. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Normanby have signified their intention of being present. The entrance money is to be handed to the trustees of the Basin Reserve, for the improvement of the grounds. There is an excellent programme, 1 including a race for old boys, the prizes for which are always contributed by the parents and friends of boys at the College. A meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society was held on Monday evening at the Council Chambers, the Vice-President, W. T. L. Travers, Esq., in the chair. After the minutes of the previous meeting were read, the Hon. Mr. Mantell read notes written by Mr. J. Buchanan on some new fishes lately added to the Museum, and a description of the present state of the Botanical Gardens, by the same gentleman. After some remarks on these papers, the discussion, adjourned from the last meeting, on Mr. Travers’s paper on the extinction of the moa was resumed, and an interesting letter from Judge Manning on the same subject was read by Mr. Kirk. The following three papers were then read :—“ Notes on the habits of the Frost Fish (Lepidopus canclatus)” by Mr. C. H. Robson ; “ Is access to the sea a necessity to eels ?” by James Duigan ; and a paper on the “Probability of finding extensive coal deposits in the province of Wellington,” by J. C. Crawford. A discussion ensued on the first two of these papers, but the consideration of Mr. Crawford’s paper was adjourned till next meeting. The Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court were commenced on Monday, and good progress was made. The Chief Justice took his seat at 10 o’clock, and shortly afterwards delivered his charge to the Grand Jury. As usual, his Honor was brief and practical, and in the course of his remarks, severely reprobated the practice of travellers giving drink to coachmen who have a serious responsibility on their shoulders when in charge of coaches, especially on the narrow and dangerous roads of New Zealand. The Grand Jury found true bills in all cases except one, throwing out that filed against H. W. Campbell, who, as l’elated in the New Zealand Times a few days ago, was charged with having obtained money under a false pretence from the N.Z.S.S. Company. On being arraigned, two prisoners pleaded guilty ; two were convicted ; Charles Nelson, charged with manslaughter, was acquitted ; and two cases remain over for trial to-day, viz., that of Eliza Smith, charged with perjury, and that of a Maori, charged with assault and robbery. The court opens at 10 a.m. In reference to the cruel and unjust sentence passed on Sarah Chandler, of Spalding, aged thirteen, on which an article appeared in the New Zealand Times of September 23rd, a Home paper has the following:—“ But that a long intimacy with the reports, accurate and otherwise, of the proceedings of our unpaid magistracy may well induce caution in comment upon apparently startling decisions by rural justices, it is possible that strong language might be used in regard to the case of a little girl who, for plucking a geranium blossom in the front of an almshouse in which her aunt was a resident, has been sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment, and four years’ confinement in a reformatory. The Home Secretary

lias, of course, remitted the sentence, and reprimanded the ‘justices.’ Two of them were clergymen of the Church of England. It is very curious that a sentence of unusual severity by rural justices is seldom reported without au intimation of a clergyman having been upon the Bench. Here there were two, which fact may well account for the extraordinary decision. It is with no disrespect to the clergy that it might be suggested that their entire education and training utterly unfits them for judicial functions. It is needless to dwell upon this topic, upon which, on the one hand, much might be written; on the other, probably but little. Faith and evidence are in law and religion diversly regarded. The cleric jurist has always been cruel, because he exalts the spiritual over all mundane considerations. A clergyman ou the Bench is at least as much out of place as a judge in the pulpit.” The Colonial Bank have issued a new style of notes, of the three kinds—£lo, £5, and £l. There is a device on each note representative of colonial arts and industries, and peace and plenty. The £1 notes are printed in black ink with the word “ One ” on a green scroll on each side in front. The £5 notes are printed in carmine, with the word “Five” on a green scroll, and the £lO notes are printed in green with the word “ Ten ” in red letters on each side. The value of each note is shown on its back in ornamental scroll work, and the paper on which they are printed has “ Colonial Bank of New Zealand ” as a watermark. A correspondent suggests that the Government should appoint a final authority in the matter of the spelling of native names. He says: “ I observe that the editor of the Waka Maori will not conform to the stereotyped misspellings. Suppose, as the Waka will not not conform, the Government draftsmen and clerks take the example of Mahommed and conform to the Waha. In the old Representation Bill Mangonui and Waikaia are Mongonui and Wakaia ; Whanganui is Wanganui, &c. I have not the honor of the acquaintance of the gentleman who edits the Waka, but I would suggest that he be requested to kindly make out lists of such words for tbe benefit of the Government departments. A little trouble in this way would be more useful than the perplexing system of bestowing English names on colonial townships. I have heard that there are five Havelocks in New Zealand. When the Government have settled the matter, perhaps the newspaper press will follow suit.” From time to time there have appeared in our columns “Lays of the Legislature” and other poetical pieces of a political tendency. These have met with commendation according as they have fallen in with the political views of readers. When they appeared to be disadvantageous to the Government, those who thought with the Opposition considered them of ineffable wit and beauty, whilst those who thought with the Government regarded them as vei’y frivolous and trashy at the best. And on the other hand, when the verses have attempted to make fun at the expense of the Opposition, Government partisans have not hesitated to say that they were sparkling “ jewdespree,” whatever that may mean, whilst Oppositionists have regarded them as inane and silly. These criticisms have from time to time been duly appreciated by the members of our staff who have contributed the verses under remark. But further notice has been taken of these vei-ses, which the authors have been quite unable to appreciate. The Wellington correspondents of the Auckland Southern Cross and of The Auckland Echo have telegraphed these verses to those journals, and have utterly spoiled them. They appear as “ Days of the Legislature,” in some cases with mysterious hints as to the authorship, which would lead the reader to suppose that the cori-espondents had something to do with the same; and the lines are so bungled as to limp and halt in their rhythm. The intention in all these cases was no doubt highly complimentary, but the execution has utterly spoiled the results. PRESENTATION TO THE EXMAYOR, J. DRANSFIELD, ESQ. On Thursday afternoon J. Dransfield, Esq., was presented with a testimonial emanating from the citizens, in recognition of his valuable services to the City of Wellington dux-ing the seven years he held office. The presentation took place in Messrs. Bethune and Hunter’s room, and amongst those present we noticed the following gentlemen His Worship the Mayor, W. S. Moorhouse, Messi’s. Huntei-, M.H.R., Pearce, M.H.R., Bunny, M.H.R., Levin (Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce), R. J. Duncan, Geo. Crawford, E. W. Mills, E. W. T. Wright, Gilligan, McDowell, L. Levy, S. Levy, J. Buchanan, Dyer, Vennell, L. Moss, J. Hughes, A. Young, Watt, Von Der Hyde, M.H.R., &c. On a table in the room stood the present, which is a magnificent candelabrium of solid silver, standing two feet nine inches high, and weighing 1530z5. The design is exceedingly chaste and artistic, being a grapevine rising in a twisted column, from which spring six branches. These are studded with vine leaves and bunches of grapes in frosted silver, and the whole design is worked out with exquisite taste. There is also a set of cutglass dishes, so that when requii-ed the candelabrium can be converted into an epergne. At the base the following inscription has been engraved : —“ Presented to J. Dransfield, Esq., on his retiring from the office of Mayor of Wellington, in Decembei’, 1873, after having presided over the City Council and the Town Board for a period of seven years.” The article was manufactured by the Goldsmith’s Alliance Company (Limited), late A. B. Savory and Sons, Cornliill, London, and its value is estimated at £2OO. Shortly after two o’clock the ceremony commenced by the Mayor taking the chair. Mi'. Mooiuiouse said : Mr. Dransfield, as Mayor of the city of Wellington—for in that capacity, I presume, I have been honored—l have been asked to px’esent to you on behalf of a numerous circle of friends, who, I believe, fairly represent the citizens, this handsome

piece of plate. Although it is of no extra-ordinax-y pecuniary value, still, I think, it may be regarded as a gratifying testimonial of the esteem in which you are personally, and, as a public man, held by the citizens of Wellington, and particularly by those gentlemen who are present to-day. I may say for myself that having recently succeeded to the high public office so lately held by yourself, I have had numerous opportunities of ascertaining in detail the value of the services you have rendered to the Corporation and the city—(applause)—and I am boxmd to say that it affords me very gi’eat pleasure to testify to the extent of your deservings, which are more than could be hoped to be realised by an ordinary man. On the part of the friends now present, and the citizens generally, I think I am justified in congratulating you upon your high position in this city, and in expressing the hope that your private career may be as successful as your public career, and as prosperous as you deserve. I also, on behalf of the citizens of Wellington, venture to express the hope that you may long continue to give them the benefit of your advice and assistance, and I have vei’y great pleasure in requesting your acceptance of this memento of your excellent public services. (Applause.) Mr. Dransfield, who was loudly cheered on coming forward, said : Mr. Mayor and gentlemen,—l feel very much gratified by your kindness in so substantially appreciating any work which I may have done during my term of office for the benefit of the city, and particularly do I feel obliged for the kind remarks which have been made by my successor. Although I do not think the present is a proper occasion for speechifying, I -will venture to make just one or two remarks upon a matter on which I should like to speak. If I have been successful in the discharge of the duties of Mayoi', as it appears you think I have, it has been mainly atti-ibutable to the fact that I had a long tenure of office, and I fear that the present system of election will have a bad effect, because gentlemen who may be elected to the office will in many cases serve only for a single year. Now, my experience is that it will take any naaix all that time thoroughly to get into harness, and thus he will be of little practical use to the city. I would venture to suggest—and the suggestion may be taken for what it is worth—that such an alteration should be made in the law as would make the Mayor elective for at least three years. There are many other subjects which I should like to speak upon ; but I do not look upon the present as a proper occasion for making a long speech, and I have to again thank you very heartily for the honor yon have done me. The proceedings then teiuninated. The testimonial is on view at the establishment of Messrs. Shaw and Sons, of Lambtonquay. THE MOUNT YIEW ASYLUM. The following report ou the Wellington Lunatic Asylum, by Mr. W. T. L. Ti-avers, has been presented to both Houses of the General Assembly: — Wellington, Aug. 23, 1875. As Inspector of the Mount View Lunatic Asylum here, I have the honor to report to you as follows: — I beg, in the first place, to call your attention to the statements contained in my report of 28th Januai'y, 1874, with respect to the buildings, and to add that no alteration has been made in them since that date, although daily experience has proved that the opinion which I then expressed, as to their defects in design and erection, was pei-fectly just. As patent instances of such defects, I may mention the following:— 1. No proper means exist for keeping the male and female patients separated. 2. No means exist for classifying the patients, a matter of very great importance to their general comfort, and of essential consequence to the discipline of the establishment. 3. With the exception of two front apartments, with corridors adjoining, which are usually occupied by the quieter and more cleanly patients of each sex, the day accommodation is wretchedly bad, large numbers of patients, including many prone to violence, being necessarily kept in very small rooms, designed merely for out-offices. 4. The dormitories are unavoidably crowded, a matter especially hurtful and inconvenient. 5. The yards, in which those who cannot be ti-usted in the uninclosed grounds take their exercise, are cold and damp. 6. No accommodation exists for the laundry and other work connected with the clothing of the patients, a great part of which has to be done in the day-room occupied by the quiet females, causing unnecessary inconvenience to the attendants, and interfering much with the limited comfort of the patients. 7. The heating apparatus, though constructed at great cost, is absolutely useless for the purpose. 8. No proper provision has been made for ventilation. 9. No means of communication from one part of the buildings to anothei’, by signal, exists, the consequence of which is that single attendants are unable to summon assistance when attacked by violent patients, and often suffer a good deal of injury for want of such assistance. I merely cite these as among the more obvious instances of defects in construction and arrangement, whilst the fact that the buildings were originally intended to accommodate fifty patients only, and now contain sixty-three, with a necessarily increased attendance, makes these and other defects moi'e apparent. The institution is still under the charge of Mr. 11. F. Seager as keeper, and of Mrs. Seager as matron, who are both most diligent in the discharge of their duties. The attendants are reported to be generally careful and attentive. Apart from the special disease, the general health of the patients is good ; and every attention is paid (so far as the nature of the buildings permits) to their comfort and con-

venience, tho rational patients making no complaint whatsoever of the treatment" they receive. There are no cases of permanent restraint. The total number of patients admitted to the Wellington Lunatic Asylum from Ist January, 185-1, to 30th June, 1875, has been 116, of whom 60 still remain, 56 having been cither discharged or died ; but I have no table showing the proportion of discharges to deaths. Since the 30th June, 1875, 3 male patients have been admitted, making the total number at present in the Asylum 63. Of the 63 now in the Asylum, 35 are males and 28 females. Of the males, 31 are considered incurable, 2 as questionably curable, and 2 as doubtfully insane. Of the two doubtfully insane, one is a convict transferred from prison at Taranaki to the Lunatic Asylum here, and believed to 100 a malingerer, and the other is Captain McGrath, whose wife is a female patient. Of the females, 25 are considered incurable, and 3 as questionably curable. Of the total number of 63, 54 are from the province of Wellington, 2 from Marlborough, 1 from Napier, and 6 from Taranaki ; total, 63. Between the 31st December, 1873, and 30th June, 1875, the deaths have been 5 males and 2 females ; total, 7. The phases of disease are principally—l epilepsy, 2 chronic and intermittent mania, 3 dementia ; 4 congenital idiotcy, of which there are two cases. As regards out-door work, a considerable extent of land is under cultivation, and large quantities of vegetables are raised for the use of the institution. At my suggestion, cows have been provided, by which a considerable saving has been effected, and the milk supplied for the use of the patients is of better quality than could otherwise be obtained. I suggested that a pair of horses aud a roomy open carnage should be supplied for the purpose of affording recreation to the patients, but this suggestion has not yet been complied with. I believe that a large saving in the ordinary expenditure of the institution might be effected by procuring clothing, &c., from London direct, not merely by reason of difference in price, but also in the quality of the articles. The orders for admission have been generally regular; but I would call especial attention to the necessity of amending the law, by requiring that each order for admission should be accompanied by as complete a history of the case as possible. Under the present system, patients are thrown into the Asylum without any such history, and the officers are left to discover the particular phase of disease in each case, a course which naturally increases the difficulty of treatment. A careful examination of the records of the institution satisfies me that the great majority of the patients admitted are incurable, and, therefore, that, in the construction and arrangement of buildings for the keeping and maintenance of the insane, attention should chiefly be directed to the means of classifying the patients with a view to securing to them as much bodily comfort as is consistent -with their several conditions. I wish to bear testimony to the care and attention given to the patients by Dr. France, the Medical Officer of the Asylum, their bodily health being indeed the best index of that care and attention. I append to this report some tables prepared for me by the keeper, which may be found useful for statistical purposes. I do not give any detailed account of the number of visits I have paid or of the number of miles I have travelled since my last report, believing that what I have stated above embodies all that is important in connection with my inspections.—l am, &c. Wm. Thos. Locke Traveks. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.