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New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 22

It would be manifestly unfair to criticise Sir Julius "Vogel’s speech to the Dunedin Protection Association on the strength of the telegraphic summary. We feel bound to await the arrival of the papers containing a full report, before dealing with the subject in any way. When the full report is available we shall direct attention to some of the issues which appear to have been raised by the Colonial Treasurer.

While it is very satisfactory and reassurring to have such cordial declarations of friendship on Italy’s part for England as those recorded in recent telegrams—especially as Italy’s naval power is exceedingly formidable —it is disquieting to read of the increased activity in armament displayed by Prance and Germany, and the somewhat menacing remarks of the French Premier with respect to England’s occupation of Egypt. The approach of the European winter seems to have temporarily cooled the inflammatory spirit which was beginning to boil and seethe so threateningly, but it is to be feared that the coming spring may witness a revival of the bellicose temper.

Little needs to be added to what we have already said more than once with reference to the Wellington and Manawatu Railway. The inauguration of the through passenger traffic took place on Monday with due eclat, and under most auspicious conditions, and henceforward Wellington is the southern terminus ©f 250 miles of the North Island Main Trunk- Railway, as well as of 80 miles via Masterton. Wellington is now the necessary and natural outlet of some of the finest pastoral and agricultural country in all New Zealand, and if only moderate good fortune attend us in the way of prices of produce, this city and district

ought to enter from this day forth on a new career of substantial prosperity.

The result of the cricket, match between the Australians and the Canterbury team is very unsatisfactory. There was no earthly reason why the match should have been left unfinished. The Australians had another clear day in Christchurch before leaving for Wellington, and the match could easily have been finished in that time, but for the absurd limitation! to three days. However, there is little doubt that had the game been played out the Australians would have suffered a decisive defeat. We hope that better arrangements will be made in Wellington, and that the match will be played out whatever its result is likely to be.

Another stage ha 3 been covered in the negotiations which have been so long pending between the City Council and Harbour Board relative to the Te Aro foreshore and reclamation question. The agreement which had been passed by the City Council was accepted by the Harbour Board at its meeting yesterday week, subject to certain amendments. These are fully set forth in our report of the meeting which appears in another column. It will be observed that they relate mainly to matters of detail, although there are one or two points which may elicit further controversy. We hope, however, that the question will now be finally settled without any protraction of the negotiations. A speedy settlement is from every point of view moat desirable, and we trust that the City Council will see its way to agree to the proposals as amended by the Harbour Board, so that no more time may be lost in giving effect to the important plana which have been prepared for harbour and foreshore improvements.

A preposterous statement has been made by a Wairarapa paper, and reproduced in this city, to the effect that the two new Fell engines imported to work the Rimutaka incline cost LIO,OOO each, and that they had to be procured because all the old ones were virtually worn out. All this ia Dimply nonsense. The four older Fell engines are not worn out, or even much the worse for wear. They have had to undergo the usual repairs which all locomotives require from time to time when employed on heavy traffic, and they have perhaps been somewhat overworked owing to the large and rapid increase in traffic, with which the stock of engines of that class was insufficient to grapple. It was 'for this reason that two additional engines were procured, and they will work in turn with the older ones between the Summit and Cross Creek. In the second place the cost of the new engines is not “ LIG,OOO ” each, but only L 2700 landed in this Colony and erected ready for work. This is a cousiderable difference. The new locomotives are like the others in most respects, but have slightly increased boiler-power, and are fitted with Joy s improved valve gear now so much in favour in the Mother Country. They were built by Messrs Neilson and Co., the eminent builders of Glasgow, and were erected at the Petone workshops.

The only important feature in the speech delivered by Sir Julius "Vogel at Tuapeka last week was the announcement that, in consequence of the unfavourable reception of the last loan, it would not be proposed to initiate any new railways for the present, but only to complete those already authorised. _ This is a prudent resolution, which will meet with general approval.

After the unmeasured condemnation which has been lavished upon the New Zealand-made ammunition supplied to our .Volunteers, it is reassuring, to learn the results of a special trial which was made in Wellington last Friday. These are published in another column, and speak for themselves. It will be observed that the Auckland ammunition proved superior to that imported from England in one of the qualities for which it was specially tested —rapidity of fire, and very nearly equal in respect of the other accuracy. It is to be hoped that this more favourable report may dispel the clouds which have hitherto overshadowed this infant colonial industry, and that henceforward New Zealand may be independent of imported ammunition.

In- - an article describing the Masterton fish-breeding ponds, published by us last week, it was justly remarked that, except among a few sportsmen, the work of the Acclimatisation Society excites little interest or attention. This is true not only in Wellington, but in all parts of the Colony. The public generally does not trouble itself about the introduction or protection of game or fish, and were it not for a few men in each district who make the matter a hobby, acclimatisation would be entirely neglected. Luckily, however, at all events from Wellington southward, there are a sufficient number of enthusiasts to carry on the work of the Societies, and several o-entlemen work independently and annually breed fish to turn out in unoccupied streams. So far as trout are concerned, the success has been marvellous, and Sprobably there is no country_in the world where better trout-fishing is to be had than in Ne w Zealand. Certainly there is no country where it is to be had more cheaply. There are hundreds of miles of the best possible water, where anyone who pays a pound for a license may fish

undisturbed by keepers, and unchecked - by hateful boards announcing that per—sons found fishing in this stream will beprosecuted. r n many places there are respectable up-country hotels by the banks of rivers, at which, at little cost, a week or two's holiday may be pleasantly ’ spent. The advantage to the country of the introduction of trout is already great, and it will be more and more seen as - years go on. New Zealand is an attractive country for tourists, but when first - settled the lack of sport was a great drawback. Now that fishers can get here for nothing what elsewhere costs much., trouble and expense, we may expect to--see them coming in increasing numbers - from other countries. The New Zealand rivers were to the early settlers not only useless except as untrustworthy boundaries - for runs, but a source of continual,, danger. Every stream of any size has itastory of lives annually lost. _ As settlement went on bridges were built, but the cost has been very great. Now, however, they afford amusement at least, and in time it may be hoped that they may afford great profit. Ic is satisfactory toknow that further-supplies of salmon ovaare to be introduced, and we trust thatthis may be done every year, till it issettled beyond doubt that the fish have established themselves and increased. At-. the first it would have been better if all the Acclimatisation Societies had come to an agreement to devote their energies to stocking some one river, instead of dividing the fry among a number, and evennow it would be well if such an arrangement could be made. It would not matterin what district theSstream was, provided it was suitable for the purpose. If salmon, were plentiful in any part of the Colony, to distribute the fry to other parts would be easy. Probably this course will notbe taken. According to the way of the country, nodistrict can bear to do without anything which its neighbours have, and as in thecase which King Solomon decided, they would rather have half the child than see it given whole and alive to another. In any case the Acclimatisation Societies deserve the gratitude of the country, andthey will have their reward when the fine rivers of New Zealand shall contributetheir share to the general wealth ; when tinned salmon shall no longer be imported from America ; when employment shall be given to great numbers of people; and every steamer leaving for Australia during the fishing season shall have arefrigerating chamber full of the produce of our waters.

Under the title “ Is Life Worth Saving 1” a most remarkable, not to say startling, paper has recently been published by Dr C. L. Dana. ’The author begins by showing to what a remarkable extent the average of human life has been prolonged within the last century or so. After speaking of the results of improved sanitary arrangements he says “Despite satirical opinions to the contrary, drugs and other resources of the medical art lessen human mortality and suffering. The death-rate from acute fevers is less than it was fifty years ago. Typhus fever in England killed thirty per cent of its victims previous to 1825. The death-rate has since been reduced to twenty per cent, or perhaps less. Ague, -pneumonia, diabetes, Bright’s disease, the fevers and diarrhoeal diseases of children, are less mortal than they once were. Death-rates in hospitals have fallen from twenty per cent to ten and twelve per cent, on the admissions. In ninety years (7741 to 1827) the proportions of cures to deaths in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital increased five-fold. Consumption being quickly recognised and more rationally treated, has become less formidable, death-rates from that source havino’steadily decreased since about 1850The mortality in childbed has been very greatly reduced. In public institutions,, where one out of every twenty women died, the ratio is now less than one in twohundred. Just as certainly the surgeon has done his share. The life of sufferer® from cancer has been prolonged and made more tolerable by skilful surgical intervention. Wounds and injuries are less fatal. For example, the ratio of deaths after amputations has declined from about forty per cent, to less than twenty. Every year, modern surgical skill saves the lives of thousands of patients whom once the surgeons did not dare to touch.” He then points out that in spite of these brilliant results, the change is not entirely productive of good, on account of the steady increase in the proportionate number, of the defective, the dependent, the chronic invalid, and degenerative classes. “Every physician who has experience in nervous diseases is struck, as I have been, with the fact that the race is being filled with persons who have some degenerative ‘ taint ’ or constitutional vice. It is those who misuse narcotics and stimulants, who are epileptic, eccentric, hypochondriacal, perverse, cranky, and even criminal.” Coming to his main point, Dr Dana says : Life saving, as at present carried on, makes no discriminations. It. is reducing mortality and acute sickness enormously ; but along with it, and in part because of it, there appears to be a disproportionate increase in certain defective, degenerative, criminal, and invalid classes, and in certain forms of disease of a local and especially of a nervous character. And these defective classes are propagating and multiplying. The question comes back to us, then, as to whether we are now using entirely wise methods in carrying into practical effect our sanitary and humane impulses. Viewed from a purely material and utilitarian point of view,, it may be questioned whether it would not be better to use more discretion in providing for the organically criminal, the defective, the incurable, and for their unpromising offspring. The idea of eliminating the incurably insane or hopelessly imbecile by a carbonic acid bath is at first (shocking and repugnant. But in time

- the shock might wear away if the bath were administered on a practical utilitarian basis; and there might come an application of business principles to the care of all the permar .xiently dependent classes. No one will dispute the economic force -of this slightly cold-blooded reasoning, but it may well be doubted whether society is yet educated up to the point of -calmly slaughtering its useless members, like surplus kittens.