NO FEAR OF CANCER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 36

NO FEAR OF CANCER.

THE INSPECTION OF MEAT.

At the meeting of the Wellington City Council last week the Mayor stated that dairy regulations had been drawn up by the Department of Agriculture, and would very shortly be gazetted, and he hoped would ere long be in force throughout all the country on this side of the Rimutaka. With reference to the carcase of a sheep seized some time ago by the Inspector of Nuisances as being diseased, he had to report that there were technical objections in the way of a prosecution, and he considered it inadvisable to give any further publicity to the details. He had been making enquiries, and he found that in the larger stockyards at any rate very special precautions were taken in the way of inspection, and that if any animal showed any sign whatever of disease, it was immediately put into the boiling down pot. The difference in. value between a carcase fer boiling down and one intended for human consumption was so small that the Company would not run any risk of putting a diseased beast on the market. In the case of the sheep which had been seized, it was a case of pure accident. Since then the Inspector had inspected hundreds of carcases, and had found none showing a sign of disease. He had lately been given a portion of a beast’s liver as being somewhat suspicious, and it was now in course of examination. His Worship went on to refer to a report made to the Government by Mr Gilruth, Government veterinary surgeon, in which he stated that he had net yet come across any case of true cancer in this Colony. This statement was reassuring and should tend to allay the prevalent scare aboiyt. cancerous meat. The Mayor thought alarmist reports such, as that which recently came from Napier about dozens of milking cows in that district being affected with cancer were to be strongly deprecated. The thing was an impossibility. He had been informed on very goed authority that the percentage of diseased animals in the Colony was exceedingly small, due probably to the fact that nearly all our stock was brought up in the open air, very few pampered, stall-fed

animals being put on tbe market. There was no case on record of cancer being communicated from a beast to a human being. The Mayor also mentioned that he perceived in this year’s New Zealand Year Book the statement that in India there are some vegetarian tribes which show a larger percentage of cancer cases than the flesh-eating tribes. Then again, tuberculosis in cattle was not prevalent to the extent that • popular rumour would lead one to believe. It was satisfactory to know that the Government had at the head of the Veterinary Department a man whose judgment would be received with confidence. The inspection of animals or meat should be made by the most competent authority, and His Worship therefore suggested that a qualified medical man should bo appointed an inspector under the dairy regulations at an annual retaining fee, and that he should have a special fee when called on to act, while the general carrying-out of the regulations and the inspection of meat in the shops might be carried out by Mr J. Doyle, who, he believed, was thoroughly wellfitted to discharge that duty satisfactorily provided he received some assistance in carrying out a part of the other duties now devolving upon him. In answer to a question by Councillor Tatum, His Worship explained that the new dairy regulations would contain ample provision for the registration of vendors of dairy produce and for regulating carriage and storage. The country producer would have to take out a license.

The charitably disposed are already bethinking themselves of helping to provide Christmas cheer for the poor, destitute and suffering. Mrs W. B. Rhodes has undertaken to furnish a Christmas dinner for the inmates of the Benevolent Home. Mr John Orr (City Buffet) has generously undertaken to provide Christmas plum pudding for 100 poor families averaging eight souls each, and the

allowance will be so ample that each one may have half a pound of pudding. We are requested to state that tickets for the pudding may be had on application to Mr A. G. Johnson (Queens Chambers) on and after to-morrow. Mr F. Bradey has promised to present a fat wether, and to try and get some of his farmer acquaintances to do likewise, and the Rev H. Van Staveren has volunteered to supervise the distribution of the meat. The inward San Francisco mail arrived here by the Mahinapua on Friday morning. During the voyage of the Kaikoura, on the Ist '‘December, three children named Couper, bound for Port Chalmers, were found to be suffering from a mild attack of measles. They were isolated, and on arrival of the steamer here they were taken to the Hospital for treatment. The Customs duties collected at this port last week amounted to >£5380 11s 4d, and the beer duty to £230 7s. _ A Christmas Fair in connection with St. Paul’s Parish was opened in the Drillshed on Saturday afternoon by Sir James Prendergast. The fair- has been got up for aiding the church gnild, Sunday schools and Boys’ Club. The shed was well decorated with flags, banners and evergreens, the interior of the building looking very pretty with the well-furnished stalls. The following ladies attended to the different stalls: —Confectionery and flowers, Miss Brandon; Christmas presents and art, Mesdames F. Barraud, Jameson, Hunt, McLeod, Misses Smith, Marchant, King and Old; jumble stall, Mesdames F. Allen, E. J. Reid, Carter, Harding, Smith, Misses Campbell, Harding, Menzies, Quick, Coleridge ; produce, Misses Mason, Powles, Oswin, Curtis, Bright, McColl, Coleman; Christmas tree, Misses Twiss, Crowther, Curtis and Oswin; guild stall, Mesdames Mason, Heaphy and Percy Smith. A number of Christmas carols were sung in the afternoon, and in the evening, when there was a good attendance, and a brisk trade was done. . The Sunday school children performed the operetta “Lily Bell ” in a very creditable manner. The Trustees of the Home for the Aged Needy have instructed the secretary to make the usual arrangements for keeping Christmas at the Home, and they will be

thankful to the public for donations either in money or goods, so that the old people under their care may be suitably provided for.

Amongst the persons who appeared before the Benevolent Trustees on Tuesday was a middle-aged negro who was in receipt of rations for himself and wife and also an allowance for rent. He desired a continuance of this assistance, giving his work in return for it. The chairman (Rev H. Van Staveren) told the man that he was apparently content to carry on this arrangement indefinitely, but that the Trustees were not similarly content. Mr Bradey thought the Trustees ought To organise some scheme whereby men seeking relief could be provided with work instead of being merely granted charitable aid. They might, for instance, be sent to the public reserves to grub up the gorse there. The Chairman explained that these men were already employed in gorse-grubbing and other kinds of work. Unfortunately, the Trustees had no control over the reserves, and could only find the food. A formal enquiry into the death of John Arnold, a former inmate of Mount View Asylum, was held at the Hospital on Tuesday before Mr Ashcroft, Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr R. Clark was foreman. The evidence showed that deceased, who was admitted on 30th June last, was 66 years of age, and died of senile decay. The jury returned a verdict accordingly. Constable Bales has been transferred from the Central Police Station, Lambton quay, to Mount Cook Station, to replace Constable Lorrigan, who is being treated for consumption in the Hospital. A difficulty has arisen in connection with the election of six representatives of the suburban local bodies on the Board of Hospital Trustees, consequent upon the Secretary of the Trustees (Mr H. Gaby) having omitted to notify the local bodies that they must select delegates to meet and elect trustees. The Hon Mr Cadman was asked that the Governor by Order-in-

Council should appoint six persons to represent the local bodies, and replied that the matter has been referred to the Charitable Aid Department. At the meeting of the Trustees on Tuesday the action of the House Committee in recommending that an effort should be made to get an Order-in-Council issued was approved. An amendment moved by Mr Kirk —who considered that the local bodies had been disfranchised through the secretary’s omission —that the local bodies should now be asked to meet and appoint six representatives, was lost.

During the fortnight ending the sth instant 490 out-patients visited the Hospital, and 142 out-patients’ tickets were issued. During this period 470 bottles of medicine were supplied, of which 165 were paid for, the amount received for them being £8 ss. The weekly meeting of the Trustees of the Benevolent Institution took place last Tuesday afternoon. Present—Rev H. Van Staveren (chairman) and Messrs F. Bradey, J. Collins, R. Mothes and S. Lancaster. A vote of thanks was passed to the press for intimating to the public that gifts of cast-off clothing and boots and shoes would be welcomed, the Chairman mentioning that the public had promptly responded to the appeal. Votes of thanks were also passed to Mrs W. B. Rhodes for her offer to provide a Christmas dinner for the inmates of the Home, and to the Pefcone Working Men’s Club for a parcel of papers and magazines. A woman of simple wits who said she had only three-halfpence to carry on with was allowed rations. A respectable married couple who had only earned 10s since October, and were in sad want, were voted rations for two months. Parcels of clothing were announced from Mrs Brown, Austin street j Mrs Dutton, Aurora terrace; Miss Jack, Murphy street, and from a person who keeps his name unknown. The Trustees desire it to be known that they can make a good use of any further parcels that may be sent in. It was reported that there were 77 inmates of the Home, 57 males and 20 females. Several applicants for relief appeared before the meeting, but the number was very much less than usual.

The Hospital Trustees met on Tuesday morning. Present—Messrs F. H. Fraser (chairman), C. W. Brown, J. Collins, C. E. W. Willeston, R. C. Kirk, Gr. Allen and Rev H. Van Staveren. A letter was received from the manager of the Gras Co. stating that after the end of the month the price of gas supplied to the Hospital would be reduced to 5s lOd per thousand feet if the amount was paid before the 15th of the month. Leave of absence for two months was granted to Dr Adams. It was decided to pay the duty, amounting to £2 Is 9d, on the Raratonga coffee presented to the Hospital by the Governor, and to send a letter of thanks to His Excellency. Nurse Rowley was granted two months’ leave of absence without salary. Mr Hermansen, dispenser, was granted an increase of £lO per annum, to take effect from the beginning of the next financial year. The Trustees adjourned for a month. A meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists was held at the Press Association Rooms on Tuesday afternoon, Mr E. T. Gillon presiding. Messrs J. Parker (Taranaki Newz) and Howard Fanning (Hawke’s Bay Herald) were elected members of the Institute, and Wm. Coffey (Evening Post) a junior associate. An interesting conversation took place with Mr Gillon (who has just returned from a visit to Australia) regarding journalism in the other colonies, and the erstwhile New Zealand pressmen he met there.

The pressure of work at the Government Printing Office consequent upon getting out the forms of application required for the Government Advances to Settlers Act has rather delayed operations in respect of the Consols Act. Still small parcels of forms have been sent out from the General Post Office, but supplies have not yet been despatched to the extremities of the Colony. A number of applications for consols has already been received by the Treasury.

The Hospital authorities acknowledge with thanks receipt of the following articles : —Old linen, from Mrs Kennedy, Mrs Pennafold and Mrs Laney ; books, periodicals, illustrated papers, scrap book and papers, from Miss Graham, Dr France, Mrs Laney, the Public Library and Mr J. Collins; vegetables, from Mrs Wright; dolls, from members of “Little Fair Players Guild ’’ j 10s from Archdeacon Stock.

A meeting of Court Sir George Grey, A.0.F., was held in the Foresters’ Hall last Tuesday, the Chief Ranger (Bro. W. Knapp) presiding. Several visiting brothers from H.M.S. Royalist were present, as well as some of the members of Court Lady Glasgow. One new member was initiated. After the regular business of the evening, light refreshments were handed round, and songs and recitations were given by some of the Royalist members and by Sisters Page, Young and Aston, and Bros. Leighton, Page, Mumford, Capper, Skinner and Harlen. The room was tastefully decorated with ferns and flowers. ,

There were 54 applications for the position of steward and stewardess of the Working Men’s Club. Last Tuesday the committee selected Mr T. H. Ccltman and Mrs Coltman, of Willis street, for the position.