TYPHOID FEVER IN A DAIRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 33

TYPHOID FEVER IN A DAIRY.

Dr Martin reported to the City Council last week that some meat shown to him by the Sanitary Inspector was barfly diseased. It was a case of tubercular pleurisy, and entirely unfit for human consumption. As, with the exception of thekidneys, all the internal organs had been removed, he was unable to state whether such might be secondary to another

disease. The Town Clerk stated that the meat had been destroyed. It was understood that proceedings would be taken. In another letter Dr Martin stated that the case of typhoid fever in a dairy—the patient being kept in the house for close on 10 days to a fortnight, was, he thought, a very great clanger to the public health, which contingency was not reached by the Dairy Regulation Acts, and ho suggested, as medical officer, that any illness of over two days' duration should be reported to him, with a view to bo reported to the Council. Of course, in typhoid or enteric fever some time must elapse before a definite diagnosis was arrived at, but where doubt existed, for the safety of the- public isolation and removal were the only safe means. As to the cases that had occurred in the neighbourhood of the nature of typhoid, three or four, if cot more, of the houses were supplied from the dairy, strong presumptive evidence of transmitted infection.

The letter was referred to the Dairy Regulations Committee.

The accounts in connection with (lie Druids' Art Union and Gala havo been finally settled, and the result is a profit of £56 12s Id, Of this amount Jill 2s Gd (25 per cent, of the profits) is to be handed to the Brunner Relief Fund, thus leaving a credit balance of £l29s 7d. The Druids arc to bo congratulated on the success of the gathering.

It was reported to the polico yesterday morning that some time during the preceding night a burglary had been committed at the premises ot J. Wong Sing, a Chinese fruitdealer, in Molesworth streot, and that goods comprising tins of preserves, tea, candles, tobacco, cigarettes and cigars had boon stolon, together with about £3 in money. The front door was opened by breaking one of the panels. The Mariposa with the English mails of 18th April left San Francisco for Auckland on Thursday hist, time-table date, and she is duo in Auckland on the 21st inst.

The performance of "Beauty and the Beast," lately given at Johnsonvillo in aid of the Brunncr Relief Fund, was repeated thero last week, in aid of the local English Church, to a crowded house, which included the Hon the Premier and Miss Soddon. The whole performance was very successful, and reflected great credit on Miss L. Willis, the stage manager, and Mr Morgan, who coached the performers. Songs by local talent were interspersed between the scenes. Miss Braid made a charming Beauty, and the other leading characters were well sustained by Misses Taylor, Willis (2) and Stylos. Master Orr made a most capable Beast. The accompaniments were played by Miss Orr and Mrs Moore, and there were 10 attendant fairies. During the performance Mr Soddon mado a few remarks, in which ho complimontcd the performers, and in reverting to the fact that the first performance was in aid of the Brunnerton sufferers, ho gave an eloquent description of the scenes on that unhappy occasion. On concluding ho received three ringing cheers from the fairies. The proceedings terminated with an enjoyable dance. The use of the Rontgen rays for the discovery of foreign substances in the human body has become an established scientific fact, and numerous experiments by Professor Kontgen himself and others in this direction have been rewarded with complete success. It is understood that the Kontgen apparatus will be in Wellington within a very sdiort period, and that an attempt will then bo made to locate the bullet which still remains in tho body of Mr Geo. Norbury, who was shot in Messrs Harcourt and Co.'s auction rooms, Lambton quay, some time since. Naturally very wide interest will be taken in tho experiment, which will be the first of tho kind undertaken in New Zealand.

The nine reefs discovered by Mr Elliotte on tho Tararua rangos have not yet boon thoroughly tested, and Mr Elliotte is not certain whether they are all gold bearing. During tho year ended 31st March :)8,87G books, including renewals, were issued_ to readers, at the Free Library, as against 21,109 for tho previous year. The works on fiction were the most favoured, the number being 3",085, the next being works on geography, voyages and trave's, 1075. The most popular authors were Mrs Henry Wood, Rider Haggard, Edna Lyall, Conan Doyle, Marie Oorolli, Hosn nt and Rico, and fiesant only, V M. Crawford, 'J, K. Uraddon. The number of volumes in tin' reference uoraiy is DJII. There ant tiJ-M works in the lemtiiig library, making a tol;d of 15,325". Tho total number of readers in tho references library during the year was iiJfiO, of whom 112 were women

The plans of (lie proposed city baths have b: ; en sent to tho Mari-e Department and Harbour Board by the City Council.

The number of readers who males use of thu reading rooms at the free Library is set down by tin libiavian at from 50U to 7UO daily. Ail the tenders sent in to the Public Works Department for the construction of tho Makohine Viaduct hav-; been declined. The sum of .£25 has been allotted by tho City Council for the purchase of works of reference for the Free Library.

The Drainage Engineer in his annual report to tho City Council says it will sooner or later bo necessary to make a house to lioujo examination of :dl di\.in«, and piopcrty owners should be called upon to_ put their drains into a proper sanitary condition whilst the main drainage work is proceeding. ft was upon tho condition of the house drains that the sanitary condition of the city largly depended, and no matter how perfect the main sewerage system might bo, unless the private drains were also made perfect the health of the inhabitants must suffer. Messrs Dwan Bros, report having sold Mr M. Killoen's interest in tho Masonic Hotel, to Mr Thomas Kirkwood, late of and more re-

The Fire Brigado received G 8 "calls" during the year ended 21th February. The losses by fire within tho city during the eleven months from Ist April, 1895. to February 29th of this year amounted to £15,982, divided as follows :—On buildings, £7(l It, of which was insured and £lO5 uninsured ; on contents, £8363, of which £6717 was insured and £lOsl uninsured, 'ihe full amount of insurances affectod was £67,100.

In his annual report to the City Council Mr ,T. Doyle says that, although the sanitary condition of the city is not all that could be wished, there appeared to be a steady improvement in public health. The system of scavenging is a good one, but lie urges on the Council to provide still greater facilities for the disposal of rubbish. Everything should be done by the authorities to ensure the daily removal and disposal of the whole of the city refuse. If the destructor is enlarged, he suggests that one cell should be available for the cremation of maimed dogs. A disinfecting chamber is also necessary. Tho steps taken in tho direction of meat and fruit inspection seem to have had a good effect.

The total amour.t expended by the Drainage Department out of tho portion of the Sanitation Loan appropriated to the drainage scheme now amounts to £01,225 5s lid, as against £30,160 at the end of March, 1895, thus leaving a net expenditure of £3J.,OCJ 5s lid on the year's working.

Mr J. Doyle, in his annual report to the City Council, suggests that, as death by drowning entails an unnecessary amount, of suffering to dogs, the process known as the Lethal Chamber be adopted. Tho cost of the structure would ba about £SO. Until he gets further information, the capture and drowning of stray dogs has been discontinued. Mrs Tasker, president of the Women's Democratic Union, and who represented the union at tho Convention of Womon lately held at Christchurch, gave an interesting resume of tho proceedings of tho Convention to a public meeting at the Exchange Buildings last week, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

There was an unusually large attendance at Messrs J. H. Bethuno and Co.'.', auction mart on Friday afternoon, when they sold the valuable freehold property at the Lower Hutt, and well known as McNab's Gardens, comprising 31acres rich fertile land, beautifully laid out and planted, having long frontages to the Waiwetu road, White's line and the Second Stream, together with all the substantial buildings erected thereon, including commodious family residence of 20 rooms, complete stables mid outbuildings. The haloing for this freehold started at £J0()0 ami proceeded up to £">2n(l, at which price it was purchased by Mr C. I'. liiclmrd.-un as agent, who lias loft the property in the hands of the auctioneers for private sale, and it is ui-derstood that Messrs Buthune and Co. have already had several enquiries regarding the property.

The Sanitary Inspector mada 7815 visits last year ; 39 persons were prosecuted, and foes "amounting to £27 9s were imposed for breaches of the various by-laws. The dot? registration toes in the ci:y last year amounted to £l9l 9s CI. There were 129 dogs taken off the streets ; of these 25 wero sold for £lO 10s, 15 were .-.out to the country, 9 were claimed and 80 drowned. A Lodge of Sorrow was hell by the Masonic Lodge Waterloo, No. 13, N.Z.C., last week in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott street, in memory of the late Bro. E.T. Gillon, P.G.M. All tin local lodges were represented, ami the ritual of the'Lodge of (Sorrow was conducted by Bro. George Macmorran, W.M. of the Lodge, and the Lev Bro. W. Shircr, chaplain. P.M. Bro. Eiiott delivered an address on the deceased brother's career, dwelling especially upon his estimable personal qualities and his monumental services to Freemasonry. During the ceremony Bro J. W. Hill contributed the solos " Be Thou Faithful" and "My Hope is in the Everlasting." The Mawhera, which arrived from Greymouth on Sunday, brought seven boxe.i of gold to the value of ,£27,000 on account of the Bank of New Zealand. One box was from Westport, three from Greymoutb, and three fmm Hnkiiika 321 m gold "'' ,l La taaaahiiMaad

Volumes of smoke ascended in Customhouse quay on Friday morning, the tar boiler used at the new Harbour Board buildings having caught fire. Someone even rang the fireboll, but the workmen soon extinguished the lire.

The Customs duties collected at Wellington for the past week amounted to .£9153 lis 2d, and the beer duty to £lO9. A man whose demeanour uumi-'takably suggested that he had been looking through the bottoms of sundry tumblers got on one of the tram-ears on Saturday on tiie way to Newtown, and kept the' passengers employed in speculating as to whether he would eventually break his neck or fall under the wheels if lie'porsistcd in hopping off the car and staggering on again. The conductor at first tried to get rid of him, but then 1,1 him remain on condition that he did not cause a disturbance. At length he stepped on to the ground and could not get back. It was suggested by one passenger that perhaps he was the ghost. As the result of the preliminary enquiry held by the Acting-Collector of Customs into the foundering of the barque Coromandel at, the Railway Wharf, a Magisterial enquiry is to bo hold at an early date. Mr Stevens, secretary of the Brunner Relief Fund, stated at the meeting of the Executive Committee on .Monday that tin whole of the expenses in connection with the fund in Wellington were only £3 19s 7d. Messrs George Thomas and Co. report that at the sale on Monday at their rooms, Customhouse quay, of the consignment of pianos ex Matatua, the bidding was spirited, the attendance large, and every instrument was disposed of. The following is the result of the sale:—No. 1, black and gold pianoforte, MrR. Hannah, £42; No. 2, black and gold pianoforte, Mr W. Hopkirk. £-5.1; No. :$, walnut, pianoforte, Mr Stephens, £lO ; No. 1, walnut pianoforte, Mr Scott, £:!5; No. 5, walnut pianoforte, Mr Benzie, .£3l; No. 11, walnut pianoforte. Mr Gibb, £3B: total, £220. At the fortnightly meeting of the Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on ' Monday, the Rev J. K. Klliott in the chair the Inspector reported having enquired into

a number of eases. A long discussion ensued as to the overloading of drays conveying coal from the wharf, and it was decided that letters should be sent to the City Council and the Harbour Board, drawing their attention to the matter. A letter was received from Mr A. 11. Turnbull accepting tho position of vice-president. A sub-committee was formed to mike enquiries regarding a lethal chamber for the disposal of stray dogs. The following subscriptions were received:— Per the Inspector-Mr Arthur Lodder and Mr A. W. Galcllv, 10s (id each; Mr !•'. C. Brailsford, l'1 :1; Mr K. Martin, 7s (id ; Wellington Biscuit Companv, 5s ; Mr I. B. Rander.-on and A friend 2s lj t each. I'ur Mrs Lingard Mr T. Field, Ms; Mr K. L. Burgess, Mr F. A. Majondio and A Friend. •'>- each; Mr F. Allen, 3s; Mr 11. Field, 2s Cl. Per Mrs Tarn—Mount Cook Girls' School Band of Mercy (is. Thirty-two head of forward store bullocks wero shipped by the Flora on Monday for Forester and Co., J-ytteltou.

A local company has nought the Aorere from the Anchor Company. Messrs Turnbull and Co. will continue to act as agents for the vessol, and she will, as before, run in trie Wellington-F'atoa trade. Tho annual meeting of tho Wellington Rowing Club's Gymnastic Class was held at the boathouso on .Monday. The balance-sheet for the past season showed a credit of £2 12s •Id. Mr W. Ross was elected captain, Messrs G. White and F. C. iloe.i were re-elected instructors, Mr F. C. Ross hon secretary and treasurer and Messrs J. Patterson, Ross and While a Committee of Management. Tho class nights were fixed for Monday and Friday, and tho secretary was instructed to procure more appar-tus.