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New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9320, 15 June 1891, Page 2

Not long ago a story was current that the fell disease called leprosy had made its appearance among some of the Natives in the North, as well as among the Chinese located in the South Island. In China the leprosy has existed in times anterior to the tale told in Leviticus ; and in early days here it was not uncommon among the Maoris, though of late years its existence has not been much heard of. In Now Caledonia and among the Pacific Islands the disease is more or less prevalent, and it has within the last forty years advanced with great rapidity in the Sandwich Islands. In Australia numerous instances of the disease have shown themselves ; but until lately has been almost wholly confined to the Chinese in these colonies, and now it is causing some alarm in New South Wales, because some cases are making themselves manifest among persons of European descent born in that Colony. With all the places named, as well as with America, where Chinese are tolerably, or rather intolerably numerous, this Colony has regular communication, and with New South Wales more frequently than with any of the other localities. Hence, it becomes a matter of serious import that great care should be exercised to prevent the introduction or the spread of such a dire and loathsome scourge. A return laid before the New South Wales Parliament supplies the information that in the leper lazaret, established at Little Bay, there are twenty-five lepers under the control and care of the keepers of that melancholy establishment, besides two cases in which death had recently occurred. The grave circumstance in connection with these unhappy sufferers is that no fewer than seven out of the twenty-five are natives of Now South Wales, born of European parents. The disease therefore has been contracted in the colony by persons of European blood ; and it is stated that even among the Chinese (who, with Javanese and Negroes, make up the sum of the eighteen other patients), they, too, have developed the malady since arrival, though it is not improbable that the seeds of the dioordermayhavebeenlatentin their blood. Less than a year ago a young man living in the heart of Sydney was discovered to be leprous, and a considerable sensation was thereby created. Though of European parentage, he appeared to have inherited rhe taint. Since then greater official care has been directed to the dis ease. In New Caledonia examples are known of French-born colonists having contracted the mediaeval disorder in that colony. Experience shows that a white skin confers no immunity from its ravages. We know not if at present there are any examples of this lingering and fatal disease under treatment in New Zealand. Professor Macgregor would be likely to know ; but there was lately in the Auckland papers some report and correspondence on the subject, in which one or more medical men took part, having reference to a presumed existence of leprosy among some of the Northern Maori tribes. The Board of Health of the sister colony, where some alarm has been awakened, is giving earnest attention to the subject, and has arranged for the examination of all suspected lepers and their complete segregation, involving strict separation from friends and kindred. Considering our frequent intercourse with the places named, and this recent disclosure in New South Wales, the authorities here will require to exercise careful vigilance to prevent contagion coming to our shores, and where symptoms of the disease are suspected among either Chinese or Maoris compel rigid seclusion should these symptoms display themselves. However much sympathy may be felt in such cases, sentiment must not interfere with public duty. , . _

The little discussion the other day about the Stock Committee is very regrettable. Not so much by reason of anything said during its course, although the attack made by the Minister for Lands upon the inspectors was not the kind of thing that anybody can justify under any circumstances. The main reason is that the discussion was provoked by the absence of the Hon G. F. Richardson’s name from the list of the Stock Committee. Mr Richardson is a very capable man, who thoroughly understands the working of theStookDepartmeht. Afterathreeyears’ experience of its administration, carrying outthe instruction of the Joint Committee, he would have been an invaluable member of the Committee. His presence ought to have been regarded as a necessity, Courtesy required it also, the courtesy to a capable opponent. We regret that Mr Richardson himself, in taking the opening given him by Sir John Hall's interpellation, should have taken the line that his absence from the Committee might avoid undesirable friction. He was wrong there, because the object of the Committee should be to get at all the facts con-I

nected with a most important industry, nob to thrash out political questions. Bub Mr Richardson was clearly only speaking as a man labouring under a sense of injury. The Government should not have put him into thatposition. His exclusion wears the air of a misuse of power. But power is held in trust for the public advantage, and should be so employed in all courtesy. The Government have by excluding Mr Richardson, made a mistake which impresses the public with the idea that they care more for a political advantage than for tho good of the service. Mr Richardson, as a member of the Committee, might have keenly criticised the Minister’s arrangements. That very circumstance ought to haveensured his nomiOne obvious conclusion is that the Minister did nob want to have his measures criticised.

Gossip runs a good deal on the chairmanship of committees. Members of the Lower House have had opportunities during the past few days of talking the matter over, and they have made use of them. Report says there is a general impression among them that all party considerations should be waived in so important a matter. That is, of course, the right vie w to take under all the circumstances of the case. The best man should be appointed, and the best man _is Mr Hamlin. He has filled the position for years, and is familiar with its duties in every detail. He does nob belong to the Government Party, but that is not a valid disqualification. The Government ought nob to pass by the most qualified man in the House. It is well enough to take a beginner when there is nobody else. But in this case there is a , tried man. Ministers should sink all party considerations in the interests of the public business. Mr Hamlin’s appointment would secure the continuity of trained experience—a thing immeasurably superior to twenty Party victories.

A letter appears ia these columns from Mr De Castro, commenting on the remarks made on his interview with the City Council touching the question of tho electric lighting of the oity and the terms of bis bill. He denies—indeed, he says it is “untrue”— that be told the Council that the price of electric energy would be “one shilling per unit, equal to 10a per 1000 ft of gas.” It is a curious fact that the newspaper reporters all affirm that this was the rate, and the only rate be mentioned in his long address to the Council. It must, therefore, be true. Admitting that be meant this to be the maximum charge, Mr Do Castro knows as well ns we do that a monopolist company, with a maximum fixed by Act, ia nob at all likely to charge less than the maximum. In a town like this an electric lighting company must have a monopoly, for the very cogent leason that two companies would never pay, but, like two opposition coaoheo on a road with a limited population, would ruin each other. Did Mr Do Castro ever bear of a railway company having no competitor charging leas for regular Parliamentary trains than a penny u mile, or whatever was the fixed maximum ? Lob us see what his Bill says. We have not a copy of the Company’s Wellington Bill, but we have one of the Christchurch Bill, which we presume is a replica of that for Wellington. Schedule 4 of this Bill has the following section: —“When the Company charge any consumer by tho actual amount of energy supplied to him they shall be entitled to charge him at the following rates per quarter : —For any amount up to twenty units, twenty shillings; and for each unit over twenty units, one shilling.” The Company is entitled to charge not less than a pound for any quantity below twenty units, no matter how small the quantity may be. That is, they may charge for what equals only a thousand feet of gas tho price now paid to the Gas Company for 2660 feet. Then as to perpetuity of tenure, what does Mr De Castro’s refusal to consent to a purchasing clause at cost price or a fair valuation aftertwonty-one years meanifitdoesnofcmean perpetuity ? or, as he now says, which is the same thing, the Council to compel purchase from the Company at its own price and wo all know what that means. Twice did Mr . Councillor Harris put tho question as to putohase on defined terms, and twice Mr De Castro decidedly decline to entertain any such proposition. It was not even hinted in the article that the Company was a German Company, as Mr Da Castro' implies. We know it is not. What was indicated was that possibly cheap German glass was used, and we simply asked if this was eo ; as if so, the fact might account for the yellowish tint in the flame. One swallow does not make a summer, and the lamp at the foot of Woodward street with plain, probably British glass, showing a better light, simply justifies the remark as to the other lamps which have upright corrugations, and these are all the electric lamps save two, and the new Vexperimental ” lamp, of which we hear for the first time, as about to be erected. What this experimental lamp has to do with the question raised we fail to discover. Christchurch, by the way,. does not supply any motive power. Wellington does, and is to spend more money on extra water supply. Yet the price to both places is evidently the same. A-proviaioa appears (clause 34) that the local authority or company may make a representation to the Board of Control for altering and varying the methods and rate of charge set forth in the schedule quoted from after any septennial period. What does this variance mean 1 That the charge can be increased as well as diminished ? If it means that the price shall be increased, then the proviso ought clearly to say so. There should be no obscurity on that score. We have seen what seem straightdooking enacting clauses overruled by cunning provisoes before now. The Council had bettor carefully ponder the true intent and meaning of this particular proviso. Finally, for the statement made at the time of the installation some two years ago, the present proprietor of this journal is in nowise responsible. Tho old regime exists no more. Possibly the writer of the notice quoted from by Mr De Castro had never seen any other installation. We have seen several, and the difference is remarkable.

Football news and a letter to the Editor on the Electric Light Contract will be found on the fourth page. The case of Nicholson v. Meek, before a special jury, will come on for hearing at the Supreme Court to-day. The Customs duties collected at Wellington during last week amounted to £3959 Ss 7d. The beer duty was £lB4 17s.

Mr W. McLean, one of tho newly appointed Justices of tbs Peace, took his seat on the Bench for the first time on Saturday. An inmate of the Lunatic Asylum named John Goodlet died at the institution at 7 o’clock yesterday morning from paralysis of tho brain. An inquest will be held to day. A telephone office in now open at Oharin, Wellington district, the hours of attendance being from 9 a.m. to o p.m. The office is closed on Sundays and holidays, and telegrams are delivered regularly. The following are the latest additions to the Telephone Exchange :—Mr F. Kahn, private residence, Goldieshrao; Mr Wardrnp, manager Union Bank, private residence, Aurora terrace; Mr A. M. Smith, private secretary to the Premier, private residence, Tinakori road. A conference of delegates from the various Trade Unions in the four principal cities will be held in the Trades Hall during the present week. The principal object of the con. ferenoe, it is understood, is to discuss the varions Labour Bills which are to be intro, duoed iu Parliament shortly. In the case of Jameson v. Jameson, wo regret having published Mr Skerrett’a ox parte statement, as in this case no evidence was offered. The respondent denied the allegations of cruelty and adultery, and Mr Jellicce contended that even if cruelty was proved, the deed of separation operated as a bar to tho suit. Mr Justice Richmond upheld the contention.

At the Divorce Court on Saturday, before Mr Justice Richmond, the case of Dimes v. Dimes, a petition by the husband for a decree nisi, was commenced. Mr Skerrett appeared for the petitioner, and Mr Devine for the respondent. The evidence of the petitioner was taken, and the case was then adjourned till to morrow (Tuesday). Two days after the R.M.S. Tongariro left Plymouth, an A.B. named George Bartlett fell from the top gallant yard to the deck, a distance of aboat 80 feet, fracturing two of his ribs by the fall. Although every possible care was taken of the unfortunate man, he snconmbcd to his injuries a few days after the accident happened. The deceased leaves a wife and family in England. A subscription was got op amongst the passengers in aid of tire family, and a substantial sum was collected.

The meeting to be bold to-night at the Exchange Hall in connection with the proposed establishment of a Boy's institute is one that deserves the hearty co-operation of all olassea of the community. It must be patent to even the most casual observer that the want of some such resort for the youth of the city is urgently needed. The nnmber of bays who roam the afreets every night is growing, and each an institution as the one proposed will do much to stop this growing evil. His Worahipthe Mayoris to preside, and it is expected that an influential committee will be formed to carry out this very desirable object. The carpenter of the R.M.S. Tongariro, an elderly man named Le Gras, met with a serious accident yesterday. Shortly after the vessel had arrived alongside the wharf, Le Gras, who was assisting in making the vessel fast, fell from the railing of the second class cabin to the wharf, a distance of about 30ft. The injured man was at once oon veyed on board the steamer, and the ship's surgeon (Dr Craig) and Dr Henry, who was on board at the time, attended to him. As he appeared to bo seriously injured he was taken to the Hospital, On being examined it was found that several of his ribs were broken, and also that he bad sustained serious internal injuries. Last night he was In a very precarious state.

The next meet of the United Hunt will be on Thursday at Mr C. Phillips’ property, Kaiwaiwai.

The City RifW annual distribution of prizes will take place in tho Garrison Hall, on the 7fch July. A special meeting of the Shipmasters Association will be held at 11.30 this morning for tho consideration of the new rules.

The late Mr Thomas Mackay’s funeral will itart from th© Metropolitan Hotel at 12 vcloclc to-day (Isth inst.}. His remains will be taken to Nelson by tho Rotorua.

The Hon G. McLean, M.L.C., and Hon T, Fergus, Messrs Carncross, Fish, Thomson, Wright, and Scobie Mackenzie, M.H.R.’s, were passengers by the Rotorua, which arrived from Lyttelton yesterday. The unfortunate man Gerard, who was injured in a souffle during the late strike, is still in the Hospital. The lower part of bis body is completely paralysed, and it is very doubtful if he will ever be able to get about again.

The fourth annual invitation ball of the Wellington Rowing Club has been fixed for Monday, Bth July. A list of gentlemen from whom tickets may be obtained by those ia receipt of invitations will be found in another column.

The chief officer of the brigantine Linda Weber, who was taken to the Hospital on the arrival of the vessel two weeks ago, died in the institution last week. The deceased, whose name was James Briggs, w&s a native of Auckland, and 45 years of age.

The Post Office authorities have been advised that the R.M S. Alameda, with English mails of I6th May. left San Francisco for Auckland on the 2Sth May. The R. M.S. Mariposa, with the Coloniel mails of 23rd May, arrived at San Francisco from Auckland on the 11 th inst.’ The divorce case of Cederlund v. Coder* lund, an application by the husband for a decree absolute, came before His Honor Mr Justice Richmond on Saturday, aud by conseut of both parties was adjourned till July 10th. Mr Menteath appeared for the petitioner and Mr E. B. Brown for tho respondent. The various Trades Unions have decided to present an address of welcome to the Liberal members of the House. The ceremony will take place shortly at the Opera House, when it ia expected that, besides speeches by the Liberal members, Sir Geo. Grey will give an account of his recent visit to our neighbours in Australia. The cadets who have been undergoing a course of instruction in telegraphy at Wellington, have presented their instruo. tor, Mr Edser, with a set of ten handsomely bound volumes of the works of the standard poets, as a tribute of their esteem.- The cadets, about twenty in number, will be distributed among the various offices on Tuesday. It will be seen from an obituary announce* ment elsewhere that Mr W. J. Steward, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has sustained a severe bereavement in the death of his mother, which took place in England on the 23rd April last. Our readers, we are sure, will join us in an expression of deep sympathy with Mr Steward in his affliction.

ThoR.M.S. Tongariro arrived from London via the usual porta on Saturday evening, after a voyage of 41 daya 15 houra and 7 minutes, her actual steaming time being 40 days 19 hours 21 minutes. She brought 2 saloon, 12 second saloon, and 54 steerage passengers, the names of whom will be found in our shipping column. She brought a considerable quantity of cargo for all ports.

A woman named Olivia Cornell was charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday with damaging her husband’s house in Haming street. It appears that the parties do not live together. On the applicatiou of the complainant the bearing of tho case was adjourned until to morrow, for the purpose of allowing him to produce witnesses. Messrs E. W, Merrah, J. C. Meara and W. MoLean were the presiding justices.

Moat of the delegates to the Municipal Conference have arrived, and the first meeting will be held in the Council Chambers today, commencing at 12 o’clock. The delegates will be welcomed by the Mayor in his own room before the business proper is commenced. Mri). M. Ross, Mayor pf Timaru; Councillor G. Carson, of Wanganui; Mr Upton, Mayor of Auckland; and Mr P. A. Phillips, Town Clark of Auckland, were among those who arrived on Saturday last. It is curious that while we are nipped with frost in Wellington, in Napier they are having an Indian summer. Tho following appears in the Hawkes Bay Herald of Wednesday last: —Our yesterday’s issue contained a) paragraph respecting a second crop of apples on a tree in Mr P. W. Williams’ garden. Later in the day Mr George Lloyd bronght to our office a fine dish of raspberries, pioked that day, and quite ripe. The exceptional mildness of the season has resulted in much second growth. An interesting ceremony took place on Saturday at the establishment of Ballinger Bros., when Mr Stewart, on behalf oi tho

employes, presented Mr A. Ballinger, the jnnior member of the firm, on the eve of his marriage, with a handsome set of ivoryhandled oatvers and a silver card basket. Mr Stewart, in the course of a neat little speech, referred to the high esteem in which Mr Ballinger was held by tho employes. Mr Ballinger replied in suitable terms, after which the health of Mr Ballinger and tho bride elect were drunk in bumpers. The fifth, and last, of tho Wellington concerts given hy Madame Patoy and her talented Company took place at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, when the House was packed, Madame Patey was on the programme for “ There is a green hill far away ” (Gounod), " Our dear old home " (Watson), and “Soots wha hae wi Wallace bled.” The talented contralto was in excellent voioe, and was rapturously applauded. In response to a recall after Gounod’s sacred song she repeated the last verse. “Our dear old Home” naturally suggested “ Home, Sweet Homo" ns an encore, and it- was given as we have never heard it given before. The furore created by Madame Patey’s grand roeal efforts reaohod a climax in her rendering of ■** Scots wha hae,” and in answer to irresistible demands for more she gave “The Laird o’

Cookpen ” and “Somebody,” finally retiling amidst a perfect storm of applanae. The other members of the company acquitted

themselves well, and the concert was one of the most successful of the series. The splendid upright iron grand piano, used throughout the series of concerts, and supplied by the Dresden Piano Co,, was much admired. A reward of LlO is offered for the recovery of a pocket letter case containing valuables, lost somewhere about Lambton quay. Finder is requested to bring the same to the Police Office.

The friends of Mr R. J. S. Hickson are invited to attend the funeral of his late daughter, Florence Louise, which is to leave Broadway terrace at 3 p.m. to day.

Colonel Thomas McDonnell announces that be has started business as licensed interpreter at offices in Evening Post Chambers. ' George Thomas and Co., under instructions from Mr J. F. Hicks, who is leaving Wellington, will sell by auction at his residence, Ellies street, to-morrow, the whole of his valuable household furniture, including a magnificent iron framed overstrung pianoforte. Freeman E. Jackson and Co. publish a list of ths stock they will offer for sale at their Johnsonville sale on Wednesday. Teachers are required for tho Wangaehu and Ohan schools, and an assistant teacher for Featherston. Applications will bo received at the Board of Education up to 5 o’clock -on Friday next. Thos. Turnbull and Son, architects, invite tenders for repairs to school buildings at Mungaroa and Kaitoke. The Hikurangi Hotel, ten miles from Whangarei, half way on the road to the Puhipnhi goldfield, together with the Hikurangi Public Hall, extensive stabling, ten acres of cultivated land, butchers' shop, stock, furniture, and goodwill, are advertised for sale. L. D. Nathan and Co., of Auckland, will supply full particulars on application.

In the ladies’ underclothing department there are some specialities which are well deserving of notice, now that cold, wintry weather seems to have set in. We invito a special visit of inspection from the ladies of the city and suburbs at To Aro House

Wo have soma very nice ribbed spun silk under vests, in such colours as cream, sky, pink, and also white. In addition we have out some ribbed silk undervestSf beautifully trimmed with lace, very suitable for evening wear, in flesh colour, sky, pink, and white, at Te Aro House.

The newest thing our London buyer has sent in nndervests this season are some very pretty wool bodies in shaded colours, s cb os cardinal shaded crimson, electric blue shaded pink, pink shaded crimson, fawn shaded brown, etc.; and these very attractive bodices are at the extremely moderate price of 3s 6d each, at Te Aro House.

In natural wool underclothing our assortment is very select, and comprises combinations, drawers, vests, and nightdresses. We have a splendid lot of ladies’ wool skirts, flannel skirts, and our flannelette skirts are not only warm and durable, but are exceedingly cheap, ranging from Zs 6d to 7a Gd each, at Te Aro House.

Then there is a small but very select assortment of ladies’ flannel dressing jackets, wool embroidered, in cream, pink, cardinal, sky, blue, crimson, at Te Aro House.