THE Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1875.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4168, 28 June 1875, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1875.

The interests ot the community in all matters relating to Life and Health, are too momentous to be passed by in silence. The Press is almost tired of inveighing against the inactivity of tlie proper authorities. The spirit of piece-meal legislation, supineness, and procrastination pervades their whole proceedings when dealing with questions affecting preventive disease. Is it possible, that; they have never experienced in their own homes the miseries resulting from pestilential fever? If they have, why this apathy, why this want of energ}', why this sinking of the most important of all important questions to a minor place, and elevation of trivial matters to discussions of unprofitable and unnecessary length ? We often wonder, do the public really consider that for every member of the community who is removed from their midst through the agency of these fevers, there are at least nine or ten others laid on a bed of sickness, who, in addition to being lost to trade and society, for a period varying at least from five weeks to three months, occupy the time and require the attention of other persons to nurse them, thus causing a serious loss to the community ? But this is trivial, when compared with the upset of households, the amount of suffering involved hy others, the anxiety, the long and painful night watches, the wretchedness and desolation produced, and what is worst, the spread of the cause <f the misery to others. It falls heavy and smites sorely in the palaces of the rich ; but bitter indeed must be the trial within the tenement of the poor. More fatal and dangerous to those of middle life than to the young, the bread winner is removed, homes are destroyed, children are made orphans, pauperisation and destitution follow! Then comes crowding of Benevolent Institutions, and thus it is the public purse is more heavily taxed than if prompt and preventive measures had been taken. We have before us at the present moment, the last published report of Mr Simon, Medical Officer of the Privy Council at Home, which illustrates so well the necessity of promptness in these masters, especially as coming from so high an authority. " One or two deaths by enteric fever, noted ia a Quarterly Return of tho. Registrar-General in regard of some village or small country town, may, in hundreds of instances, correspond to long-continued local conditions of scandalous filth and unwholesomeness. . '. : ". n re o:u^ of such epidemic visitations as are aptest in this country to excite loc^l alarm, and to he felt as conclusive appeals for central interference, it may appear a mere truism to say that, in proportion as the disease is present, the time for preventing it is past ; but for practical purposes, it is indeed all-important to remember that sanitary administration has its hopes of success in preventing, not in arresting, great epidemics; and that if warnings are not taken from the smaller excesses of disease, catastrophes, not further warnings, may be next to come. It seems almost unnecessary to add that a method of procedure which waits for death as its ground of action, may j>eeuliarly dispense with cumulative proofs; and that as no one preventible death can any longer be remedied in regard of him who has suffered it, so the. record of it may the more emphatically claim to be read as a protest on behalf of others." In one of the appendices of this valuable report there is given the precis of the report of the Government Inspectors in 42 cases, where from negligence of the local authorities central interference was required. Of these 42 cases—and owing to the efficient operation of the Public Health Acts since 1572, the proportion of cases has considerably diminished—no less than 39 dealt with epidemics of preventible disease, 99 per cent, of which was typhoid or enteric fevers; and the pith of the reports of the Government Inspectors who were sent down to visit these places might be briefly expressed thus :—Fever due to "polluted water, bad means of excrement disposal, want of proper means of isolation and disinfection, and existence of slimy quagmires in different parts of the town." How very like the conditions surrounding us ! In one of these cases enteric fever was supposed "to have been transmitted through the medium of milk conveyed from a farm house in which proper care had not been taken in disposing of the ejecta of the diseased." This brings to our memory the very lively sketches of Mr Leech: in 1855, in which the milkman is depicted as brewing the beverage from a stream "not the most pellucid in the world," and afterwards complacently culling out " Milk !" We are very much afraid the localities of many of our dairies supply identical conditions to that which excited the genial humour of MtLekch. But this •' transmission by milk" points to a fact that is only too frequently lost sight of in framing Acts to deal with these matters, and that fact is, that authorities should have means aot only for dealing with the coarser media by which disease is propagated, but also, as far as practicable, with the finer and more subtle media. And in addition to the cesspool, the sewer, and drinking water nuisances, we should remember typhoid fever is no less capable of being propagated by tainted hands, linen, and wearing apparel; by milk and other beverages, and by the air; and instances have been frequently reported by Mr Simon as occurring in different parts of England and Wales, in which the evidence strongly points ico propagation by emanations borne ! upon the air. And there is only too much reason to fear the filthy condition

of Dunedin at the present time is very ' favourable to the spread of the disease in that way. What, .becomes of-the excreta of the diseasecl?-, A.fe thej bulled carelessly a few- yards\6f the sick bedroom? Are they allowed *to putrify, and by .their dissemination become a fruitful source of disease?! Or does the City .Council; 'act its Spart in this matter, and place facile means of disinfection and removal within the reach of those requiring \t ? Again," what about the debris of our butchers' and fish shops ? ; What about the animal refuse of slaughtering ? Are these and other putrescible substances allowed to putrefy in our. .midst, or where the bad influences arising from such putrefaction might reach us through some channel or another? There is much work for a sanitary medical officer, not only in Dunedin, but also in every town and village in this Province, and beyond inspection of cesspools, and analyses of drinking water, we should like to see careful supervision of the various food channels of the town.

We cannot congratulate the General Government on the attitude they are assuming towards the Provinces in the North Island, nor do we think that that conduct is likely to effect its object. The idea which underlies its behaviour towards Auckland is, of course, dictated by a personal hostility to Sir George Gkey. Besides this, however, it is pretty clear that there is the further hope that, by reducing the Province of Auckland to the lowest depth, of bankruptcy and despair, they may increase the number of those who think that the abolition of Provincial institutions must result in better times for their locality. So, too, with regard to the Hutt Railway, we must agree with o'ir contemporary the Evening Post, that the trickery which our telegram of yesterday discloses is done with a purpose, and that that purpose is "to embarrass the Province, and reduce it to such, a state as to jvistify its abolition." From the prompt and determined steps that Sir Geokge Grey has announced his intention of taking, it is clear that they (the General Government) have caught a tartar in Auckland. We do not doubt that similar conduct towards the Province of Wellington, so far from effecting the object aimed at, will result in an increase of the number of those who are ardent friends of Provincial institutions. In any community of Englishmen reliance may always be placed upon the desire for fair play so deeply implanted in our national character. Anything like tyranny, or a tendency to a domineering attitude, is deeply resented by all who look on at a conflict. Auckland is deep enough in the mire of povert}^ in all conscience without using any finesse in argument to push her deeper down still. The attempt recently made to cheat her out of ncr property, to stop her supplies upon the most trivial grounds, will have the effect of enlisting a good deal of sympathy upon behalf of those who think that Provincial institutions are preferable to a central Government capable of such conduct. The Colonial Treasurer is ill-advised in attempting to crush, out the Provinces. The case would have been strong enough, we believe, without taking such unusual methods to produce starvation. Now, when the Assembly meets, and the Abolitionists point scornfully to the distressed condition of Auckland, they will have furnished their opponents with the most telling and excellent of arguments. They will be able with great effect to answer, If you had let us alone, and had fulfilled your part of our mutual engagements, we should have been in a better position ; you have ruined us, and must not blame us for our embarrassment. There can be no doubt that the action of the Colonial Government will have the effect of estranging the sympathies of those who would otherwise have been their strongest supporters. The finesse and almost dishonest trickery which has characterised their conduct about the Hutt railway is a piece of the same very ill-judged conduct. If they go on pursuing the same line, public opinion will certainly change, and their best friends will begin to doubt the wisdom of handing over all authority to those who behave more like Jews of Houndsditch than upright English statesmen.

The steamer Alhambra is expected to leave the Bluff at 2 p.m. to-day. Telegrams for the Australian Colonies, or Europe via Java j Cable, will be received at the Dunedin office for transmission to Bluff up till 1 p.m. Our Auckland corresponclsnt telegraphed on Saturday that the street tramway system is likely to be carried out. If necessary a concession can be secured irom the City Council. A local company can be found by Turner to lay the tramways on the San Francisco principle, running through the streets of the city, and several miles from town. A special meeting of the Council has been convened for Tuesday to consider a definite proposal.— A Maketu telegram states that Taiapara charges the Government with a breach of trust in sending Tamihana and Te Retu to Tauranga gaol for robbery at Rotorua. The Natives have ordered the Government to remove the Armeil Constabulary in consequence. The settlers consider Messrs Hamlin and Foster quite right, but too lenient.—Very rich specimens have been obtained from the Tairua prospectors' claim yesterday. On Saturday afternoon the Guardian employes met in Bayley's Hotel for the purpose of presenting a beautiful gold chain and locket, with greenstone pendant, to Mr Thomas Bracken, who recently resigned his appointment on the Guardian staff. Captain Baldwin, in making the presentation, spoke very highly of the endeavours Mr Bracken had made to further the success of the Guardian. He stated, in fact, that to that gentleman's efforts in a great measure the present success of the Guardian could be mainly attributed. The recipient replied in suitable terms, alluding to the regret with which he severed his connection with many old friends of the staff. Mr R. H. Leary read a letter from the directors, editor, and manager of the Guardian Company, expressing regret at Mr Bracken's resignation, and paying a high tribute of respect to his abilities and the conscientious manner in which he had discharged his I duties. The locket on one side bears Mr j Bracken's name, and on the other the following inscription : —" Presented by his friends ] of the Guardian office, as a souvenir of their regard and esteem. Dunedin, ISf.Z., June 1875." The offertories in St. Paul's Church yesterday, amounting to £17 17s Sd, were given towards the Building Fund of St. Mark's Church, Balclutba. The Yen. Archdeacon Edwards conducted the services, choosing | his text in the morning from Acts xx. 35, I aad in the evening from Ist Peter iii. 12. The Sailors' Home contained sixteen boarders on. Saturday last, nine having entered and thirteen left. I At a special general meeting of the Press Club, held in the Club's reading room on Saturday evening, Mr W. L. Buchanan, was appointed Hon. Treasurer, vice Mr F. Chapman resigned; and Mr LeGrove a member of Committee, vice Mr F. S. Nichols, who is now residing at Milton, and consequently becomes a country member of the Club. A series of very instructive and well got up wall maps has just been received by Mr Baird, bookseller, George street. Each map contains a large number of finely executed diagrams, coloured from nature. The series

} comprises the following subjects':—Proper, ties of bodies, Hydraulics^ ;the Steam-; engine,^Astronoiny;;i Botany; Physiology, &c.,;^and an-explanatory handbook accom panieg! each map. The series is published by MessrsJVy.'and A. K. Johnstone, of Edinburgh,; whose;^ name; is a guarantee for the faithfulness 'of the drawings. School Committees andipthers interested in education, would do well to call and examine the maps. V The Rev. W. J. Dean, of Invercargill, conducted Divine service in the Temperance Hall yesterday, morning and evening, preaching to very attentive congregations, nearly 200 being present in tLe evening. After the morning service, the reverend gentlemanHadininistered the sacrament to a considerable number of communicants, according'to the rites of the Primitive Methodist Church. We understand our Primitive Methodist friends are to be visited shortly by the Rev. Mr Westbrook, of Christchurch. The manufacture of oatmeal has been suecpssfully established at the Arrow. Mr William Gilmour, of the Wakatip flour mills, Lake Hayes, writes our Arrowtown correspondent, is now engaged producing this article in abundance, and which has considerably relieved the market of its overdone supply of oats. The meal is everywhere largely in favour iv the Lakes District, and has quite cut out the imported article. It is also a favourite at Cromwell and Dunstan. A very pleasing feature of Mr Gilmour's enterprise isthat the shelling stones, which are used for husking the grain, are of local origin and manufacture. The stones were quarried out of a sandstone reef at the Twelve Mile, Lake Wakatip, from whence they were brought in the rough to the mill, w here they were dressed and set up in their places. Competent judges who have seen the stones all agree that they are quite equal to imported ones. This is a case where the want of an article, and its not having been procurable, has set local ingenuity to work, and which has successfully overcome the difficulty. No shelling stones were obtainable when Mr Gilmour required them, and rather than wait for a shipment from England, he set himself to the work of hewing them out of a rock, almost on the spot, and succeeded admirably. The fixings of the mill are very ingenious — more especially when it is taken into account that they have been executed by an amateur millwright. After having the kiln the oats are shot into a bin, from whence they are conveyed to a second floor by the operat:on of the elevators from the kiln. They are never touched by hand until they descend the shoots in the form of oatmeal, ready for bagging for market. Mr Wm. Gilmour is himself the self taught artist. With men like liim, any ceuntry must succeed that is reasonably habitable. There are quite a number of local geniuses at the Arrow, and if the place does not go ahead.it will be from the force of circumstances over which they have no control. At the City Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs Fraser and M'Glashan, J.P.s, Albert Hetham and William Wiseman were each fined 10s, and Ben. farra 20s, for drunkenness. The latter prisoner, who is a fit candidate for an Inebriate Asylum, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment on a further charge of being a habitual drunkard. Wm. Thomson and Henry Fearman were jointly charged with stealing two waterproof cloaks from the shop of William Robertson, draper, Great King street. The Police stated that there had been a good d«al of shop-lifting at North Dunedin lately, and as prisoners, who had recently arrived from Melbourne, appeared to be adepts at this sort of thing, they were sent to H.M. Gaol for three months. Nineteen patients were admitted and sixteen discharged from the Dunedin Hospital during the week ended 26th June. One patient died from disease of the spinal chord. The number of patients at present in the Hospital is ITS, of whom 43 are females. The Theatre Service on Sunday evening was attended by probably a larger number than has yet been drawn thither. The large j building was crowded in every part. There were two addresses delivered—one by M Wright, who made good use of Sankey's hymns, and told some effective anecdotes; and another by Mr Alfred Brunton, of singular power and energy, distinguished for its perspicuity and the earnestness of application by which the truths enforced were driven ■ home. The Lueknow Company, Bendigo, commenced opening up their new reef, the top of which was struck in their tunnel during Mr Ulrich's visit in January last. Mr Basanko, the manager, informs us that the stone shows gold freely. Communication having been established between the tunnel and the old workings, there is now plenty of stone to crush. In all probability the Company will increase the power of their crush- I ing plant, and substitute one of Leffcl's tur" bine wheels in the place of the one already in use. Mr Basanko was much pleased with the working of the Lefiel's turbine just erected by Messrs Sparrow and Co. for the Arrow United Company, Arrow Flat. The Dunedin Walking Men's Club Committee purpose giving a series of miscella-1 neons entertainments shortly, and several • gentlemen have offered their services as lecturers, with the view of augmenting the : Library Fund. The desirability of initiating a theatrical performance was discussed. The suite of rooms provided for the Club are answering admirably, being regularly used ; 3 by about 200 members. Though newspapers and magazines are plentifully provided, a r supply of useful books is much desired. The 3 honorary members number over 150, and 1 already include a Marquis, a Superintendent, 3 a Bishop, and several Ministers. The residents of Mansford's, or Carey's Bay, as it is indifferently termed at Port . Cha lmers, are agitating to secure a little attention on the part of the Blueskin Road Board, in whichdistrict the township is unfortunately " a situated, being just outside the boundary of the Port Chalmers Municipality. The highways and byeways of the place are in a most disgraceful condition, and with a view to improve them the inhabitants have prepared the following memorial to the members of the B.iardt—"Gentlemen, we the undersigned ratepayers of Mausford's Township beg respectfully to draw your attention to the state of the approaches to our houses, and would suggest that you would cause immediate steps to be taken to improve the same. A considerable amount of money is collected in our district for rates, and we would respect- ' fully submit that a portion of same should be allotted for this purpose.—We are," &c. The memorial is to be presented at the meeting 1 of the Board on Monday next. i The Tribune observes :—" The Dunedin f lawyers—some of them, at all events—seem 3 to be making a sad mess of it. Instead of ' washing their dirty linen at home, they appear anxious to carry it to the most public 1 places they can find, so that everyone may => see how nasty it is. Perhaps the process may be productive of public benefit. The s harsh aphorism o£ Rochefoucault, that there i is something consoling in the misfortunes of s our friends, although a cutting sarcasm, has, ~ we fear, a measure of truth in it. At the r very least those who do not think very much s of lawyers here may derive some consolation V from knowing that people in other places are sure to be no better off than themselves. ; The character of lawyers is really a public r matter, and no | doubt there are lawyers and p lawyers. Besides the Thugs, there are men d of the highest honour and probity in the ; s profession. It would be intolerable if it

were not so, but it concerns no class more than the latter to have the lists purged and only the names of gentlemen npon them." '. The Bruce Herald states that on Tuesday evening last Sir J. L. C. .Richardson delivered a lecture on Central Asia, in Barr's Hall, Balclutha, in aid of the funds of the Athenaeum. The Bishop of Dunedin occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance. The lecture was a most interesting and instructive one, and at the close, Mr Ritchie moved a vote of thanks to Sir John, which was heartily carried. A vote of thanks was also passed to His Lordship the Bishop, for his kindness in taking the chair. His Lordship, in responding, alluded to a hint that had been thrown out that he should give a lecture, and said that if he was spared, and had the opportunity, he would come and give one. The Thames Advertiser has the following : —" On dit that Mr Sheehan is likely to be found at the next session of the Assembly voting with Mr Stafford and a strong antiprovincial party. It is also said that some other Auckland members will follow Mr Sheehan." ■ s : The Post of the 22nd inst. says that the first of the three locomotive engines contracted to be built by Mr E. W. Mills, of the Lion Foundry, for use on the Manawatu tramway is now completed, and to-day steam was got up for the first time. It is a fine-looking engine, weighing about six tons of 20 horse-power, and capable of working up to;' 100 pounds pressure. Mr Blackett and some other gentlemen of the Public Works Department were present, and expressed themselves highly pleased with tie manner in which the engine worked, and they passed it. This is the first regular locomotive built in the colony, and ife is not only equal in workmanship to any imported, but has actually been > completed at a cost (£600) below that at which a similar engine could be imported. This locomotive will shortly be shipped to Foxton by the Napier. The other two engines are in a forward state. The Herald says that among the curiosities exhibited at the meeting of the Auckland Institute recently, were a large number of bones of the extinct gigantic moa of NewZealand. A greater amount of interest than ordinary attaches to these bones from the fact of their being the first discovered in the North Island. The fact is instructive, as showing that the habitat of the moa extended further 'North than has been originally supposed. They were found in a deposit in Wangarei. They will, no doubt, form the subject of some future paper to be read before the members of the Institute. The Sydney correspondent of the Argus writes:—" I understand that the home Government is willing to adopt the proposal of Sir Hercules Robinson to advance the sum of £100,000 as a loan to Fiji, to be paid off in a term of years by charging five per cent, interest, which, as the Home Government borrows at three and a half, will allow one and a half to be reckoned as a redemption fund ; but how there is to be any surplus revenue in Fiji to pay off these annual instalments is not at present very clear, for the enormous staff that has been sent out will swallow up the whole revenue of the country, and leave nothing for administrative purposes." The New Zealand Times, in alluding, to an appeal on behalf of a member of the printing trade at present prevented by illness from working at his occupation, says :— " There may be some matter of doubt as to the utility of newspapers, some gentlemen, not always in accord with them, inclining to consider them the reverse of necessary. But, as to the benefits conferred by compositors in the ordinary exercise of their trade, there can be but one opinion. For ourselves, we cheerfully recognise the valuable services of those who, if they do make occasional mistakes with our copy, amply atone for these by rectifying the thousand and one blunders to which the best of us are liable. Of course, this is a personal view of the matter; but if every one else will recognise the benefits of printing in a personal sense, we are satisfied that Wednesday next will see the Oddfellows' Hall crowded." "' The Bay of Plenty Times states that on the 9th instant a native from Mokoia tried to pass a£s at Messrs Scott's store, Ohinemutu, being part of the money lost by Mr Kemp during the late accident. Frank Scott being in possession of the numbers of the missing notes, quietly asked the native to wait while he procured change from a neighbouring store, but in reality to inform the police. The man was arrested and taken before Captain Forster ; he confessed everything, and informed against his accomplice. The A.C. boat proceeded to Mokoia at 10 p.m. and arrested -the accomplice, recovering the whole sum—£637. A number of Mokoia natives proceeded to Ohiuemutu next morning en masxe to oppose the arrest, but thiough the firmness displayed by Captain Forster, who threatened to apply force if opposed, assisted by Captain Mair, the prisoners were marched to Maketu, where the case will be heard. Only a certain section of the Ngatiwhakane had anything to do with the theft, other hapus on the Mokoia being highly indignant at the theft. The National Labour Bureau, a semi-offi-cial establishment, has not been the success it was expected to be. The Argus in commenting on the manager's report, remarks: — " From the report upon the first quarter's operations of the National Labour Bureau it will be observed that that eminently selfsupporting institution registered in its books during '.the]±hree months 1294 seekejs. for employment, and found engagements for 343. It is further to be noted that the manager of the Bureau does not afford any in" formation whatever in regard to the financial affairs of the institution. The public is informed, in a highly official and tabular manner, that in the male department 220 persons applied for ' mercantile' employment, and that eight of them obtained engagement at rates varying from I6s to 50s per week, while similarly exact information is supplied in regard to other branches of labour ; but there is aot one word about how much per week the Bureau costs, or how much it brings in. We repeat that a detailed account of how the £1000 of public money entrusted to the Bureau Committee has been spent is [required, and must be forthcoming." The Rev. Charles Clark is doing a tremendous business in Melbourne. The Argus sa3-s he re-delivered his lecture on the Tower of London at the Town Hall, on Saturday, the 12th inst., to an audience even larger, if ' possible, than on the previous occasion. It can be no exaggeration to say that the large hall was crowded to excess, and that hundreds were unable to obtain admission. According to the Record, great dismay has been occasioned among the Sabbatarians in the mother country by the discovery that the editor of the Popular Biblical and Theological Dictionary has suffered his candour and his love of truth to influence him in making the following statement under the head "Sabbath": —"So scanty is the evidence in the New Testament, however, for the special observance of this day for public worship, that we incline to the principle involved in Paul's language (Rom. xiv. 5 G), and dare not condemn Christian brethren who refuse to attach especial sacredness to this day." A Low-church vicar, writing to the Record, says:—" This seems very strange in a work especially recommended to Sunday School teachers, and of which it seems 32 } 000

copies .hare'heen" sold. I cannot conceivti any Iptmpi words better adapted to undermine the>Sabbatb>keeping sentiment, and if this be effected,! Sunday Schools must soon decline, and general religion also." It wilt be observed that the'reverend writer of tne foregoing-does not dispute the truth of the lexicographer's:etatement, but merely argues that the ■truthfihonld not be spoken for fear of the consequences of " undermining the-Sabbath-keeping sentiment."" Larrikanism seems to flourish at Geelong. The Advertiser reports :—" A shocking outrage, perpetrated between? and 8 o'clock on. Thursday evening, at the lower end of Swanston" street^ shows the imperative necessity of; having more polieemeii-distributed about the town, especially in, the less frequented streets,, after dark has set in. At 'about" tne 'tune mentioned; .the/.wife vof a well-iown and?*espected resident was proceeding ron her' iray homeward, when,she 'was suddenly sor- ! rounded by a band', of -Boine -15 or 16 youn^l ruffians, aged from. 15; to 18; who, haying addressed her in the most filthy language, pro-' ceeded to maul her about in the most disgraceful manner it" is well possible to: conceive. So frightened was the lady that she knew not what to do. r No policeman or auyother person was in sight, and effectual measures 'Fere taken to suppress her screaming;. During a scuffle to obtain^ kiss one of the young; ruffiaaacut her lip*,' and before theyceased their persecution1 her vl body -was bruised, and she was close upon, fainting, when something alarmed her unmanly assailants, who rushed away in eyery direction, and she finally succeeded, in, reaching her home." . ,„ -o Tbe nominal charge for admittance to the Saturday night concerts/ together with the varied attractive programme presented on each oecasion;'has had the effect of making the venture a thorough' Success. Those who volunteer- their services ~ar.e_ repaid by the satisfaction ani'pleastire of ;tnose who li^beit to them,'while; tte fact of: one or ottier:o£ our " City '< Magnates >" occupying the "Jchair, should be a guarantee that there is nothing vulgar about the entertainments. Bactielder's panorama of "Paradise Lost n was exhibited in the Queen's Theatre on. Saturday evening, when the season was brought to a close. "The Long Strike" constituted the performance at the Princess Theatre, on Saturday evening. The attendance was verygood.