ACTION FOR DAMAGES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2427, 19 September 1900, Page 31

ACTION FOR DAMAGES.

Messrs Bell and Co. intend bringing an action against the Government for alleged wrongful seizure of matches by the customs. Some £1200 worth of matches were seized in AucJciand because the boxes bore the label "Bell and Co., New Zealand." INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE. It is the intention of the Government to .send a capable man to Great Britain and obher countries with a view to facilitating the sale of our products and opening up new markets. £1000 appears on the Estimates for this purpose. In addition, there is provision made for a new Under-secretary for Industrie!, and Commerce at £450 a year and a clerk at £175 per year. There is also a, vote of £500 for contingencies. ROTORUA SANATORIUM. There were 108 patients admitted during the year to the f-nnatormm. Of these, only two were from Australia ; the others were from New Zealand. Dr MacGregor reports as follows: — " Dr Kenny, formerly of the Waikato Hospital, is now medical superintendent of the sanatorium. His salary has been increased to £500, on condition that his bervices, should be available for invalid visitors who were willing to pay 10s 6d for each consultation at the sanatorium, and £1 Is for visits to peicons at their own rooms, To

prevent this being too great a charge, it was decided that all persons who entered their names as being unable to pay should get advice gratis. So far, the system appears to have worked fairly well, and the Government liave made a profit out of the arrangement. The sanatorium itself is one of the best-man-aged institutions in New Zealand. The electric lighting and the new system of drainage will soon be in working order. It is essential, however, that a new Thermal Springs Act should be passed, and the necessary power given to one man, who shall be responsible for the whole district. Local government in town matters should be conceded to the residents, and they should be encouraged to provide an ordinary hospital for the wants of the district. The corrosive effects of the sulphur are such that the buildings soon get dilapidated and unsightly. The discolouration inevitable in the conditions is put down to neglect and dirt, which is very unjust. New baths are needed to meet modern requirements, and separate provision should be made for sanatorium patients." A LIBEL ACTION. Mr Victor W. Braund, who was recently proprietor and editor of the Guardian newspaper here, intends bringing libel actions against Mr George Fisher, M.H.R., and Mr Mackay, the Government printer. The alleged libel is contained in a speech delivered in the House by Mr Fisher, and subsequently issued in pamphlet form by the Government Printing Office. Mr Braund infqrms me that he has written to Mr Fisher asking him to waive parliamentary privileges in the matter, so the case may come on at once. \ JOTTINGS. It transpires tbat the meat companies are paying the Government £300 a year for the inspection of their works, but that the Government only pay the inspectors £250 a year. The Dunedin and Invercargill Boroughs, on the other hand, pay theft- inspectors £300 a year. "The benevolence of a Mr Hooley," is how Mr Atkinson described last night the generosity of the Premier in giving £5000 of other people's money to Canada because of the Ottawa fire. "MT Hooley gave for advertising purposes, and the Premier had admittedly described the grant as a good ad\crti&ement."