LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 969, 6 December 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An inquest was held at noon to-day at Mr. Joyce's British Empire Hotel, on the body of a newly-born infant of the wife of Mr. George Beveridge. The enquiry was held to condemn the practises of midwives who are in the habit, when a child has just been born into the world, of administering castor oil, sugar, butter, gin, or some other nostrum, according to the fancy, false teaching, or crotchets of .such attendants. In the present case the child which was sickly when bora, tl&& had castor oil given to it by the nurse, than which nothing could be more-injurious as testified to by the medical witness called to give evidence in the case. The nurse, instead of sending for a medical man, administered her particular nostrum. The evidence of Dr. Pollen was that the child could not have lived under any treatment, so that a verdict of " Died by natural causes " was returned. It should, however, be a caution to nurses not to depend on the administration of remedies founded in ignorance when a responsible and certificated medical practioner may be obtained. . We hear on reliable authority that Mr. W. L. Rees, our quondam friend, has served, through Mr. J. W. Nolan, his solicitor, a writ claiming something less than £10,000, upon Mr. J. S. Macfarlane for conspiracy, in which our towumen, Mr. E. ff. Ward, jvm., and Mr. George Lawrence, have been joined as defendants. Writs only cost about ss. fees to the , Government. We should suggest that the Countv would be considerably relieved in general ways and means of taxation, if their responsible advisers would bring in a Bill making heavy stamp duties payable upon writs over £200 claiming specific relief or relief in damages to injured character . or feelings. Mr. Rees/ like many other ieaal gentlemen, place more value on their general reputation than their clients do. Claims of this nature should be classed in the Customs returns as luxuries, and treated on the same basis as wines, spirits, and articles de luxe of a similar nature. The members of the Poverty Bay Turf Club are informed that their subscriptions fell due on the Ist instant, and are now overdue and owing. The Waitaki correspondent of the North Otago Times says: — "The Government has generouslv promised to our native neighbours £400 worth of potatoes and flour for going off land at Omarama (which they had no right occupy) in a peaceable manner. About £150 worth has already been received ; the natives are anxiously looking forward for the remainder. Perhaps, after all, it is better to be" a Maori than a white man, as they do no work, and are supplied with food at the expense of the public." A case oi female bushranging is reported from Maryborough. A woman wearing a mask and carrying a pistol entered the house of Sara Fraaer and made the usual demand. She obtained £2.