South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1683.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3158, 17 May 1883, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1683.

We are beginning to despair of ever getting reduced taxation, but realty there are some concessions which Government ought to grant us. Foremost among these is reduced railway fares. Threepence a mile first class, and twopence second, are exhorbitant charges, which are not only oppressive towards the public, but are also against the interests of the railways. In Victoria the first class fare has been reduced to twopence per mile. Why cannot the Department here follow the example ?-—and there is certainly no comparison between the two services, the New Zealand and the Victoria, ns regards comfort and speed in travelling. Railway travelling here is a very poor affair. We have got used to slow journeys, dingy and dusty carriages, and numberless inconveniences which are unknown in the sister colony, but they really do exist, nevertheless. And the expensiveness of travelling prevents its being so freely indulged in as it would be under a moderate tariff. Cheap fares and cheap trips in the summer months, would popularise the railways and, we feel sure, bring in a considerable addition to the revenue. The matter has been often referred to, and every effort has been made to urge it npon the attention of the authorities. Will not some of our “ new bloods ” in Parliament try to make themselves a name and do good service to the community, by bringing the matter forward and getting this reasonable concession from Government ?

The best bit of news in connection with the Irish question, which has yet come to hand, is the intelligence that the Pope has discountenanced the rebellion, and has insisted on the abstention of the bishops and clergy from politics. A good many people were anxious and doubtful about the attitude which the Church would assume. There is no longer reason for anxiety or doubt. His Holiness has taken jnst the stand which prudence and justice would counsel him to ta(ce. The Church has nothing to gain by rebellion, and it is quite contrary to her teachings to support or countenance strife. It is hardly to be expected that the ecclesiastics will in every case submit without a murmur to the orders of the Supreme Pontiff; their duty to the Church will no doubt clash with their national feelings. But on the whole we can conceive of no influence yet brought to bear upon the matter so likely to prove effectual as the disapprobation of the Head of the Church.

A peculiar tale of sorrow reaches us. We will state the facts as they have been brought under our notice. Some weeks ago Thomas Newell, a lad of fifteen, was brought before the Bench charged with placing stones on the railway line. He was duly found guilty, and the case was adjourned for farther enquiry. A few days ago he became ill, and was conveyed to the Timaru Hospital. On Tuesday lie appeared before the Resident Magistrate with one of his eyes bandaged,

and, on the certificate of two medical men, he was consigned to the Asylum at Sunnyside. Arrived there, he was examined by Dr Hacon, the Surgeon Superintendent, who, on close inspection, discovered that his eye was seriously affected, and, on still closer examination, found a piece of wire, folly an inch long, and a piece of straw, embedded in the eye. These he extracted, and tbe poor lad was immediately relieved. On further examination it appeared that the boy had sustained burns on various parts of his body which could only have been caused by his falling into a fire, and that he had, just prior to quitting the Hospital, drunk a quantity of carbolic acid. He is now in good bands, and all that can be done for him will be done. But how he could have lain in the Hospital here without the matter being seen to, certainly seems unaccountable. For a poor creature to have suffered the intolerable torture which this must have inflicted, and to have been sent down to Christchurch, not less than 100 miles, without, its -having been found that his eye was affected, seems almost incomprehensible. We merely place tbe facts- before our readers. Of the propriety of the lad being sent to tbe Asylum no one can doubt who has seen him : be certainly was not accountable in placing the stones on the line, and tbe Asylum, not tbe gaol, was clearly the place for him.