CURRENT TOPICS

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9885, 6 March 1901, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

A Soutliern conteniporary, roferriug | to the falling off in the gold retuiris "] of Otago, speaks cheering'y of the" outlook, and expresses x\xi opinion that the depression is but temporary. May we in the Thames.district likewise take solace, and look to. the. .future with, every confidence that the : Silver lining to the dark cloi*d that ' overshadows the district v/ill boon | appear? Many a Thames rosidontre- j members the day 'when the district ! experienced one of those unexpected visitations of. depression; when business was much worse than at present and when the outlook generally was i somewhat disheartening. • But courage and fortitude -were shown, persistency in time told its tale, and those who had shown their coniidence in the district reaped the reward of their steadfastness. It is t hnost certain that history will repeat itself, and though the district is "undu 1 a cloud" at present its future will be bright, and its people prosperous and happy. ' .

The recurrence of the,dreaded bu: bonic plague at Capetown nnd the outbreak in the native quarters of the town are serious matters, r.iid the authorities will require to adopt prompt' and efficient measures to prevent the disease spreading. Anyone who has visited Capetown and inspected the Kaffir and Malay quarters on the northern and southern sides of

the city will appreciate the awful danger of an epidemic such us bu-' bonic plague killing thousands. Scarcely any supervision "is exercised over the proper housing of the coloured races, and the sanitary conditions at some of these locations, ; for they are nothing else, would appal pud. "In horrible filth many of these creatures live, and they are physically jrone to' disease. Easy victims they would make to the dreadful plague, aad ta keep the disease within .v. cm:{iin-v, scribed area. ; ;would. prove'■'an almost superhuman task. The local authorities are so apathetic and 'callous that the Government has had to assert itself, and take over the^ cleansing and health ■ preserving work that tl le municipal authorities, to '"their disgrace be it ,sa^dj have failed to do, With a quarter of a million of troops in. South Africa it is';absoliltely,i!eoessary thatUthe\biibonic. ( :pla;giie be prevented from coining' iht'o contact with even the" fringe of the Empires's representatives.