The Evening Herald. SATURDAY, FEB, 13, 1869.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 531, 13 February 1869, Page 2

The Evening Herald. SATURDAY, FEB, 13, 1869.

Latest from the Fhont.—There is po news of importance from the Front to-day. Everything is in a state of rest. Preparations, however, are said to be going on for a march into the bush soon. Col. Haultain may expedite matters, although we cannot hope that he will be guilty of any animated action or brilliant stroke.

EXPEHSE OF THE GOVERNOR. The tVjairarapa Mercury complains of the expense of paying a Governor, and i thinks, when the Colony cannot be'as-' eisted by England, when assistance is required, it Mould be as well if we demanded our independence. The Independent, which has been drivelling and exceedingly weak during the absence of its editor, takes the Mercury to task, pronouncing the sentiment in bad taste. It occurs to us to ask how long the In!dependent would be' the leading journal in Wellington if it continued to exhibit the same pusillanimity it has done for the past month. It is a hackneyed thing to talk of the :respect entertained for the Queen's representative. We may think kind of the man, but it should not stop the current of our .thoughts whithersoever they might lead:

Correction.—-In our issue of Thursday it was. stated that Dr Best had proceeded to the quarantine ground to attend upon the small-pox patient. We learn that some hitch occurred, which prevented his going.

Dishonest Creditors.—We take the following from the Colonist. The. case was heard before his Honor Justice Johnston:—"The trial, at Hokitika, of George and John Lewis, for conspiring to defraud creditors, has resulted in a verdict of guilty against both defendants ; but as John Lewis, who had been admitted to bail, did not appear when called on for sentence, the recognizances entered into by his sureties (£lO each) were ordered to be estreated. The Judge in sentencing George Lewis to six months' imprisonment without hard labor remarked to the effect that the sentence was lighter than it otherwise would have been, because he (the Judge) believed that the defendant had. to a certain extent, been a tool in the hands of his more guilty brother, whom, said his Honor, had he appeared before me, I should have certainly sent to a road gang."

The Power ofNaturk.—The infinite faith possessed in the power of nature has received a rude shock in the death of Francisco, the man who has been suffering from small-pox. Modern civilisation, built upon the principles (but not embracing them) of Christianity, is above soiling its purity by touching so loathsome a disease as small-pox. Dives could not have borne the sickening sight of a Lazarus; the purple would have lost its hue, incipient putrefaction might ; have imparted its exhalations to the ; sweet atmosphere in which luxury and pleasure delighted to revel. Francisco, if he had .been a leper under the Jewish dispensation, would not have been turned out so. ignominiously to die. The Jews had a lazar-house and they felt the throbbings of a humanity. What humanity -was there in. the horrible treatment to which this man has been subjected ? The " power : of nature" was left to do its work, as if , medical skill had exhausted itself. The ! man died this morning—the Health Officer relegated him to the fatal canoe on Tuesday, since- when no qualified or unqualified hand has ministered to his wants. ■ Half-drowned in a canoe, while small-pox virus is burning in his veins— under the charge of men whose trust was forgotten amidst the fumes of intoxication—the man was hurried to the bleak quarantine ground, where no good Samaritan ever finds his way, and there remained until the grim victor death relieved him from his misery. Sal.ne I substances are specifics for small-pox: Was that why the man was immerse] for twelve hours in salt-water ? His case ' was a bad one, rendered worse by neglect. Was that why medical aid should i be denied him in the hour of greatest danger? Let any of our readers apph' the case of Francisco to himself, and reflect upon the treatment. The man was poor, and a Health Officer was made for the rich ; he had no friends, and no one to befriend him even for humanity's sake— Ala? ! for the rarity Of Christian charity Under the sun! The case of this poor Franciscan will not soon be forgotten. Some did their duty, but others will not so easily wash away the stain that is upon them. Well! it may prevent small-pox patients from coming in the direction of Wanganui again 5 but is not the disgrace worse than the disease ? Verdicts of manslaughter have been returned for less reason.