The Evening Herald. MONDAY, FEB. 15, 1869.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 532, 15 February 1869, Page 2

The Evening Herald. MONDAY, FEB. 15, 1869.

There has not, for a long-time in Watfganui, been any subject that has.caused such a. ferment in the public, naind. as the supposed case of small-pox. We are induced to say "supposed/* for the belief is becoming common that the man had not small-pox at all. and that the doctors knew very little about it. It is maintained that an exposure of twelve hours in a canoe to rain and cold would have killed at the time the strongest small-pox patient that ever breathed. There is no such a thing- as murder through .neglect, ■but there is manslaughter. We will not prejudge the case, for we presume that an enquiry will beheld, and that steps have been taken to that end. It is a question open to some doubt whether or no a coroner's inquest should not be held. There is one insuperable objection, however—that it would not be safe. If it were clearly established that the case was one of' small-pox, an inquest would not be necessary, but as that is questioned it may be held ; that the coroner is bound to ascertain the cause of death, and if there was any maltreatment which hastened the ; man's end. We do not think an inquest would be judicious, but "an enquiry into all the circumstances is absolutely demanded, and we warrant some strange facts will be revealed. JRecriminations of a most unpleasant nature are now taking place between the doctors who had to do with the case, each trying- to throw the blame on the other. For the credit of both, if no greater issue were involved, they should he satisfied with nothing less than a complete and full investigation. We have not heard of a case at once so disgraceful and inhuman. If such a thing took place in Eng- . land it would create a sensation from ;.'one/end of the land to the other, and there would be a prosecution for manslaughter e'er a week had passed, against some one. It is always con veriient for a few to have a case of this kind hushed up, but society cannot tolerate so great a crime against it being quietly, forgotten or condoned. Fnr greater issues are at slake than, the reputation of the /persons concerned; one of the isISiies is, shall a man be killed because he has got a contagious disease;? The magistrates 'are. called upon, as the guardians and protectors of civil society," to see tha.t' this case shall be brought before a proper tribunal, and that the guilty party may be brought to justice.

assisting Marlborough, and ultimately he

thought they would have to do the same

for Wellington. It was madness to sup-

pose that police were to be dispensed

with, and the gaols were to be thrown

open because the province could not pay

for them."

Mr GKOVES.-Our old friend Mr Groves, (says;the Wairarapa Mercury) whoa short time agro was in such repute as a gold prospector in this district, and ~; . ' whom a person -in conversation the other day supposed "was still poking about the ranges," has turned up in the Province of Auckland, we notice in a new .... , - capacity, being a member of the ProvinIcial Council for the Thames Gold Fields, After a severe contest in the election he :„_„„„_„ fr. nTV> +-v 4. • • j.-> ; appears from the account given m the New Zealand Herald," to have beaten his other four opponents by 30 votes. a Ts.»™vt n mi A .bankrupt Government.—The _...._ Provincial Government of Wellington

ihas come to the degrading position of just being able to pay its officials. Publie works have stopped, contractors and ! ;■ ~. , ' . i ( public servants have not been paid ; and j there is Featherston, who was going to | take the kupapas and settle {he war, with his thousand a-year, and ■ . i ,v-.' ;'... : Government with^thfeir salaries, living! unblushingly in .Wellington, while the | province is falling to pieces. In reply to I i a question at a late public meeting in the j Wairarapa, Mr Bunny said «he thought ~ , ~ ~ , ~ • ° in the end the-Colony would have to j step in and ipay all provincial liabilities, The General Government had once done | it before for Southland, -and was now