AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 29, 6 July 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[From our own Correspondent.] July 4. The all-absorbing topic is small-pox. Everybody is talking about it, and numbers have been rushing to the doctor to be vaccinated, until some of the latter have been forced to declare that their stock of lymph is exhausted. The reason is that a man named Seymour, who was waiter in the dining rooms that the late sufferer (whose case terminated fatally) stayed at, has been attacked with the disease. The intelligence is in itself sufficiently alarming, as numbers of others were in the house at the time, and we are now told that Seymour was one of those who objected to vaccination, and to his ignorant stupidity may be attributed the cause of the disease breaking out. I nnder-line the words "one of those " because I wish to call your attention to the fact that some time ago the Mayor stated publicly that at his instigation, all the occupants of the house

had been vaccinated. The sequel almost tendß to disprove the assertion then made. The man has been conveyed to the pest-house at the hospital, and the hospital has been put under quarantine regulation* by the stationing of police officers at the gates to prevent intercoiirse with its occupants. Accounts to-day state that the sufferer is but slightly affected and trill soon be well JBufc the «ttma;Remarks were "made in the "other case, which af trawls terminated fatally. With regard to this former case, Mr. Von der Heyde, as agent U themautlteainers, took the opportunity, at a meeting of the ftarbpur Board on Tuesday, of contradicting the assertion-that the man had ever been on board the 'Nebraska.' He probably made this statement in the'belief that " dead men tell no tales," but three letters appeared in last night's Star, from peop'e who knew the deceased, denying the truth of his statement, and to-day Dr. Puilson, in a letter t0... the paper, states most conclusively that Thompson was a fore cabin steward on board the ' Nebraska,' and not only had the small -pox on board that vessel, but also that one of th e crew who slept in the next bunk to him was similarly afflicted and was under the charge of the ship's doctor. It.was also known on board the vessel that another case had occurred between Honolulu and Auckland, both of these men now being on board the ' Nebraska.' In reply to all this Mr. Von der Heyde, in to-night's paper, affirms that no one of the name of Henry Thompson was on the ship's articles, and the inference is that he must either have been a stowaway or had shipped in another name—a common practice with seamen. A meeting of the Board of Health was held this morning, but nothing practically was done, in fact the Board as at present constituted have no power to do anything beyond making suggestions for the authorities to carry out. One step, however, was taken to-day in the right directiqn, and that was, that the reporters were admitted, so that the public will bo enabled to see what they do and what they leave undone. A recommendation emanating from the Board has been agreed to be carried out by the Harbour Board, namely—lnstructing the Harbour-Master not to bring vessels arriving from America, Sandwich Islands and Great Britain up the harbour until inspected and passed by the Health Officer of the port. Vessels arriving from Wellington are also included' in the restriction, although this met with some slight opposition as affecting the mercantile interests. The news was in due course telegraphed to Wellington, and yesterday afternoon we heard that the Wellington Independent had condemned the Harbour Board, alleging that it would seem that this body, after carelessly discharging its functions in the case of the * Nebraska,' now seeks the credit for activity by extreme measures. It denies that the infection is traceable to the ship ' England,' and says that Kaye, the mail agent, contracted the disease on board the ' Nebraska.' It considered the action of the Auckland Board unnecessary interference with the trade and communication, and also hints that the Wellington Board might retaliate with good grounds. The cab that conveyed the last patient to the Hospital has been fumigated and taken off the stand. The Star urges that it should be purchased by the City Council and used as a fever-cab for the future. There is some talk of burning the bedding and in fact all the furniture of the boarding-house, some even going so far as to say that the house should be burnt down and the owner compensated. We all know that everything is ordained for the best, but it strikes me that it would have been better for the community if this house had slipped off its foundation instead of the other a few doors higher np, last week ; both houses are similarly constructed. :

The man Peter Langton, who so brutally assaulted Fenton Delaney last April at Riverhead, has been acquitted on the count of "wounding with intent to murder," but convicted on the lesser counts, and has been sentenced to six years' penal servitude. He may consider himself very fortunate in receiving so slight a sentence. The poor fallow assaulted, I fear, will remain a cripple for life. The whole of one side of his body is paralysed, and he had to be carried in and out of Court in a chair. So faint was he during the proceedings that stimulants had frequently to be administered to him. The woman, who was the cause of the offence being committed, has decamped, and her recognizances were escheated. In passing sentence his Honor the Chief Justice said that men who are cruel are always cowards, and instead of the prisoner doing whatever, was in his power to save the poor man's life, he arid the woman went away and left him to his fate. I observed that at a cattle sale at Hokitika to-day fat beasts averaged 30s to 35s per 100 lbs., and 450 merino wethers averaged 17s Id.