GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VIII, 23 August 1902, Page 471

GENERAL NEWS.

don expresses himself as dis- . I’d at the small Imperialistic outcome of the Imperial Conference. Mr Stead, in the “Review of Reviews,” says that perhaps Mr Seddon aspires to be the first Premier of the South African Federation. At a public meeting in the Federal Hall last week resolutions were passed supporting the demand of the * Northern members for an appropriation of £350,000 for the completion of tbe Auckland-Wellington railway line, and £BO,OOO for the North Auckland line.

At the Supreme Court on Monday, before Judge Conolly, Henry James Fox, an officer in the Hoads Department at Rotorua, was sentenced to four years' hard labour for forgery.

Wm. John Parker pleaded guilty at the' Supreme Court on Monday to attempting to murder his wife, Susan Parker, his son William Bruce Parker, and his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Martin, at Parnell, on May 26, and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.

Last week Dr. Wohlman, Government Balneologist at Rotorua, accompanied by Mr R. G. Corlett, visited Lake Rotoehu for the purpose of inspecting the soda water springs te Te Waitangi, and to obtain samples of the water from the different springs for analysis, in order to compare them with Continental waters. The doctor found the water flowing from two streams, with a very large outflow, and highly charged with carbonic dioxide; it is of a pleasant acid taste. and of a temperature of about 120 deg. The native chief Maraki pointed out to the visitors a depression in the ground from which exuded a deadly gas that had caused the death of two of his people who had followed a pig that had taken shelter there from the dogs. Some of the gas was collected and brought to Rotorua by the doctor.

A man named F. T. Moore, recently employed by the Government to write a report upon the frozen meat industry of the colony, who is well-known in connection with the meat export industry and as a contributor to the press, was on Wednesday arrested on a charge of having written a threatening letter to Sir Joseph Ward. At the time of his arrest Moore was in the Strangers’ Gallery of the House of Representatives. He was at onee searched, and was then removed in custody. Subpoenas to attend the Court as witnesses at the hearing of the case have been served upon some of the officials in attendance at the office of the Acting-Pre-mier.

The letter stated, in insane terms, that as McKinley was killed, sc Sir Joseph Ward should be disposed, of by a bullet through the heart by a Nihilist. It is understood that Moore has he'en recently studying spiritualism, and has been subject to delusions.

Moore, when brought before the Court, was committed fox- trial, and, having confessed he was guilty of writing threatening letters, was remande for medical examination.

The letter from Moore to Six- J. G. Ward said that if the writex- removed Six- Joseph Ward as President McKinley was removed he believed he would be rendering a service to New Zealand, that Six- Joseph Ward was the head of monopolies which he (Moore) was fighting, and which stopped his progress.

“Why,” continues the letter, “should I let you stop me, when a bullet or a dagger will put you out. of the way? I am willing to sacrifice my life fox- the good of my cause, as anarchists do.

Then follows a reference to the work he has been engaged on, and the letter concludes as follows: —“You are treating me foully. I shall deal foully with you. As you are warned, you cannot regard me as cowardly”

The letter was signed, and no secrecy was made about its delivery. In the Court Moore pleaded guilty, and said he wrote under a sense of irritation, and with no intention of doing what he threatened. He realised how foolish he had been. Prisoner was remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence. THE ILL-FATED BRITANNIC. In the House of Representatives on Wednesday Mr. J. H. Witheford moved without, notice, “That the House express its heartfelt sympathy with the relatives of the members of the New Zealand contingents who had died since their return to the colon v.”

Sir J. Ward said he had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He was sure every member of the House felt the deepest sympathy with the relatives of the deceased men. Ila

had in every case of death conveyed to the relatives the sincerest sympathy of the Government. The resolution was unanimously agreed to.

Mr Witheford mentioned that out of thx- eleven troopers that hail died six were Auckland men, the bodies of three of whom were at that moment on the train en route to their sorrowing friends. Troopex- H. O. Ryan, who hails from Hakaru, north of Auckland, died at the quarantine station last Wednesday. Ryan’s sister has been here nursing him. This makes thirteen deaths amongst the Britannic’s returned troopers. Trooper Brown, of Puriri, Thames, is also dead. Both belonged to the Eighth Contingent. Francis Gomez, of Raglan, who was one of the troopers of the Eighth Contingent, who returned from South Africa by the troopship Britannic recently, died at the Auckland Hospital on Thursday. He had been suffering- from pneumonia since admission, and yesterday afternoon was reported as being dangerously ill. Towards evening his Condition became critical, and about eleven o’clock he expired. Private Albert Tonks, of Hokianga, belonging to the Eighth Contingent, died in the hospital on Thursday of pneumonia, supervening onj scarlet fever. Deceased was one of the men disembarked from the Britannic.

The small pox patient (Lieut. Calloway) is reported to be doing well and likely to recover. Troopex- J. N. Lunn, one of the Britannic’s contingent, died on Sunday. The deceased belonged to Collingwood, Nelson. MILITA RY FUNERALS. The interment of the body of Troopex- Lorange, who also died at Soames’ island, took place at Purewa cemetery on Wednesday last, a military funeral, at which volunteers and returned troopers were present, being accorded him. The funeral of the late Trooper JI. IV. Craig, of Ponxpallier Terrace, Ponsoixby, who died of pneumonia, contracted on the troopship Britannic, at Soames Island, Wellington, took place at the Purewa cemetery on Thursday last. A company of Permanent Militia, under Lieut. Wall, was drawn up outside the house, presenting arms as the casket was borne out of the house by four of deceased’s comrades. The coffin, draped with a Union Jack, was then placed on a gun carriage, and the troops took up their position at the head of the procession, the Garrison Band following. The funerals of three troopers of the Eighth and Tenth Contingents who died after reaching their native shores on their return from the wax- in South Africa took place in Auckland on Sunday, the bodies of Troopers B. IC. Turner and F. Gomez, of the Eighth Contingent, and E. C. Monstedt, of the Tenth, being laid to rest. Military funerals xvere arranged for in all three cases by the Defence Department. The troopers were all passengers by the Britannic, so many of whose passengers ’were attacked by pneumonia, caused by the men having to sleep on deek. either through there being no room below-, or through their going on deck to escape the suffocating atmosphere' of the ’tween decks and holds. THE TROOPSHIPS’ SCANDAL.

The general officer commanding- in Natal telegraphs that 1094 men were on board the troopship Britannic,which was registered for accommodation for 1084. All the troops were medically inspected before sailing, and no invalids xvere embarked. Medical ani surgical equipment was supplied, and medicine.-chests, fracture box and extra drugs oxx the Wai- Office scale. Medical comforts were supplied by the ship under naval instructions, and a full supply was on board.

The Royal Commission appointed by the Federal Government has opened an enquiry respecting the troopship Drayton Grange. A naval transport officer testified that the arrangements had been carried out in accordance with Admiralty regulations. There was no excess in the number of troops carried, but the ship was in a very dirty

condition. Dr. Shields gave evidence that not more 'han 75 per eent. of those carried should have been shipped. Ventilation was bad, and sickness to a large extent could be traced to the want of exercise and good sleeping accommodation. The hospital accommodation was by no means sufficient. Many men who should have bee.n in the hospital could not be received. The number of medical officers was insufficient, and there were no nurses. He admitted the ship was dirty, and the habits of some of the men most objectionable. This, and to a ceriain extent, want of discipline, helped to contribute to the sickness. He advised that the sick should be landed at Albany in orderto save life, but his advice was disre-

garded. In his evidence the transport officer stated that the ’tween and loxver decks xvere filthy. Sometimes the scuppers were blocked with filth, lie knexx- no defect in the ship herself that xvould contribute to sickness.

The medical officer, Dr. Shields, said the men used the scuppers instead of the latrines at night, and created a very dangerous condition of things. At one time 500 beds could have oeen filled with patients. The .medicines were mostly useless, being tonies and such like, and these raxx short before the ship was threequarters of the way to Albany. There xvas ...n active spirit of insubordination. Much of the filthy state of the ship could not have been prevented because of the lack of discipline. Intoxicants xvere obtained too freely, and there xvas illicit selling oxx board. The officers tried to put it down, but it flourished throughout the voyage.