CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 699, 10 September 1875, Page 3

CROMWELL.

fvnoM eon own connEorONDRNT.) ~ “We live again in our children" is an old and familiar phrase, and will apparently receive a proof at the ensuing race meeting. Two venerable persons of the respective ages of 53 and 50 have made a match to run a hundred yards on the evening of the first of October next. It is gratifying to seethe “old vms” coming so prominently to the front, and as I have been selected referee the run will not bo without personal interest. “Old Sam” appears in fine condition, and takes his morning exercise, while “old Charlie” delights in showing the inquisitive that he is still alive to the spartan games and the Caledonian gathering. It would be considered rude to offer an opinion as to the chances of success, but if the “ talent’ want the straight tip I can only add “ the foremost boss is sure to win it.” The Cromwell Amateur Dramatic Club have determined upon producing Bulwer Lytton’s Lady of Lyons on the night of the •races. The characters have been allotted, and I have every reason to 1 relieve that the representation will be creditable not only t < the Club bat to the Atheiueum Committee, for whoso benefit the performance will be It is state ! that the Club intend to proffer their services to tho Clyde Hospital Committee after tlur a q e trance at Cromwell when they will doubtless be rewarded by a full house. Considerable uneasiness was created in the public, mind concerning the death of Samuel Thomas, late a minor at Bendigo; who died in the Cromwell Hospital on the 30th August last, within thirty hours after his admission. It appears that the deceased was not immediately admitted, but was kept outside a short time, as it was a rule of the Institution not to pass any person as a patient “if ho was able to walk” un’ess he was first examined by the Resident Surgeon. On tho 30th of August Constable M'Gann reported the death of Samuel Thomas to the Coroner, in which it was stated that tho cause of death was from some internal disease, and he wished to be .informed as to the neoesssity for an Inquest. The Coroner replied to the effect that as Dr Stirling was prepared to give a certificate as to the cause of death, an inquest would be unnecessary. On the following day the Constable further reported that Dr Stirling had written requesting that an inquest should be held touching the death of deceased, and as to the a curacy of the certificate given by him. Tho report also added, “ The Senior Constable begs to add that he has heard from several persons that Dr Stirling did exhibit neglect in his treatment to the deceased, but he cannot trace those rnmnrs to any authentic source.” As a fact, there were stories of a verv unpleasant nature current, and under the circumstances an inquest was imperatively necessary, not only to clear Dr Stirling, but also for tho satisfaction of the public and the friends of the deceased. The Jury have weighed the evidence and nnanim rnsly de dared tla the deceased dial run natural causes, and that there was no blame attributable to Dr Stirling. So far, this is satisfactory, but there were one or two little matters elicited that call for the attention of the Committee, the ole being the I system regulating the a linission of patients. In the case now under consideration, the medical testimony clearly proved that the deceased’s life only hung upon a (hj ead, “ that ho was liable to drop dead at any moment,” and yet there was evidence to show that when a man was able to walk lie was expected to call at the Surgeon’s private residence for examination. There can ho no doubt but that Samuel Thomas died from natural causes, ami that ho human knowledge or skill could have saved him, for in the words of Dr Allan “ 1 don’t think that it mattered much about Dr Stirling seeing him frequently, as bo could have done no more than he did.” This opinion is valuable, as the two medical gentlemen concur, but, although it might not have made any difference in the prolongation of the life of the deceased, it might be entirely a horse of another color with one who was suffer ng from heart disevse. It would seem an unusual thing to require him to walk first from his claim to the Hospital, from thence to the Snrg -on’s residence, and then, after examination, to retrace his steps to the institute. Another point is that there is no staged hour for visiting, hut the Wardsraan is, in all cases of emergency or accident, to send iu for the S ireeon if he should not have made his call. Surely there should be some fixed time for the Surgeon to attend, as the public would then know or have s-rae idea as to the best time to wait at the Hospital On the whole, the inquest has had the effect of exposing the rumors that were so freely circulated ; while, it is matter of regret that they could not be traced to some authentic source and investigated by the Committee It is a very easy matter to spread reports, and 'hough Dr Stirling only saw the deceased alive once during the 28 hours, and that about an hour and a half after his admission, it must be still rememberod that he had prescribed for him and that his mixture was regularly administered. It is but. just and fair to the Resident Sure geon to aid that in so far as he was concerned, no blame can be attached, ns he had no means of ascertaining that death was so close at hand. lam glad to be able to add my opinion, after having witnessed the post mortem, that the deceased died from fatted degeratum accelerated by disease of the heart, and that the Surgeon was not in fault. The deceased was interred on Saturday last {not Thursday, as state! in my former letter) in the Cromwell Cemetery, and was followed by a largo number of mourners and friends, notably the Order of Good Templars and Oddfellows, to both of which bodies be belonged. What a profound study is the Jaw. and how difficult to fathom, and should not be meddled with by those who don’t understand it, was clearly proved at the last sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, when a young and inexperienced suitor, who indignantly rejected tho defendant’s offer to settle the matter by arbitration, and would insist upon the interference of the Court, lived to realise the fact that law is a somewhat expensive luxury. Tho gentle swain sought to recover the sum of Lfi 2s, alleged to he duo for rent, and the defendant had against this a claim of upwards of L2O. He proved he had never had a demand mado upon him for tho rent till after the tenancy had expired, and that the plaintiff had never settled the contra account. Tho plaintiff sued upon a written agreement, thereby debarring tho defendant from putting in a set-off. Objection was taken to the insufficient stamp duty, and the plaintiff being eager to prosecute the defendant readily paid tho L 5 fine ; but, in all probability will live to realize the unpleasant fact that he would have fared much hotter if ho had shown a less desire to crave tho majesty of the law, and committed tho matter to arbitration.

Ypur old friend Mr Aldridge has 1 con busy at a fancy iron gate, which is the bust piece of workmanship yet turned out in Cromwell, and rofl. cts the greatest credit upon him a* a first-class blacksmith, I understand it will be (lisnnsid of dining the r .co week, and it would bo a pity to lot it go away from the town. It iu now on view, and will bo till the Ist ot October next. It is currently reported that there will bo two interesting rases before the Court to day, the defendant in one being a medical man, and the -‘tlur an action by a wife against her husband for maintenance. It is very true that there is more litigation in Cromwell than is requisite, and that if we are behind our neighbors in small things we still like to .bo quarrelling, even if it is duly amongst ourselves. If one dares evert to look at another, the usual threat of taking you to Court is held out, and the peaceful and timid very frequently submit to an indignity rather than he badgered {in tire witness box. Truly the time has arrived for the “cleansing of the sheet,” When fawyers do well it is a sure sign that trade is dull, and that things are not going on as “ happy as a marriage hell. ” 1 was somewhat amused tho other day by bearing one of Eve’s fairest daughters—* not a hundred miles from Cromwell—assure several gentlemen that she had had upwards of two thousand pounds expended on her ‘ Indication,” and as I must confess my inability to make out the meaning of the phrase, not having had that sum expended on my mental imprevemept or culture. ouch talent should not bo i.llowed to pass unuotiee 1 or unobserved, even though the schoolmaster should ho occasionally abroad, and a convenient opportunity for display should not occur. Vita Im is am lona-n. A case occurred here the othe- day whi hj might well liediemed worthy of the attention of our wise men and true, at pres n engaged at Parliament. A tradesman, seeing a person possessed of a freehold, and knowing that it was his preporty, was indneed to give him credit to a ennsi lerabhextent, hut, when pressed for money he naturally had recourse to his debtor, who alleged that he was unable to pay. The amount involved exceeds th- jurisdiction of our respected magistrate, and the plaintiff was compell -d to abandon the excess in on. der to allow the inferior Court to deal with the subject. He obtained judgment, and issued execution nut of the Resident. Magistrate’* Court. Ihe bailiff procee led to the residence of the defendant, and 10, the gods lal been removed, but the. house and land remains ; but again the difficulty occurs, namely, that he cannot attach it under that warrant, but must apply to the Supreme Court to enter up judgment uinlor the Real Estate Act, ISG7, which entails additional expense and endless de'ay. It may ho that the real estate is not worth L2O, the whole of which ho would require to expend before securing the freehold The first cost is a little under L 5, and whv *he. Assembly should pass the Resilent Magistrate’s Act, 1807, and at the same sitting pass another qualifying its provisions ami impairing its efficiei cy is a matter known only to the wise men of modern Athens. If a person recovering a j'ljgnvmt in the R.M. Court seizes up-n property by virtue of a distress warrant,, ami a third person claims the same ; the bailiff is empowered to apply for an interpleader summons when the right to the personal pro. party is investigate 1 ami d,terminal. Is it not an anomaly that the inferior Court can seize on personal edicts to the extent of LSO. an 1 yet, where the freehold possessed by the debtor is only worth LlO or Lls that the process of such Court has no effect ? Why not allow the warrant of the Resident Mams rat rt s Court to he .valid as against freehold, especially on Goldfields townships, where law is an expensive luxury, an! t’-c facilities are not too great to enable the general public to become acquainted with the multitudinous enactments that are session after session passed. It is all very well to surround freehold estate with every protection and safeguard, but the time has surely arrived when the “laws delay” should not be converted into a protec ive measure to shelter tho unworthy and unde, serving, fn the interests of the community, especially those residing on the Goldfields! some less expensive mo le of procee ling to enforce payment of small debts by attaching a freehold, of less than LSO, under a Fieri Facias of the Resident Magistrate’s Court is not only desirable but imperatively neiessary. as in the present state of things questionable dealing is more lik.-lv to result than straightforward conduct. This matter is, in my opinion deserving of the attention of the member for the Dnnstan District. Cromwell seems a favorite spot for the fast young men to make to, and, judging by the conduct of one or two of these proraising youths, it is not far fetched to imagine that Sergeant M'Gann will shortly see it to be his duty to interfere. On Sunday evenings these dashing, gav. young sparks are to he seen iu li'tle hands stand'ing at the street corners, indulging in language far moie expressive than polite, and passing observations to which many people have hitherto been strangers. Some of this specie, ranging from sixteen to twentv years of age, imagine that being seen under the influence of spirituous b’qnor.s impresses others with the opinion that they are men and valiant fellows, but tho sooner their minds are disabused ot that erroneous impression the better for thenselves. Of course these pertinent remarks are not intended to apply to all the young m°n in the town, and it is only those whom the cap fits that are requested to take the g, n’lc hint. Of late we have had more than one instance of larrikinism, and rt is for tho exclusive benefit of these undesirable residents that attention has been thus po'ntodlv 'irccte Ito the subject. It is possible tha L the coming races have led to an exodus of these genii from Dunedin, or it may be—to qnoto the words of oho of the leadei-s—- ---“ Town was hocoramg too hot ” It may 1 o they will live to realis- the hitter truth that peaceful citizens will not he insnlte 1 with imnunity, even though located in a goldfields township.