The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2484, 1 February 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1871.

Wi! have not in Our possession the Quarantine llegulations of the Colony, and cannot therefore say what are the bowers of the Board of Health, nor the relation in which the health officer at the-Port stands to them and to the Government. Appointed for the purpose of preventing the importation of infections diseases, it seems from recent events that their recommendations can he adopted or neglected by the Provincial Government at pleasure. This is evident from the minute respecting the dilapidated condition of the buildings having received no attention whatever. It would be absurd to suppose that if | so small an outlay as was necessary to make them decently tenantable, was refused or neglected to be spent, the

larger expenditure of labor and materials required to render the Quarantine Island available for restoring sick persons to health, would be sanctioned by the Government. But wo can hardly hold the Board free from blame in not more strenuously exerting themselves to enlist the public on their side, by making known the wretched parsimony and neglect of the commonest prudence evinced by the Government in their quarantine preparations. When the Robert Henderson arrived' the Board were taken by surprise. It was important that the passengers should be landed at once; yet the wretched buildings were so out of repair, that men had to work through the night to make them wind and water, proof. They could not go on doing the work during the landing of the passengers, for then they must have been detained on the island until the danger of infection was supposed to be over. And we believe we are correct in stating that the Health Officer is so bound by the routine of Government regulations, that had not the chairman of the Board taken upon himself to act at onco, still further delay would have taken place, through the necessity for “ “ iug ” the department before a few sheets of corrugated iron rooting and a few half-inch boards could bo had to patch up the roofs and stop the holes in the sides of the building. As we have not been privileged to see the minute of the Board calling the Government to the necessity of attention to the arrangements of the Quarantine Island, we cannot say whether it went further than [jointing out the wasting away of the buildings through neglect. But, whether or not, it is no excuse for the Executive, whose duty it is to have every part of the machinery connected with immigration and public health in working order. They have the means of getting the best scientific advice, and should have obtained it. Since that memorandum was made, the prisoners in the gaol have been engaged on public works, that are either ornamental or not of immediate necessity. They could not have been better employed than in clearing space, excavating a large cistern for storing water, and assisting if not putting up comfortable buildings where human beings could at any rate have room to move, and where they would be able to breathe pure fresh air. The whole of the present arrangements hear the mark of having been adopted by some one who was not only cramped for means, but cramped in intellect—too ignorant to see the necessity for consulting well-informed men. But no language can be too strong in condemnation of that supineness that has led to the toleration of the system. It is bad enough to compel a number of human beings, wearied with a long voyage, harassed with anxiety because of being unable to escape the atmosphere of contagion on board of ship, to continue to dwell separately from society until their fellow-passengers are restored to health or buried. But it is an aggravation of their troubles to turn them into close dens that no man who valued horses or cows, and knew how to treat them, would put them into in numbers. If we confine passengers to this spot for the sake of our own health, surely our duty is-to make their imprisonment as pleasant as possible to them. It must be remembered they have committed no crime : their ; confinement is for our safety, not theirs. They wonJd, as a rale, be better in society, but with possible contagion in • their possessions or on tke;r persons, : they are kept separate until their eon.- : tinned health gives assurance that they can associate with ns without danger. , As an actional proof of how careless ■’ the Government fiaye been in this respect, the Board of Health having given positive instructions to the surgeon on the island to subject all passengers’ luggage to a disinfectant process, finding through the breaking out of fever ! in Dunedin that it had been imperI fectiy done, refused to certify to Ins expenses, untjl f.t >yas made plain that . he had done what he could; but that there are not means on ike iskml iq IJo the work thomnyhly, ?t is sickening, too, to think that in all probability Duoall’s child died because ho had nob a dwelling separate from the hospital, Mrs Waterhouse is prosecuted on the charge pf causing death through the ignorant practice of midwifery. Should she be committed, she will be ; tried on a .charge of manslaughter, kor our own parts, we think the moral guilt the same if death is caused by ignorant sanitary arrangements, or cul- • pable negligence on the part of the authorities. Unfortunately, responsi- : bility pannot be fixed on an individual, and Governments do or neglect what no man would dare to tamper with. . The public now have the case in their own bauds, and it is their own faults if they allow the evil to go unreraedied.

The Volunteers. The country corps have turned oat very well on the occasion of their inspection by Colonel Harrington, and it is to be hoped the Dunedin companies will muster in force not only on the company parades, but also on the battalion parade. Wo understand that a half holiday will be asked for from the Provincial Government, banks, and the business houses in Dunedin for Thursday, the 9th inst. Immigration. —The General Government have applied to the Provincial Government to know whether it wishes for any o! the Norwegian immigrants expected jier Colteuo ; and. die Vrovmcial Secret avV has replied that, *•'although the Provincial Government considers the present Provincial system of immigration to be sufficient and the best adapted to meet tbe reipiircmcnts of the Province, yet it will gladly forward to Wellington any applications that may he received for the said emigrants, ami will give every assistance to encourage their settlement in the Colony.”

Princess Theatre. The management have determined to reproduce “FrouFrou,” this evening, with Ps original east, and we cannot too strongly advise those who have not yet seen this well written and well acted piece not to lose the opportunity. On Friday evening, Mr Willis, the s-’cnic artist, takes a benefit, when Watt’s Philip’s new drama, “ Nobody’s Child,” will he the piece de resistance. We trust that the public will show its appreciation by a crowded house, of Mr Willis’s endeavors to place before it the latest theatrical novelties, well cast and well mounted. This was one of the promises made by the management iu commencing the season, and it they have thoroughly fulfilled. Political. — -Mr Macassey has received a requisition to allow himself to ba nominated for Mount Ida iu the General A ssembly, but has declined, having already consented to stand for Oatnaru. We understand that Mr T. S. Pratt, who is a candidate for the representation of the Mount Ida district, has addressed meetings at Macraes, St. Bathaus, Hyde, and Dunstan Creek, where he received unanimous votes of confidence. On Saturday lie addressed a crowded meeting at Naschy, and was subject d to a severe cross-questioning. A vote of confidence was carried by a small majority. Unless a candidate well known iu the district comes forward, Mr Pratt’s return is considered certain.

City Council, —At this afternoon’s meeting of the Council, his Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Barnes, Jack, Mercer, Thoiienian, "Walter, and Winter were present. Messrs Bamford and Mathews attended as a deputation from the Mornington Road Board, and asked for pecuniary assistance from the Councl in meeting an expenditure incurred by the Board iu forming the road from the head of Maclagtran street to Mr Langland’a property —a work which it was contended properly belonged to the Corportion, hut which had to be undertaken by the Board, iu order to render of use the road into the township of Mornington. The matter was referred to the Works Committee.—A letter was read from Mr Laniach, stating that he was in a position to enter into a contract to supply the City with gas.—On a letter from the Waterworks Company being read, the Mayor informed the Council that the Secretary of the Company had stated that if the appeal of the Corporation against the assessment were insisted on, the Company would charge the City for the water used iu watering the streets. His Worship thought this was a most undignified course to take—an expression of opinion concurred in by Mr Walter.—A communication was read from a number of citizens, recommending the reinstatement of a man named Geo. Taylor in the Corporation’s employ, who was last week fined in the Mayor’s Court for inciting a mob to rescue a prisoner from legal custody. The matter was referred to a special committee.

A general meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club will he. held at the Empire Hotel, to-morrow (Thursday), at 8.30 p.m. A meeting of the Directors of the Caledonian -Society of Otago will be held at Wain’s Hosel, to-morrow (Thursday), at 8 p.m. The Scottish Company, D.Y.R., will muster for inspection in uniform on Thursday, 2nd February, at G. 39 p.m. sharp, ju front of the Cust. iu House. A meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin will take place in St. Andrew’s Church, to-morrow (I hursday) evening, at 7 o’clock, for the induction of the Rev. Robt. Sgrimge.our as paster of that congregation. The bust ftf if series of moonlight excursions to the Port will hq made tomorrow' evening by the Golden Age, which will leave the old jetty at 7 30 p in., returning at 11 p.m. She will be accompanied by a band of music, and will remain at the Port sufficiently long to enable excursionists to enjoy a stroll there and witness the display ,of firewovke which is to take place. Should the weather prove fine, we have no doubt the excurmm will he largely patronised. Through the omission of a, couple of words from our report of Mr Ross's speech 'at the Kaikorai, on Wednesday last, utter nonsense w r aa made o' a paragraph in it. It should have been reported as follows : —“ lie might say this for Mr Macaudrcw : during the time he l;atl .been in office he had committed no act oi malcvqlcncc towards those who vyted against him; and by Mr Reid, in Ilia official capacity,' 1m (Mr 1 Rdss), as a civil servant, had been tf'gajed. with tbe utmost courtesy.