FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Star, Issue 23686, 20 September 1940, Page 10

FIFTY YEARS AGO

FROM ‘ STAR * FILES It is reported that tho inhabitants of the fishing villages along the Newfoundland coast are dying by tho hundreds of an unknown epidemic. Nothing so fur has proved a cure; nor has any alleviation been found. The disease marches from house to house, and attacks victim after victim with nothing to stay its awful progress. The first reports of the epidemic reached St. John on August 6 by tho arrival of a coasting steamer. The captain reported to the health authorities that while ’touching at Lapalle he was informed that a strange epidemic had broken out in Coachman Cove. The people thought it a virulent type of diphtheria, called “ black throat.” There being no regular physician on the coast, nothing definite is known except that not a single person attacked had recovered. Other peculiar features were that in many cases death ensured in .86 hours after the disease had appeared. The population of Coachman Cove is but little over 150, yet nearly half that number since the first outbreak of the disease have been attacked. * * * • The death is announced in London of Dion Boucicault, sen., the well-known actor and dramatist. At the annual meeting of the Albion Cricket Club the following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr James Allen ; vice-presidents—Messrs A. H. Shelton, M. Cohen, J. ißrown, Fairbairn, and Kemplin; secretary, Mr F. Beissel; treasurer, Mr R. Ringer; committee—Messrs J. Croxford. J. M‘Farlane, W. Shelton, J. Robson, and W. Collar; captain, Mr W. Collar; deputycaptain, Mr J. Croxford; First Eleven Match Committee —Messrs M'Farlane, W. Gollar, and J. Croxford; Messrs Kemplin and Ringer delegates to the Cricketers’ Association. * • • * The Public Service Association is now firmly established throughout the colony. * * * * Two French warships have bombarded the two largest villages in the Huahine Island, one of the Society Group, and subdued the natives after some loss of life. At (Raiatea Island the natives refused to give in, and the warships could do nothing. At Borabora Island, which tho French also visited, the natives submitted at once. Hitherto they had refused to acknowledge French authority. * * * * Tho Rugby football match between Otago and Canterbury resulted iu a win for Otago by 9 points to 4. * * * ♦ At the annual meeting of the Amateur Athletic’ Club the following office-bearers were elected ;■—President, Mr J. L. Denniston; vice-presidents, Drs Jeffcoat and Roberts, Messrs E. Twopenny and W. Dymock; lion, treasurer Mr H. A. Le Cren; hon. secretary, Mr T. Kerr; committee— Messrs P. J. Ness, F. W. Mitchell. R. F. Cook, J. Howlison, and E. E. Morrison ; auditor, Mr 3. M, Park. There is no change in tho marine strike in Australia and New Zealand.

The committee of the Otago Agriculture Society reports that the revenue for the year ended July 31 last was £1,153 and the expenditure £994. It is mentioned that “ efforts are now being made to get the title to Tahuna Park perfected, when it is hoped it "will be possible to have the financial position of the association put on a more satisfactory footing.” • • • « The first steamship of the direct line between New York and Australian ports sailed on August 20 with a cargo of 5,000 tons of miscellaneous merchandise. * • ♦ * The polling for the election of Mayor of Gore, which took place on Friday, resulted in the return of Mr A. Dolamore by a majority of 50 over Mr i. S. Simson. • • • • Commanders in the French army have been notified that henceforth duelling will cease to bo obligatory even in cases where personal violence has been used. A seam of brown coal, believed to be the largest in the world, has been discovered at Morwell, Australia, in the county of Bulla Bulla, 83.\ miles east of Melbourne. The seam is 597 ft thick. On July 25 the Balaclava relief fund at Home totalled over £4,000. * * * * Successful experiments have been made on the New South Wales railways with electric lighting, and with telephonic .communication between the driver and the guard. * • The Tsar ordered on August 9 that tho operation on the anti-Jewish laws 1)0 suspended for one year, probably with a view of indefinite postponement.