The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, NOV. 21, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1939, 22 November 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, NOV. 21, 1906.

“ Never prophesy units 3 you know ” is an old and trito truism from which it would be unwise to depart. Wo do not often indulge prophetic inclinations under any circumstances; but occasionally statements of a prophetic character, not intended as such, however, find their way into these columns, and tho fact that they are fulfilled as often ns they appear is duo to their strict compliance with the truism above quoted. Thus, when in yesterday a issuo the semi pr. phetic statement appeared in reference to tho scarlet fever case, that “ as far as any benefit ‘to tho patient himself is concerned, ‘ or tho greater safety to tho public in ‘preventing- the 3pread of the disease, ‘it may just as well bo reported to ‘ Hongkong or Timbuctoo,” aa to tho District Health Officer in Napier, it could not be anticipated that either verification or refutation would long be delayed. Tho verification has come, and the prophecy has been more than fulfilled, the extraordinary reply telegraphed to tho Mayor from tho Health Officer being received a few hours after the statement appeared. Authoritative, bombastic, and puerile as the reply is, it could have been of _ little avail in such a cs.se even though it had contained a modicum of common-sense, and the utter absurdity of having to wait twenty-four hours for instructions under the circumstances which we detailed yesterday bofore dealing properly with such a case, is far too apparent. One may wonder whether the central Health Dapartmont considers that a reply as to what shall be done with a highly infectious case is in strict accordance with tho public safety when it cannot reach its destination within twenty four hours, or whether it cares a two-penny tram ticket what is happening to the patient in the meantime ; nor is tho Depart meat concerned, as to the inconvenience and loss which the delay might have caused. Suppose the Mayor had declined to take tho risk of removing the patient to his homo pending instructions from the Department, a course which no one could blame him for adopting, what a protty mess might havo boon caused through the impotent arrangements of the Health Department in not appointing a local medical officer. But that position, grotesquo and insufficient as it is, pales almost into insignificance in tho blaze of authoritative imbecility which the reply itself has burst upon -the senses of those who kuow the ' true details which the Department snould also know but apparently doesn’t want to. This bombastic command rims, “ Scarlet fever case must bo provided for in the hospital," and nobody is going to oboy it. Dr DeLislo knows perfectly well that there is no proper place in the hospital for the necessary isolation and treatment of this case, and it must be assumed that ho knows also the dangers attendant upon the reception of such a case into the hospital. Ho may say, of course, that scarlet fever is not in itself a dangerous disease as compared with bubonic plague for in3tanco; but he surely is not ignorant of the fact that any kind of surgical case cannot be successfully treated in contact with scarlet fever patients, that infection from it ia abdominal surgery is absolutely fatal, that to use the words of Dr Whitelegge, an authority on tho subject, "puerperal women are especially liable to acquire scarlet fever in a dangerous form," and that the mortality at the hospital, if such a case wore received there, would unquestionably be increased. Yet tho Disirict Health Officer says tho case “must" be removed thither. Had such an order come from an inexperienced Inspector of Nuisances one might feel disposed to smile at the audacity of the gentleman and let it pass; but when it bears the official impress of a legally qualified medical practitioner vested with statutory powers there is nothing left to do but to stand aghast at tho almost incredulous demand, and to disobey, preferring to take tho risk of legal consequences than to risk the lives and comfort of patients already in tho hospital by a compliance with the demand. Dr Morrison recognises his responsibility zn this matter and

very properly refusor., in tho infcoroßis of liiH pariontu m tlio hospital, to admit such a ciiho no matter who says ho “must” do it, and wo sincerely liopo chat tho Hospital Trustees will not only support his action hut applaud ids determination to do'tho right tiling in tho face ol' tho ofliciul “ must ” But what of tlio gentleman who says ho '• must” do otherwise) ? Well, wo “ must ” loav.i him to eiiforco his most monstrous command if ho mu ; but wo nave very grave doubts us to his ability to rnforco anything so utterly unreasonable and dangerous to tho lives of hospital patients who, if they cannot bo preserved from the puerilities of Health Department manage meat, will at any rato bo preserved from the scarlot fever streptococcus if Ur Morrison's determination is supported by tho Hospital Trustees, and of that thore should be little doubt.

A billiard room itt being erected in Poel ■root, near Oxford House.

Mr W. Huy, of WhuVrfeutu, who has born confined in a private hospital in town, is making good piogrons, after a successful operation on ono of his kneos.

The stoamor Zialaadia wan to have brought transhif-tuen's from the Homo slmimtr Niwi.ru, at Auckland,but owingto tho large amount of other outgo offering the transhipments bad to be shut out. The pooplo of Wuipawa ato expressing s'noore rrgroS at Ibo in'.ondod deparluro of Yir J. 11, Bull, tbo newly-appointed head master of Kaiti school. Mr aud Mrs 11. A. Barton arrived in

Uisborno by tho Tallinn yostorday mom ing. The marriage took pluoe at Palmerston North on Monday afternoon, the brido being Mitw L. B. S gga, daughter of Mr J. H, Biggs. There was a laiga nttcndonco of friends, and tho ceremony was concluded by Rov. 0. 0. Harper,

Tbo steamer Ziulandia did not make hot usually speedy trip from Auokland yesterday, tho reasonbeingthat tho steamer was ueoply laden. Hor cargo included 100 sons for Gisboroe,

Tho following will represent the Te Rau Oiicket Club against Taruburu, at Taru* beru on Saturday next: —Gary, Olsod, J. Gibson, W, H, Waok, Cox, Dudfiold, Schofield, Laog, Holschier, Murphy, Pino, Gormau ; omorgenoiee, Kaipara and Tu Carroll.

■2jA ohargo of ftliegsd trespass, which has boon postponed for somo months, was mentionea iu Court yesterday and again adjourned until the 12>h Dcoembor, the Sergeant explaining that the request for adjournment had corns from (he Mayor, “He is praotioally the informant, is ho not ?" asked Mr Barton, Tho Sorgeaut said that it was a police oase, but assented to His Worship's siaiemont that tho Mayor, as representing tho burgossss, had She right to ask for an adj jurnmont, The defendant is Edward Whitlock, the place of alleged trespass being the Kaiti Esplanade road.

In tlio Polico Court, before Mr Barton, S.M. yesterday, John Allen, who was before the Court tho,day previous for the same offence, was fined HI with 2s costs or -1 days’ imprisonment for drunkenness.

Tho Hon. J. Carroll continues to progress satisfactorily, but it is expected that a fortnight will elapse before ho is able to leave his home,

The Cricket Association is progressing very satisfactorily. Outside clubs continue to join, tho latest club to como into tho Association being the Rangatiki Cricket Club. At Te Karaka great things arc expected of cricket this year. This afternoon on the Gisborne Bowling Club’s rinks the handicap matches will be commenced. The rinks are now in perfect condition, and on tho handicaps some excellent games are anticipated.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning two first offenders for drunkenness were each fined os with costs or 24 hours’ imprisonment. In the second case in reply to the usual question the sergeant said nothing was known against offender. His Worship: lam sure I have seen that man hero before. Sergeant Williams : There is nothing in the records. His Worship : “ I wish you would bo more particular in searching the records, sergeant, I am sure I havo had this man before me previously.”’ The sergeant said that a constable had carefully gone through tho records and could find nothing against tho defendant.

At- Pouawa yesterday a young man named Coekburn received a nasty kick in tho forehead from a horse- It appears, Coekburn was chasing a pig, which ran between tho horse’s legs; the animal lashed out suddenly, with the result mentioned. Dr. Colo telegraphed instructions as to treatment, and the patient, who sustained a bad cut over tho eye, is doing well, but will be confined to his room for a few days.

Tbo throe-masted scow Htwk arrived at Auckland from Gisborne on Saturday evening, and left oa Monday for Ngan« guru to load timber for Gisborne. Mr T. Fathers, au erstsvhilo City Councillor of Nelson, and new a resident of the Empire City, is at present viaitiog Gisborne on friendly society business.

A narrow escape from sorioua injuries bafol a dairyman named A. McCabe at Remuora on Sunday. McOabo was in ths dai-y yard, when a youug cow sudlenly charged him, caught him on its horns, and tosspd him in the air. Too horns cut through tho man’s clothing and iofl.oiod a icvoro wound on tho chest. The animal jharged a second time, but MeOabe rollod mdarneaSh tho stookyard fence into a fiaoo of safety. Ho received a severe ihsking and bruising, but was able to walk

A further mtoting of creditors in the estato or W. B, Markin was hold yesterday, when statements showing tho position between debtor and Captain Tucker were handed in, and after expressions of dis satisfaction it was decided to obtain legal

advice, The Assignee said that, taking tho r.coouuts as represented, tho estate would now pay 2s 63 in the £. A painful accident happened a day or two ago to a lad named Herbert Carter, son of Mr Harry Carter, of Waihi, while working for Mr F. Wriglcy, of Katikati He was attending to a sausage machine, when, accidentally, a sleeve of his coat was

caught in tlio crank, and he was carried round for several revolutions. Tho cries

of tbo unfortunate lad attracted tho attention of the younger brother, who at once stopped tho horses and released the sufferer from his terrible position. On examination by Dr. Clavidgo, it was found that Carter’s arm was broken at tho

wrist, and his head severely cut. Under medical caro ho is making favourable progress.

Quito unexpectedly, and after a rest of s-inj weeks, all tho geysero at Whsksrowarewa showed inoroasod aolivisy on Thursday, and on Friday morning Pobutu broko into eruption at five urnutas to too, and continued iu a state of eruption for an hour aud twonly minutes. Ia tho after noon, at half-past two o'clock, ths same goysor again oame into eruption, and played for half-an-hour. The display in the morning was a magniGoant one, (he water being shot to heights varying from 40ft So 70ft, Dariug Pobutu’s perform moo, the P/inoo of Wales’ Feather, Krreru, jjand Waikorohihi geysers were also playing on both ocoasiooo, making tho plaoo very aitraotivo to tho few visitors who wore fortunate ia being present.

At Whangarei during the performance of “ Shamus O’Brien,” by the Charles Verncr Dramatic Company, an unrehearsed incident of a very grotosquo character threw the audience into convulsions of merriment, in the third act. when the performers wc-re grouped about Mrs O'Brien’s ” dwelling, a sparrow, which I)ad been fluttering about the interior of tho theatre for some time, made

a sudden straight line (light towards “ Mrs O'Brien.” and perched on the front of that lady’s bonnet, resting there some time. It was out of the question to proceed with

the play until tlic sparrow sought another resting place, and the loud laughter of the audience had subsided. Shortly after one of ths lady performers was urging her lover to fly from impending danger. “ It’s no use,” said lie, “ I can’t fly; I’m not a sparrow,”

Altornnlivo tenders for tho position of caretaker arc invited by the Poverty Bay Turf Club.

The now bridge at Malawhoro will bo thrown open for traffic to-day without any ceremony.

Tho forthcoming land sale is attracting a good deal of attention, and it is expected that tlie sale will be attended by a largo number of people bent on business.

An altera,lion has been made in tho dale of tho Tolago Bay stock sales, which arc now fixed for Tuesday, December Ilth. A record number oil entries have boon received for tho school sports to bo held at Waoreuga-a-hika to-mor row. Tho departure of the morning train has boon postponed till 9 a.in., and it wili stop at College road to take up or sot down passengers. Tho railway dopartment oiler specially reduced faros for tho occasion, children 8d re--turn, adults Is 3d. Mrs Erskino has ohargo of tho catering, and luncheon may bo obtained on the ground. Tho committee proceed to Waorenga a hika this afternoon to got tho grounds in order and maao all preparations. Kedstone’s drag will leave the Masonic corner at 1 30 p.m. for tho convenience of any who are unable to proceed by the morning train.