Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 81, 1900. Cleanliness.

Manawatu Herald, 31 March 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 81, 1900. Cleanliness.

Some weeks, if not months, ago the Colonial Secretary telegraphed to the Mayor asking him to take steps to secure the cleanliness of the Borough, but since then we can find that very little has been done. We do not desire to state that this town is not clean and in a healthy position, but we have no data to show that it is so, though the Borough has in its employ an Inspector of Nuisances. We have before now drawn attention to some evil smells within the Borough which secured the attention of the Inspector, but though it was said steps were being taken to abate the evil no report has been laid before the Council. A correspondent also in our columns drew attention to some nuisances that had come under his attention, but that is as far as the searching appears to have been carried out. A town may appear to be in a perfectly clean state until some epidemic breaks out which causes a vigorous search to be instituted, and those who have read the .reports of the bubonic plague at Sydney will notice that the inspectors have discovered there were plague spots in the city undreamt of till now. What the Council needs for their guidance is a careful detailed report of the town where the population is thickest, with a recommendation as to what should be done if any improvements are found to be needed. There is not the slightest necessity for a violent change in the system of privies now used, if, and that is the most important part of all, they are kept clean and are periodically disinfected. To suggest an expensive system of dry-earth closets, without an extremely expensive system of removal, would be unwise considering the present population of the town, but a courteous inspection of all back yards with suggestions as to how the same could be improved and sweetened is all that is at present (required. We have to be thankful to the last heavy rain for having in a great measure reduced our risk of disease, as it gave the inhabitants a good supply of water. Until then a great deal of water was being used direct from the river an investigation of which would not add much pleasure to any user of the water from it. The water in the tanks need inspection as the accumulation to be found in them after some years use without cleaning, is not reassuring for the good health of the users. Our Borough Council is by law the Board of Health for the district and each member has thus a very heavy responsibility resting upon his shoulders sufficient to urge them to take some steps to comply with the wish of the Colonial Secretary.

The Bulls temporary bridge is now open for cart traffic. The Borough Council meets on Monday evening. To-day is the yearly balance at the Bank of New Zealand. ~ The Messrs Robinson issue their usual notice to trespassers. We notice that the agent for M. Kaukei also issues a notice in the Rangitikei paper as to persons trespassing on the Kopatara lake on the Messrs Robinson's run. The Easter holidays in the public offices of the colony will be Friday, the 13th April, Saturday, the 14th, and Easter Monday. The Union Company received a cablegram on Thursday from Melbourne that the troopship Monowai passed Cape Otway that afternoon, flying the signal " All well." Mr Walker is to the front with a changed advertisement notifying he is fully stocked with all sportsmen's requisites in shape of guns, cartridges, &c. -Mr Macmillan has sold his farm on Tones' Line to Mr W. Davis, of Rongotea. A hopeless case. — Mr Satupon (inquiring about his mother-in-law's health, with mock solicitude) : Is there any hope, doctor ?— Dn Sarkastick : No hope; she'll recover, Multum in Parvo. — Inspecting Officer ; How is it your khaki is so much too small ? — Stout Yeoman : It do seem a bit skimp, sur. But tailor says as how I'm bound to grow a 'cap smaller on hactive service., an' 'c's allowin 1 for shrinkage. The Queen starts on her visit to Dublin next Monday. The Channel squadron will precede Her Majesty's yacht across the Irish Sea k Sir Michael E. Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, has privately declared that the Government intended to tax coal exported from Great Britain ! at the rate of 2s 6d per ton,. Despite 1 the coal famine prevailing, the tax would yield £5,000,000. A deputation of members of Parliament watted on the Premier of N.S. Wales to urge an amendment of the City Councils Act. The Sydney Council was charged by the speakers with having shown a grave criminal neglect of its duties. It had by its actions imperilled the safety of the metropolis and proved utterly worthless during the crisis. Other Councils run similar risks. Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., in giving judgment at Wanganui on Tuesday in a licensing prosecution, drew the at tention of publicans to a fact of which some at least were probably not aware, namely, that in Order to constitute an offence under the Act, it was not necessary for an hotelkeeper to supply a person with intoxicating liquor— it was sufficient if he allowed a person in a state of drunkenness to remain on his premises for an unreasonable time. The object of the law was to keep hotels free from anything that might shock women and children who had occasion to frequent them. He was not aware that there were many cases where this question had been before the Courts of this colony, but he thought it was necessary that it should be prominently brought before hotelkeepers. The immensity of the British mercantile Marine is one of the most striking revelations resulting from the present war. Although 134 steamers aggregating 1,262,336 tons, have been chartered by the Imperial Government for transport purposes, the services on which these vessels were previously engaged have been continued, and practically without interruption, by other British steamers* a fact which goes to show what the mercantile marine of Britain is capable of doing. Amongst his personal friends here (writes a London correspondent) some anxiety evists with respect to the state of the health' of Sir Alfred Milner. Never a robust man, the tremendous toil and anxiety that have weighed upon him during the last six months are beginning to tell. The situation is aggravated by the necessity of his living at Government house. In the quiter time that prevailed during Lord Loch's governorship of the Cape the Governor resided during the hot months (of which at the Cape this is one) at a charming little place at Wynberg, a suburb some eighty miles out of town. Close by is Groot Sctauur, Mr Cecil Rhodes's house, nestling at the foot of verdurous j hills. Residence in Cape Town in December and January is very like living in an oven. Sir Alfred Milner tied to his desk, has suffered, this experience. It is now, I hear, beginning to tell upon him, and there is apprehension that if he be not in some degree relieved from the pressure of work he may at any time break down. It is to be hoped that as, speaking generally, Australians and New Zealanders have only the vaguest idea ot what a cold day signifies, writes a correspondent of the Sydney "Telegraph," they may not forget to supply their troops with suitable clothing wherewith to face the Transvaal winter. Life isn't all beer and skittles for our troops in South Africa at present, but if they have to face the altitudes and bitter dry cold of the upper veldt improperly clad, serious mischief will certainly result. I heard a doctor say the other day that if consumptives were able to survive one winter in the Transvaal, they generally recovered altogether. The method is, of course, the " cold cure " in vogue in the Swiss Engadine, minus luxuries or comforts during the initial winter your lungs are getting hardened. I fear South Australian, Victorian and New South Wales troops especially may feel the transition from sun in daytime to bitter cold at night very trying. Vicar's Daughter (to Giles, whose wife has been kicked to death by a cow) : I was so distressed to hear the dreadful news, John, how it must have upset you— Giles: It did, Miss, but what a mercy I wasn't a-milkin' of the coo myself ! A summoned meeting of the Foresters' Lodge will be held, on Tuesday,

; The Vicar : I'm surprised at you. Miggs. Why, look at me. I can go into the town without coming back intoxicated.— Miggs : Yesh, zur, but Oi be so popular 1 (Hie.) There were thirty-three applicants for the post of lady assistant to the Town Clerk of Devonport. It is notified that the business formerly carried on in the name of Kemp & Jupp will in future be carried on by William Jupp. The butter from the Glen Oroua factory is being sent at present to the Napier market. We are glad to learn that Mr Edward Coley is progressing satisfactorily towards recovery at the Palmerston hospital. A meeting of the Foxton Athletic Football Club is advertised for Wednesday next at Stansell's Hotel at 7.30 p.m. The Public Trustee advertises that all creditors and others having claims against the estate ot the late Patrick Murphy must be sent in before the 7th June, i The attention of our header's is j drawn td the advertisement of F. Loveday which announces the opening of their Autumn goods. A very large assortment of dress goods has been imported in anticipation of another busy season. Customers may rely on getting blankets and rugs and men's woollen clothing at something less than the usual figure as this firm has purchased very heavily in these lines. The quality of these goods, as usual, can be guaranteed. The house and land lately advertised for sale by Mr Jenks has been purchased by Mr F. H. Cooki It is understood that the Government has decided to keep the first New Zealand contingent in South Africa up to its full strength. The required number of men will shortly be despatched. A detective went to Lyttelton armed with a warrant for the arrest of a member on board the Gymeric f on a charge of being about to leave the colony without finding surety for the fulfilment of a maintenance order. Colonel Sommerville, however, forbade the arrest, as the police had no authority to apprehend men on a troopship under the Imperial Army Act. A war correspondent writes : — So far the relief of Kimberley has not cost fifty men. To appreciate the task one must imagine a deep, sandy veldt, long I marches without water, and necessarily slow progress. Imagine the feeding of four divisions purposely cut off from their primary base. It is perhaps impossible adequately appreciate the marvellous work of the transport. The marching of the third infantry division, considering the heat and the absence of water, once more proves that the British soldier is willing and ready to respond to any call. The men never shirked their work, and some fell out from pure exhaustion, but seized the first opportunity to rejoin the ranks. Perhaps it was a grander sight than any battle to see a battalion movittg through heavy sand, under the broiling sun, determined, persevering, and cheerful, with not a single grumble, having grand faith in their commander, and with magnificent endurance of their hardships. Perhaps it is ho exaggeration to say that nearly all the troops — horse, foot, and artillery, and especially the transport, had not slept more than three hours nightly for the last three nights. But all were cheerful, ready, and anxious to do all that men could Jdo.