The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 371, 6 November 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1878.

On the 7th September we cited the case of a man named Jordan, of Waverley,who had gradually become blind, and who, being unable on account of his affliction to earn his living, had become chargeable on the County funds.- Our

contention .was that it was', iiard on the Oofinty that it should become solely chargeable for the maintenance of the unfortunate man for the remainder of his life, and V that there should be but one parish in New, Zealand for relief purposes, which should embrace the whole Colony, and that all charges for hospital and charitable aid, should come from the general revenue, and not be made a local charge.” There is another case which even more forcibly illustrates the necessity for the afflicted being chargeable on the general revenue, rather than on local bodies. John Johnson (a blind man) was admitted to the Patea Hospital about the middle March, being then in a low condition of health, and remained in the Hospital until the 20th July, when he was discharged in perfect good health. From then until about the middle of last month, he has been wandering about the colony, having raised money from the charitably disposed by the way. Somehow or other, ho managed to get to Auckland, from whence he was forwarded to Hew Plymouth. In New Plymouth, according to the Herald, he went round the town soliciting aid to enable him to return to bis family at Patea, and it would appear from the paragraph that “ handsome assistance” was rendered. Funds gathered on his wanderings having become ex-

hausted, and being refused admittance to

the Patea Hospital, for the reason that he could not be said to be sick, and could not be received on the ground of being a pauper, ho applied to the Sergeant of Police, on the 31st October, for protection, on the ground that ho was unable to earn his living. The puzzle is to know what to do with him. His wife and two children, the eldest of the latter not being much above 14 years, are quite unable to support him. The Police have nowhere to keep him, but pending instructions from head quarters, Johnson has been temporarily lodged with a neighbour—-one of his little girls attending to him, the police making frequent visits every day. Johnson came from Victoria about three years ago, since which time he has lost his sight. He cannot, therefore, be properly deemed a charge on Patea. The nearest relative is a brother-in-law—a working settler, fairly well to do, who is noted for his almost lavish, though unostentatious practical benevolence, numerous instances of which are well known to friends. He is said already to have been put to the exepnse of over £2OO on Johnson’s behalf, and has been and is willing to continue to support the family. On Johnson being first taken to the hospital, he was, on account of the violence of his actions and continuously erratic conduct and foul abusivencss, deemed to be mad. Ho was twice examined by duly qualified medical practitioners, who,- in spite of his insane freaks, could not pronounce him mad. Whilst in hospital, Johnson was a terror to the other patients and the attendant, and a nuisance to the neighbourhood, as he had previously been a terror to those related to him. We understand that it is chiefly on account of the. violence of Johnson’s conduct, and his dangerousnoss, that his brother-in-law refused to be any longer responsible. Were the man only ordinarily tractable, he would not be so expensive or difficult to deal with. It is unfortunately a fact that ho has occasionally to be put under restraint. In spite of the little sympathy which the man’s conduct begets, it must not be forgotten that he is totally blind, and quite unable to earn his Jiving, and though frequently violent, if not dangerous, canrot fee pronounced mad. His is a case showing very forcibly the necessity for hospital and charitable aid being a charge on the Colony, rather than on purely local bodies. There are no conveniences for the safe accommodation of a person like Johnson in Patea, nor, indeed, would there be in any thinly peopled district anywhere in the colony. It would be no less than scandalous to keep the man in gaol for the remainder of his life. As he is deemed incurable it is useless to send him to hospital. He cannot be pronounced mad, and is not, therefore, admissable to a lunatic asylum. His is just such a case as should be dealt with by the general Government, and confirms the conclusion previously arrived at, that there should be but one parish in New Zealand for relief purposes, with suitable buildings in convenient places, under the supervision of the Government, and maintained at the cost of the Colony. Whilst wo sympathise strongly with Johnson on account of his affliction, we deem it wrong that he should become a charge on the county, or that ho should be allowed any longer to bo a public nuisance, or source of terror to his relatives. Government ought to undertake the charge of this and kindred cases.