DISTRESSING CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 62, 31 July 1912, Page 7

DISTRESSING CASE.

A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. By Telegraph—Press A&sociation. Auckland, Monday. An instance of the evils of the "white plague" has come under the notice of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in Auckland, which, taken from all points of view, appears to be a most distressing case. The sufferer is a youth between 17 and 18 years of age, whose mother died in Australia when be was but three years old, and his father after another three years. That left him to care for a sister, who died of the same fell disease last year, and the lad in question, being at the time in a sanatorium, left it in order to pay the last tribute of respect to the one who had taken the place of his dead mother. As far as he knows, he is now entirely without a relative in the world. The name of the lad is John McDonald, who, with a companion, was a stowaway from Sydney to Auckland by the Huddart-Parker steamer Victoria, about 19 days ago. When the vessel arrived at Auckland the two offenders were handed over to the police, and upon being charged with the offence of travelling without paying for a passage, the matter having been published, Messrs. Ellis and Burnand, of'Mangapehi, wrote .' to the authorities stating they wanted boys at the mill, and were willing to take the lads into their employ. Under the circumstances, the Court decided to let them go, on the understanding that their passage money would in due course be forwarded to the shipping company. The boys accordingly went to Messrs. Ellis and Buniand's mill, when McDonald soon after had the misfortune to have his finger badly cut by a circular saw. He kept on at his job until it was found that his strength was not suff'i-j eient for the work, and he was then sent I down to the doctor at Taumarunui, who, j after examining, gave him a certificate t to enter the Hamilton Hospital. He was, ] however, only one night in that institu- j tion, being sent to Auckland the next ) morning. His fare was paid for him, > but unfortunately he was not furnished with any money, and no telegram was received by the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board notifying that the lad was returning. He was, however, accompanied by a constable, but was not of course in charge. He was told at Hamilton that he was suffering from 1 consumption, and must be sent back to I Sydney. Under the circumstances the poor lad arrived at Auckland without ' any money, and was taken to the police 1 I station, from which place Mr. A. Jones. [ ' of the Charitable Aid Board, was rung ' up by a constable to ascertain what should be done with the youth. That gentleman arranged for the unfortunate lad to be provided for at the Workmen's Home for the present, and the following morning had him examined by a medical man, wlio gave a certificate, stating that McDonald was suffering from phthisis. and that he must have been so suffering for the last 18 months. The document ends: "In my opinion he should never !have been allowed to land nere, and should be returned to New South Wales." Mr. Jones next interviewed the )'• shipping company, and received a message this morning to the effect that they would take the lad back by the steamer I leaving on Monday week. Unless the Health Department orders his removal I from his present quarters, McDonald will be kept there until that date Meanwhile the unfortunate sufferer is stranded, penniless, amongst strangers in a strange land.