Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 68, 7 August 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From our Resident Reporter. DISEASED STOCK, i PADDOCKKD IX THE BOROUGH. HOSPITAL HOARD PROTESTS. At yesterday a meeting of the Stratford Hospital Uoard.the sanitary inspector reported regarding a paddock in the Stratford borough, u.-ed by the Mock Department lor diseased 'cattle Vs re- : quested by .Major Y mlngi veterinary JMipervKsor ],e had mi , t llh(( . ofrk , ( , r . u the paddock. IK. s i a!lMl . that the ~ dock was not used for tattle in an advanced stage of tuberculosis. The instructions to stock inspectors were to condemn cattle before they were likely to be dangerous to others, Cattle no't seen by the inspectors before thev inched the mictions stage were destroyed on the farm where they were found, because the Stock Department strictly objects to animals in a st nte of disease likely to infect others being driven along any public road. The inspector asked Major \«,,ng If it was possible to destroy all cattle on farms where they were condemned, and was informed that lire drawback to such a course was that ft would greatly increase the staff of inspectors Personally, the inspector iailed to understand how the stock inspector could distinguish.between infectious and not infectious tuberculous cattle; nor did Major Young attempt to explain how they would manage it The chairman said lie felt yery°stron<'ly.that it was not „ ,-ight thing to paddock diseased cattle near dwellings. Surely the Department could find a place a bit .further away. He would suggest that a protest be forwarded to the proper authorities.

Mr. ChristolTel considered that condemned stock should be destroyed on the farms. He ha'd heard of instances of these diseased cattle becoming mixed amongst healthy cattle whilst bein«driven along the public roads. ° Mr. Ward said he understood that condemned cattle were kept in the paddock only for a night or two. pending their being taken a way to the boiling-down works. It was not pood to have I lie paddock there, for there was a danger to children running about in the locality. After further discussion it was resolved, on the motion of the chairman to enter a protest against a holdimr paddock for diseased stock being. Placed [within a borough or in close, proximity to dwellings, and to recommend that all i condemned cattile be destroyed on the | farms.

AX EXPLANATION-. I had a conversation with Major \oung recently on this matter, and'be explained there was little to complain about. First, no stock which was so far diseased as to be dangerous to other stock was allowed to 'be driven alon« tne public roads by the inspectors. These were destroyed and were buried or burned on the farms. Was it likely, said Major ioung, that a department set up for the prevention of the spread of disease would be guilty of practices which amounted to deliberate dissemination of disease? This point was clear then, that no animals were placed in the paddock which were capable of -spreading disease. Nor can healthy stock obtain access to the animal's confined there, nor vice versa, for the whole place has a double fence, the inner one being sunu-icntlv far -from the boundary to prevent stock "rubbing noses" or other-

™- (! J , explTSS ' n " i]u ' h i° v ;,t meeting. 1 Thirdly, the grass-eoveivd .surface of a paddock has been proved to prevent germs from dropping or saliva from being spread by the wind. Such'a thin" I might happen on a dry dusty road. Agam. tuberculosis cows are not unsightly. Should a beast be suffering from complications, including, say. disease "or the eye, then it is an unpleasant thing to look upon, but such disease is not infectious. It appears to be largely a mat- ■ ter of sentiment, just as no one chases after the owner of a rubbish depot con- ' fiumed by a desire to erect a lovely villa on the next section. ' I ; There is a necessity for such a holding 1 paddock, for a large proportion of the < condemned stock is drawn from the pub- i lie saleyards, and it is not possible to de- I > stroy cattle there, nor is it 'always pos- ' sible to have the beasts taken immedi- i ately to the destructor. The matter I will probably receive further attention 1 yet from the authorities, particularly in '■ view of the sanitary inspector's com- 1 ,mcnt on the ability or otherwise of the ■ stock inspectors to distinguish between 1 infections and non-infectious casts Such 1 comment may be held to be an undue ' invasion on the rights of the officers of J i the Stock Department, who may be pre- 1: sumed to know their business. " ' 'h

STRATFORD HOSPITAL BOARD The Stratford Hosjiitu.l Board mot yesterday. Present: .Messrs. E. Ma-rfell (chairman). J. Smith, F. nine, J. Christoffel, W. Rogers. Athol Meredith. J McAllister, and Sidney Ward REPORTS. ' ' The medical superin ten dent, Dr. Stevens, reported that for the month ending July fifteen patients weiy admitted, and ten discharged, and M-vonto. ; remained on Au>gu-t 1. Eight operations were performed. Owing to the. beds being all occupied, it was necessary to defer the admission of several patients for a fewdays.

The seo.rnta.ry was instructed to take steps to secure the admission of a sufferer from rheumatism to the sanatorium at Rotorua. -

The matron reported that Miss Smith had taken up her duties ;is probationer. Her report, on the meat supply was not satisfactory.

The gardener's report .staled that, despite, the heavy demands this reason, the hospital gardens were still able to supply the institution with vegetables.. \

The sanitary inspector reported upon the condition of several dwellings at Toko, and recommendations were made tint various privy pits and water-wells in close proximity to each and to the dwellings be tilled'in, the pan system instituted, and tanks erected, iuid that dilapidated privie* be replaced. The owners were in nearly every case willing to demolish the building*; as soon as notices were served.

The .sanitary inspector reported that nuisances had existed and been -remedied at two Stratford premises engaged in the supply of food for .human consumption, but the owners had promised to remedy the defects. Broad purchased from each of the four bakers had proved to be full weight. Fruiterers' and fish shops had been inspected. DOCTOR FOR WMANCAMOMOXA. Mr. Ward moved, and Mr. Meredith seconded, "That this board .hrinirs under the notice of the Prime Minister tlie urgenfc need for a medical man being appointed in the Whamraiiiomoiia district whore the Public Works Department have so man'- men implored "'—Carried MLSCELLANV. The board having determined the moat supply contract, smd invited fivs.li tenders, that of Mr. T. 1). Cukoii was accepted.

_ On .\fr. Ward's (ingestion, it was deeioVd to procure a heater for the mnIron's room. "Mr. ih-Allister tfimiffht tin- board should co into the whole matter of heating the hospital, with a view of installing the lint water radiator svstern in tlic wards and corridors, this s ' vg . li ni having been proved a great success in another institution in Stratford, economically and otherwise. Messrs! Ward an! also spoke o'n hive maitrr. Tt was pointed out that the firephiei ■; in the wards were inadequate, ond (lie fuel account was heavy t°7

8s 5d for four months' coal, exclusive of the kitchen fuel. L;i-:t year the l'm-1 cost the board about £41)0."-It was dcciiii-d that the secretary, should write and obtain all information available wiih reference to the hot water heating system. A BUSH ACCIDENT

A young man named Ansey Flynn, son of Mr. Flynn, at Te Wera, was .brought in to the Stratford hospital on Monday night, suffering from injuries received in a bash accident about ten miles from Whanganiomona. Jfe was engaged in hush-felling, ami a tree fell and broke his leg. ITe was carried in to W'baiigalnomona, and thence by tram and cut to Te Wera, then' being no ballast train running conveniently.' From Te Wera he was brought in by motor-car. " SEEING 'EM."

It must have been methylated .spirits that stimulated the imagination of a man out beyond Whanganiomona the other day. He was seen by his mates walking towards the camp, hut avoiding tile road. He made his way through fern and scrub, and over creeks, looking apprehensively behind him. Upon his arrival, his mates wanted to know what he was afraid of. "I'm going.to write to the county council about, it," he declared, with emphasis. '•'! was coming over the saddle, and I met a procession of tombstones half n mile long, taking up the whole of the road, and I had to walk in the ditch/'. It is not suggested .that the man had been drinking] THE OPERATIC SOCIETY.

A large number of Stratford people have intimated their intention of accompanying the Operatic Society to Ha wera to-morrow to once more enjoy the production of "H.M.S. Pinafore." The .rehearsal on Monday showed that the whole caste had profited greatly by the two nights' staging here, and the Haw-era people can depend upon seeing this popular opera capitally staged. STRAY PARAGRAPHS

One of the recommendations of th'e sanitary inspector to the Stratford Hospital Board is as follows: "Rain water tank leaking at premises occupied by ; —r, owned by . Recommendation: I beg to recommend that the tank be made watertight." Dr. Paget's partner is Dr. J. Piric Oameron, M.8., Ch.B., Aberdeen, who comes with high testimonials from Dr. A. A. Scott Skirving (senior surgeon, Leith Hospital). Dr. William Stephenson (professor of midwifery, Aberdeen University), Dr. J. Theodore Cash (professor of materia medica and therapeutics, Aberdeen University), and others.

The Women's Christian Temperance Union (Stratford branch) conducted a "rest tent" at the last Stratford A. and P. Show, and did it well, conferring a real boon on mothers and ladies .generally. At next .show, with the concurrence of the association, the W.C.T.U. will go further, and dispense refreshments. Mesdames R. IT. Cameron; T. White,'and J. Mackay are a committee of the union to confer with the A. and P. executive on the matter. This item reminds live of a complaint that there is no "rest room" in Stratford for ladies. Our shops derive a greater part of their business from the country customers, but no provision is made- for the comfort of the women who sometime.-! spend the whole day with our business friends. In the proposed loan scheme couldn't the borough council find a corner for a few pounds to cover the cost of altering the Municipal Chambers so as to provide the necessary room, which the W.C.T.U. would probably undertake to keep in order, as is done in New Plymouth? BERNARD'S PICTURES.

I The pictures included in the present programme, which will be screened to-' nightat His Majesty's Theatre for the last time, are. up to the usual high standard. The Vitagraph drama, entitled "Testing His Courage," shows how a : young girl on a Western ranch, to test her Eastern lover's courage, takes the role of. a noted bandit. She is captured by the genuine article, however, and rescued by her lover, the band-it being given in charge. "The Loafer," an ..Essanay, drama, of much power, depicts a loafer, content to allow hia wife and family to slave, cured -by a, sound flogging,' administered ;by his 'townspeople: The lea>der of the townspeople next day pre--sents him with horses, etc. By dint of hard work he becomes enriched, whilst the leader has hard luck and as about to lose his Jiome, but the erstwhile loafer, who had sworn to kill the leader w.hen discovered, presents him with mortgage papers on" his property a.s a reward for "making a man of him." "The Cowboy Lover" shows how the cowboy outvies the Western.-dandy, ultimately commandeering his bride from a motorcar en route to the wedding. ■ "From, Ostrich Egg to Feather-Boa""is a very' interesting industrial topic. The comedies a're also good, embracing "Tweedledum's Cartoon Competition," "Willie on Horseback." "Dupin Defies. Waste-paper Laws,'' and "Tom Tilling's Baby." The Gaumont Graphic and the Pat'ho Gazette depict the latest topical happenings. The next change (to-morrow) will include the great dramatic film "Tom. Butler." Have you passedHiV Majesty's lately by day, and seek the new vestibule? It is artistically decorated and arranged, and is, throVn 'operi for the public view, an advertising scheme of no small merit.