The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4536, 19 July 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1883.

The gross carelessness of the Government, or their officials, in connection with the arrival and debarkation in Auckland of passengers by the s.s. Penguin from Fiji, on Tuesday evening last, calls for very severe censure, and although that cannot effect the removal of any injury done owing to Government laxity, it may caoße precautions to be taken which will prevent the people—not only in the immediate neighborhood of the landing place—being liable to danger, and also that danger, and in addition, a considerable amonnt of alarm, spreading throughout the Colony. The Australian Colonies last week resolved to quarantine all arrivals from Fiji, and declared all Fijian ports infected places; this news arrived by cable iv New Zealand on the day the resolution was come to, and every daily paper in the chief cities and towns of the colony published it. We cannot believe that such an important action on the part of the Governments in the neighboring colonies can have escaped the notioe of the authorities in New Zealand, nor can we imagine why some motion in a similar direction was not at once made by the New Zealand authorities upon the receipt of such important intelligence. Perhaps attention to weightier items occupied the minds of those to whom we have to look, and who are paid, for seeing to such matters; mayhap the consideration of more important personal legislation was 'being taken by those to whom we entrust such business as health and its preservation ; or, probably, the introduction of cholera, small-pox, or any other harmless little epidemic would not interfere with the titles of any parcels of native lands which the Government or any of its members or supporters, require the rectification of; and hence, in their anxiety to see to such all absorbing subjects and their progress, they have omitted to take steps necessary to prevent a scourge being introduced amongst us The authorities " shut the stable door when the steed was stolen;" they hurriedly sent to Auokland a proclamation announcing that Fiji was an infected place, bat this wa» done after the arrival of a steamer from the "infected place," and after all the passengers by it had landed, and were scattered amongst the people of the town they arrived in. We have not heard that any danger has arisen from this action—or rather want of aotion—of the Goverment; but what might have been the consequence of it is difficult to conjecture and impossible to say. Had the fearful plagues tseotioued as being prera-

lent in the country from which the' steamer arrived been introduced into the Colony, the Ministry would have found themselves placed in a very unpleasant situation, and the consequences of their negligence would hive been irremediable. It only now remains for us to ask those whose duty it is to attend to such matters, to take every precaution against allowing the introduction of those dreadful diseases which are affecting places in communica» tion with us, and not for one moment to relax their vigilance in the matter of arriving shipping. Notwithstanding our superb climate, and the healthy condition, generally, of our cities and towns, the inception of a plague amongst us is a horrible thought, the idea of which is enough to make a stout heart quail. Doubtless when the central authorities regained their breath, after the discovery of their iniquitous carelessness, and thought that no harm yras done, they heaved a sigh of relief, and remarked, " Well, this mustn't occur again."

The manager of the New Prince Imperial telegraphed this morning : —" SOlbs specimeos fifth stope, No. 2 section west, No. 6 level.— G. 8. Clabe." The manager of the London telegraphed this afternoon:—" Broken down reef in winze, nice dabs of gold seen.—C. Waiix." Stocks today are firmer, with the exception of Queen of Beauty and D<?ep Cross, which are a little easier. The Police Court was not opened this morning. A meeting of the Thames Football Club was held last night. A telegram w^s, read from Auckland stating that the team which the Thaoses Club intended.to ulay on Friday next, culd rot, meet the visiting players on that day, and it was resolved that no match be played with Auckland till towards the end of the senson ; then, it be arranged, if possible, with a recognised club. Some dissatisfaction was expressed at the proposal to play a scratch team in Auckland. Thx bucket of the Harbour Board dredge got stuck in the mud at the Goods Wharf this morning, and all attempts to lift it, even with a pressure of lOOlbs of steam, prored futile. It was, however, afterwards raised by opening the bucket and drawing it up empty. The accident was caused by the engineer dropping the bucket from too great a height. The machinery works well, but it will of course take a few days for the men to get accustomed to the way of working, when progress will be much quioker. Dobak's Combination Company gave another performance at the Academy of ; Music last night, to a good attendance. A large number of goods were distributed as usual, the tea and coffee service falling to Miss Cooke, of Rolleston street, and an oil pointing to Miss Crane. This evening " Slocum's Dog " will be presented, the leading gifts being six chairs and an oil painting. Several local gentlemen have entered for the tf singing bee " to-morrow evening, the prize for which is a splendid oil painting, handsomely framed. A matinee for children will be given on Saturday afternoon, when every child will receive a present, i Tbb Hospital diapenser wishes to acknowledge through our columns the receipt of a set of earthenware requisites from Mr J. D. Walker, and a parcel of Melbourne Leaders and also a parcel of linen from Mrs Marshall. At the Crown land sale in Auckland yesterday of rural sections prices ruled high ; the upset prices being frequently doubled and trebled. The total proceeds were £6000. Thx first Salvation Army soiree was held last night in St. JanW Hall, Auckland. 1000 sat down to tea. Not a single city clergyman was preseot. A child about two years o!d, the son of Mr Joseph Uriok, a German, residing »t East Oxford, Christohuroh, was burned to death on Tuesday morning. His clothes caught fire during the. absence of his mother, and the child died after two hours' agony. Aetbb inquiry into the wreck of the Transit, which was wrecked at Gisborne last week, the' decision of the Court was that the captain committed an error of judgment in remaining in the roadstead with the vessel in a disabled condition. At a meeting at Southbridge, near Christ* church on Tuesday, the locale of the alleged goldfield in Canterbury was said to be at Taurnaitu, near the Ninety-mile Beach, and a number of people have gone prospecting. The Bromley-episode in Gisborne bus been i amicably arranged, and the cases withdraws from Court. The defendant admitted that he w/iB lawfully married to the lady who came from Sydney to see him. It was stated in evidence that Bromley was married to the woman he lived with as his wife in Gisbome, but there appears to be some difficulty in producing a register of such alleged marriage. Mrs Bromley, it is understood, accepted £50, abd returns to her family in Australia. W. L* Rbjbb has caused aa injunction to be served on Mr Kenneth Kerr for the purpose of restraining him from publishing further scurrilous articles in Facto, and aeka that he be bound over to keep the peace. The case conies on to-morrow. Mr DeLautour, it i¥ stated, is also, taking action for libel against Mr Kerr, proprietor, and Mr Weble, printer, of Facts. The whole atmosphere appears to be full of rumours of actions for libel being on the tapis A lbxteb from Fiji dated Suva, July-9th, saya regarding the outbreak of cholera among the Poonah's immigrants :—-" Twenty-three persons died in one diy. The Harbourmaster went out to brng the vessel in, and he has not been seen since. His wife and family are in great trouble. The men who ran off from the ship were captured, but there were about 200 natives with them at the time. Symptoms of the disease have begun to show, and the worst is feared (or both r&ces. Many are thinking of clearing oat" The Tne writer adds that trade at present is dull and many carpenters are going about seeking employment.