The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4552, 7 August 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1883.

Chabitabld aid matters in our district appear to beon a most unsatisfactory footing, and as those who seek such aid are alone likely to suffer, and are entirely powerless to remedy any eril attendant upon its dispensation, it behoves us Jo point out the fact that some step should" be taken in the direction* of reform.. Not only at the Thames is this so, but in Auckland, we read of grounds, existing for dissatisfaction.in ' the administration of affairs. : f in Christchurch the words " Hospital trbubles " are i almost kept as standing matter by the local Press, and generally throughout the colony the Government control of Hospitals is far from satisfactory; It has been pointed | oat by us in previous issues that the amount .of- , local "support .in the^ way of gubs6r|ptf6ns given to the Thames institution is not at all creditable to the place. However, it is to be said in extenuation of suob^apparent laxity that although the contributions of residents, do not appear as being given, directly, in ; support of the local charity or charities, it is " donated " indirectly, and for this reason: local bodits had at one time certain subsidies on their general rates. I oat of wjiioh they bad to pay one half the

coat of charitable aid; these subsidies were at first reduced, and then entirely discontinued, when the bodies told the Government that the latter must take over the entire support of charitable institutions, and this hag been done generally throughout the colony, with, as we have stated, most unsatisfactory results. The subsidies to the local bodies have been entirely abolished, and the ratepayers by having their income thus diminished are called upon to pay more rates, instead of continuing the old system and subscribing as of old to the local charities. In connection with our Hospital there are many reforms needed, the most urgent of which is the existing system of professional attendance. Owing to misunder* standings or disagreements and other matters, affairs do not work as smoothly among the doctors as they should do, and the main portion of the machinery being somewhat deranged, is morally certain to interfere with the remainder of it. ,The recent election of Hospital surgeon showed very plainly the necessity existing for a change in the present method adopted of selecting that important officer. Where intriguing and all sorts, of tricks are resorted to in order to secure such a position— and many of them prove successful—it is time that steps were taken to alter the condition of affairs. From the experience of similar institutions in other places, it would appear that the system of appoint* ing a resident surgeon, without allowing private practice, has worked well, and the various offices in this district which could with their salaries be amalgamated with that of Hospital surgeon, would enable the controllers of charitable aid to pay a salary sufficient to secure the services of a capable man for the position, and so do away with the objectionable system now in vogue. The emolument attached to the office of Hospital Surgeon is at present £200 per annum, the sum paid yearly to the fever hospital doctor is £50, and the amount paid for attendance on the sick poor of the district, on natives, paid by the Government, and pa prisoners, when such is necessary, would, if supplemented by another £100 per annum, be adequate to pay a well qualified practitioner to perform all these duties, at the same time being resident surgeon at the Hospital, and we feel certain that many good men would—without j requiring private practice—if allowed to attend consultations, undertake the duties for such remuneration. Were such a course pursued there would be an end to the annual wranglings and manoeuvres which we are treated to. We are assured that a number of members of the Committee of Management are in favor of such a move* ment as we indicate being made, and we hope that some such step will shortly be taken. We shall further refer to the sub* ject in the future.

The Bank -of New Zealand shipped for Auckland to-day per Rotomahana 6 boxes containing 61690zs gold, the produce of the Thames goldfield.,,

THI rolls requisite for the special rate in connection with the money to be expended in the County under the Boads and Bridges: Construction Act were reoeired bj^fche Council yepterday. "*".

A PEOtniAE accident happened" at,about half-past three o'olook this morning. ! A lodger in Walker's Hotel, corner of Abraham and Owen street, named Wna. Ivens, went to bed before the landlord retired, "and about half-past three o'clock in the morning a sound of glass breaking and cries for help were heard. Upon prootadmg to.'the street, Mr Walker found bis lodger lying ontae footpath in Abraham street, apparently disabled, and moaning. Upon attempting to lift him up the^ ma a complained, of severe pains in his back. The window- from which he fell is about 14 or 16 $gi«bove the footpath, so that his fall was a h«%vr one.. Ivens was taken to the Hospital about riioe o'clook, when it was found that he wet,,injured about the lower portion of the spine, and had also sustained several severe .bruises. He cannot explain how he got oat,of f tbe window, but thinks he must have been walking in his sleep. He only came down from the bush yesterday..

A houbb being, built at Eomata by Mr R. A. Wight has been totally destroyed by fire. From what we can learn, on Saturday night Mr Wight Junr. had a dispute with anative who had been at work in connection with the house, as,tothe value of some work done by the latter, and it was resolved that both 1 should go and see it. They proceeded to the , spot with a kerosene lamp, and after inspectring the work in question they returned to : where Mr Wight was staying for the night, leaving the lamp alight jn the buijding destroyed. Mr Wight after settling with the native re* quetted him to extinguish the lamp is h* went past on his way home,' and about .twenty minutes after the man left, the building was discovered in flames. The property was ,not

uninsured. , V i ■ . The Harbor Board intend, with the aid <d the dredge, to nave formed two Dertti. on the. southern-side" of v the Goods '#Rarf.' It has also been decided" by. them 1 to alter the silt punts, so as to facilitate the discharge of their

contents. ;.' '.'; ' r ■ '• • j;' ; The New Erinoe Impetial Oo.'s recently purchased engine isexpectecl to arrive about the end of the week. -.

AtrcKiAND is suffering from a series of armies It is becoming,quite a warlike community. What with' '''Salvationists!," "Blue Bib'bon men," etc., the city seems almost in a state of seige. The latest addition is an array of " Rollicking Bams," who have been removing gates and going in for other little frolics about Fonsonby.

Thbeb was no business done in the Police Court this morning. Ihe Cbralie, cutter, from Mercury Bay to Auckland-with 24,000 of timber, disappeared during /Sunday night, while the crew were ashore, and-cannot be found.

It is- understood that an application for a new trial has been made by the counsel for the defence in the* owe of Hunt v. Sir A. Gordon. The application will shortly be argued in the Wellington Supreme Court.

Thb Wellington Harbor Board has got a Priestman's drldge by the Catalonia, end expeot to start operations with it in the course of several week*. It cost about £1000.

KEthe claims of the County in the matter of Ohinemuri gold revenue, the Oountj Chairman to-day received the following telegram from Mr Oadman, M.HB.:-"Com-mittee reports against the Ohinemuri petition, but have recommended that the Council be allowed to test their case in Court. This- is deemed satisfactory as the County is prepared to substantiate Us claims.

, Wb would draw the attention of our readers to the advertisement in another column relative to the benefit by the Queen's Variety Troupe to-morrow night on behalf of J. McNamara. ■ • ."'

: An exchange says that nobody but a Chinaman could live on the alleged goldfields of Canterbury. .

At the meeting of the Auckland Timber Company held yesterday, the report presented showed a net profit for the year of £13,560. The dividend declared was 5 per cent., and a sum carried forward of £18,695 to new account. : ■

At the half-yearly meeting of the Mercury Bay Timber Company the net profit shown for the half-year wa» £3850. A dividend was postponed to the end of the current half-year.' The person who was alleged to have stolen the horae from Mollison's stables, Dunedin, on Saturday, turns out to have thought he had a claim to il. He had become bankrupt, and the horse was sold as a part of his estate, but he declares that it was his.ton's property, and he adopted that method of recovering it. The matter will be fought out civilly. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Raoing Club, the accounts showed a balance of £945. The disqualification of Joseph Byers and Golden Crown was removed. The committee elected were: Messrs McLaughlin, Kirkwood, S. Morrin, Rilley, Marks, and; Major George, t ; Thb diamond excitement continues in Christohurch, though it was rumored yesterday that an-unfavorable cable'has been received from Mr Kelsey. It is denied that any message has been received, but one is due, as Mr Kelsey promised to cable on Friday last. Seventy applications are entered for prospecting licenses for the Land Board Bitting ,on Thursday next. ! -^ -

Thb Dunedin gaol inquiry continued yes* terday, and the cross - examination of Mr Logan, Visiting Justice, by Captain Hume' occupied almost whole time.' jßlis cross-examination will go on to-morrow, so that the inquiry is opening out. Amongst Mr Logan's answers to Captain.Hume were some in reference to the,telegram he and Mr Brown sent, complaining that Capt. Hume was causing 6 great deal of insubordination in the gaol. He said he remembered that at that time he had to. dp a good deal of lecturing to the prisoners, which made a good deal of trouble. He knew the telegram was well-, founded when sent, and he had no doubt he had some evidence at the time. Possibly Mr Caldwell might have reported some' things^to him* . .

Fbeaohins at St. Mark's, Wellington, the; Bey. B. Coffey said he had been requested to ask his congregation to sign s petition in opposition to the Catholic claim in regard to education He could not do so, for the Catholic claims were for the glory %t &od— Religion v. so-called Secularism, —and were in principle the same as those made by the representatives of the Church of the Church of England and the various denominations. So far. these claims had been successfully opposed by the supporters of Godleas education, partly on pleas that they were afraid of the Roman Catholics. It could not be said of him that he had any leaning toward Romish doctrines, but he would'rafcher: have a good Catholic to deal with than an"Agb6»'tic, Materialist, or Atheist,, which were, denbmiifotions now monoppljting the school*^

FirTT-ElffHl afrpli^atfodf for diamond prospecting licenses at Alford Forest, Canterbury covering an area of ,15,000 acre*, have been lodged at the Waste Land Office. Bix. joint slock "copapanies are already formed, and others are ra process of formation. Great excitement prevaiU. . , , ;