General News.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4716, 18 February 1884, Page 2

General News.

The Rajah of Sarawak states that on Chinamen the progress of that country. largely depends. A" The Chinaman," ho says, "is the basis of all the prosperity in Borneo, as well as in the StraitsSeMlements. Without the Chinaman we eaa do nothing. He brings capital, labor, and Revenue." The next sentence explains his importance as a contributor towards the revenue,:-r- " Srery Chinaman, on an average, is worth Idol, a month to the exchequer, chiefly owing to his consumption ot opium." The Ballarafc Courier reports as follows concerning the first private paying hospi* tal (Koh-i-noor House) yefc established in the colony:—"%Koh-i-aoor House has been open to patients now for over a year" . - and the result of the first twelve nunttur. ' of its existence is the proof of it* useful*." ness and of its being appreciated'by sufferers. Up to the end of last December • there had been thirty cases.adrtitted^W' the establishment. Each patient has a room to himself, and is attended by his own medical adviser, and, if he desires it, selects his own nurse. There is, in connection with the institution, a registry for ladies' and general siok nurses, aad fourteen nurses are registered thereat. As the latter are of accredited ability before they are registered, the public know where to go to get competent nurses."

On New Year's Eve au extraordinary disturbance was made at the Russell street gaol, in Melbourne, by upwards of forty of the prisoners, male and female. They started yelling at 11 o'clock, making the night hideous, and until 3 a.m. they kept up the screaming, interspersing it with the , most foul and disgusting'language; notwithstanding the remonstrances of the authorities. A body of police was sent over from Bussell street to assist in quelling the nocturnal vociferation, but they were of no avail. Their assistance wag not re* quired in any other respect as the prisoners were all-secured in the cells. At about 3 a.m. the noise ceased, the maddened mob doubtless becoming exhausted, and a few hours' sleep was given to the residents in the neighbourhood. Mr Coll, PM. visited the gaol, and dealt -severely with the principles to the number of 26 males and five femeels. He sentenced., the most outrageous of the prisoners to solitary, confinement and subsequent imprisonment, and those who desisted whea remonstrated wiiti got off leniently. It was the most disgraceful affair that ere* happened ia the gaol.