THE PHASES OF HUMAN LD7E.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 29, 29 August 1868, Page 3

THE PHASES OF HUMAN LD7E.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.) Srp, — I am encouraged to dedicate this and the remaining letters to you from the fact that a member of our firm, Mr. Sam Jones, . has highly recommended, your paper to me. I see he sometimes favors you with a letter — and a very sensible letter Sam writes — but we don't agree oh' all points, however. As I am the head of that illustrious and old-established house, I shall expect to be treated with that consideration which my dignified position demands; and gentlemen now-a-cU>ys whp have, any sort of claim, or even a small surface of ground, maintain their position, much more a person of my distinction — the head of the largest and most distinguished firm -in the world. Well, sir, I hope I have r now made it quite clear to your perception the important personage who claims to be your correspondent. Lest you. should say that I am not the person t represent myself to be, by taking up my »bod« in inch an

out-of-the-way place as Evans' Flat, and perhaps call me a flat for squatting down here, I will tejl you all about it. ' As a citizen of the world, I take an interest in all that concerns our little globe, its climate, ita laws, and its inhabitants. The latter vary, as "the first, according to position and circumstances. B\it it is man, as the first animal in existence, whom I wish at present to bring under your- notice. Som<J time .ago, r had the good fortune to get into the Provincial Council Hall of Otago, and I heard the deliberations of that sapient body, the Provincial Council. I felt very much interested, and not a little amused, by the manner of some of the lion'orable members. Of course there are always exceptions to every rule, and to every elected body, either in the Imperial Parliament or in the less dignified assembly of M.P.C.'s I was glad, however, to hear tolerably good English spoken by not a f«.w of the members. In one or two there were evident sign 3 that they were from " ayont the Tweed." There wao one bare-faced member (I think he must have been one of tho city members) who had a good deal of bunkum in his delivery ; and when he spoke (which was generally npon every occasion) he took a commanding position, and addressed the House > looking towards the strangers' gallery. Why J single out this mdi vidual member is, that I cannot help it. But it is .not so much the manner of the M.P.C.'s — which, upon the whole, is as good as we can expect — but the matter of their deliberations, out of which I selected one, to me of the greatest interest : it was this — " Roads to the interior ; " and your important district dropped in for a fair share of notice, Well, simpleton that I was, I did think there were roads into the iuterior ; and being anxious to see something of yourunrivalled goldfields, I started with the immortal Cobb on this adventurous cxpeditkm. We got on pretty well until we pasaed the Woolshed ; but we had not got very far on towards Round Hill before I felt, by the tussocks and ruts, that the idea of roads was a delusion and a snare. " Well," I said to myself, "if this is a road, it ' cobbs' all." Even little Tommy, excellent whip as he is, had hard work to keep his seat. H^d. there not been som.fi heavy weights in the coacli we should have been upset. N<fw, sir, the fine roads into the interior induced me to pay this country a visit. Having been introduced into your " yankee-grab " society of Lawrence, and felt how the wind blew, I desired a more quiet place of abode, and am happy to say I have found it where I intend, please God, to remain for some time — either here or in the immediate neighborhood. Evans' Flat is a fine little plain on the banks of the Tuapeka, sheltered on all sides by hills ; has b^en a considerable goldfield in the palmy days ; has a good lignite mine, which is now worked by a few Welshmen and others, who are satisfied with their claims until they .find better. There are a few very,neat farms and good paddocks, having live fences, and a nice, quiot, sober community— just such a place as a voyager on life's stormy main would like to take up his abode in. Of course, the first thing a man will do when he arrives in a strange locality is to look around him to see " who are his neighbors ; " and it is of importance to kuow that you are among civilised beings, governed by British law, and differing very little to the inhabitants of an English village. Mr. David Evans, from whom the fiat takes its name, keeps Hie hotel of the village, and has good accommodation for those who need it. Mr. Hopkins is a farmer and storekeeper ; has a good stock, and a well selected library. lam privileged to look in and have a read when I think proper. I qonsider it a groat advantage to have such a library in this country place, isolated as jts inhabitants are from tha mora privileged classes of mankind. There are several young men here who, I am glad to hear, are both readers and thinkers, for it h not always that the two go hand, in hand. Butl must proceed in my description of the place. Mr. Brooks is a farmer, and has one of the be3t laid oat gardens which I have seen in the colony. A little further on, and we reach the residence of Mr. Treweek, formerly one of our runholders by whom, I understand, one local want was supplied, in the shape of the best of mutton. To return to the vale of the Tuapeka. I find the miners have settled down, and many of them have neat cottages and gardens. A little further up, and we come to Mr. Bailey's store ; and on' the same line is Mr. M'Millanj a squatter of some importance, who., through industry and perseverance, well supported by his better half, is what we call " well in." I see the saying will hold good here, as at home, that, if a man is'tq become rich, he must ", ask his wife ; " and if the husband and wife pull in the right direction, I see no difficulty in their bettering their position. Crossing the Munros stream, we arrive at a neat little store kept by Mr-. Drapper, who has a good stock of vendable articles, such as are used in this locality. Returning to Evans' Flat, we pass a neat little Wesleyan chapel, where divine.service is conducted every Sabbath, either by the Rev. Mr. M'Nicol, the superintendent of the circuit, or seme one or other of the lay brethren, of whom I hear there are several who p/eachwith great acceptance. There is a Sunday- school here, conducted by a few pious * miners. Their bible class is. also well attended. It, is a pleasing feature, that the gospel in this place is self-supporting; and what a blessing thata_life in the desert is relieved by such privileges. How interesting it will be to the Christian philanthropist when the like advantage will be accorded to all peoples, nations, and tongues. Such a time, to our limited vision, seems far off ; but iir will come ; knowledge must increase : men will dig 4 for it as for hidden treasure. The flowers of the field will teach us ; the fowls of the ah? will instruct us ; it will come from the four winds, and fill the sails of life's barque ; every rill will "trickle with interest; it ■hall flow as a river, and be as expansive as an ocean. We shall get books in stones, and good in everything. The student searching after knowledge will look above and consider the heavens^ and be filled with wonder. He will impound the beams of the morning, and illumine Ms soul as with eternal day r -~I am &c, Sn»VANT7S ISRO"WN. Cockatoo Cottage'," EransFlat, Augu»t2s, 3 80S,

TUAPJBKA HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Hospital Committee took place on Tuesday evening last in the Commercial Hotel. Present — Messrs. Bastings (President), Farrer, M'Nickle, Smith, Lyng, Meyer, Haj r , Henderson, M'Cluskey, Brown, Potta, Russell, and Drs. Halley and Stewart. The President said, tho first businoss to be considered w.as in reference to a letter received from the Secretary for Land and ' Works, concerning the proposed additional ward at the Hospital, j which he would read :—: — i " Land and Works Office, "Dunodin, 17th August, 1868. "Sib, — I have the honor to acknowledge tho receipt of your leltor of the date quoted in the margin [3rd August, IS6S], on the subject of tho additional ward at the Tuapeka Hospital, for which the sum of three hundred pounds has been voted, and, iv reply, to request that the Committee will be good enough to submit; a plan aud estimate of the proposed work for the approval of the Government, with a view to invitiag tonders for the erection of the same. "I haye the honor to he, Sir, &c, "GrEORQE DONCAN, " Secretary for Land and Works. " "H. C. Richards, -Esq>, "Sec. Tnapeka Hospital Committee." It was moved by Mr. Hay, and seconded by Mr. Henderson, v That the letter be received." — Carried. A conversation ensued as to whether it would be advisable to appoint some person in the district to prepare a plan and specification for the work. After the matter had been thoroughly discussed, Mr. Hay moved, and Mr. Henderson seconded, " That tho Visiting Committee obtain plan and specification for the work required, and forward them to Government." Mr. Brown thought that, if the matter were left entirely in tho hand 3of Government, -it would involve considerable delay. Mr. Farrer could not see why there should be so great a delay as Mr. Brown suggested. It was simply necessary to prepare a sketch of the ground and present building, with- the proposed addition. He would move, as an amendment, " That a plan of the ground and building thereon, with required accommodation, be forwarded to Government." — Seconded, by Dr. Halley, and carried. On the motion of Mr. Meyer, seconded by Mr Henderson, it was agreed, " That j Dr. Halley, Messrs. Farrer and Hay be appointed a sub-cqmmittee for the purpose of carrying out the amendment." There being no other correspondence, Mr. Russell, in accordance with notice given at previous meeting, moved, " That a brick tank be built adjoining the Hospital, of the following dimensions, viz., lOf.XlOft. and 12ft. deep.,'^ He calculated that a tank of tho3e dimensions would contain about 7,200 gallons. He would purpose filling the tank from the front of the building ; and when once filled, while there was a probability of its not becoming exhausted, it would have the additional advantage of keeping the water pure. He thought it was a great desideratum, and worthy the attention of the Committee.Mr. Farrer was in favor of obtaining the supply from the water works. He would propose, as an amendment, '* That the Secretary be instructed to writ* to the Town Council, asking upon what terms they would lay down the mains to the Hospital." — This was not seconded. Mr. Hay did not concur ; he thought it would be a loss of thne, and would cost about £1000, Mr. Brown thought the Committee should apply to Government concerning the tank at the same time they submitted plan, &c. The matter having been further discussed, Mr. Meyer moved, and Mr. Farrer seconded, another amendment, to this effect : — " That a circular tank be made, and of the following dimensions; namely, 10ft. in diameter and 16ft deep."Dr. Halley thought they would come upon rock before reaching that depth. Dr. Stewart explained that a depth of 30ft. had be attained at the back of the Hospital without finding rock. Mr. Meyers' amendmend was ultimately agreed to. Dr. Stewart stated that there was another matter which he wished to bring before the Committee. He had been asked to give medical comforts to an out-door patient — Mrs. Austin — whose circumstances were such as would not admit of her providing her family with the necessaries they required. He was aware that it was unusual to assist any person who was nob'ati inmate of the Hospital. He had given Mrs. Austin medical comforts provisionally, till he had consiilted the Committee, He had also supplied her with wine from his own private store. Mr. Brown thought that caaes of that description, where assistance was deservingly required, should be left entirely to -the Doctor's discression. Mrr Potts suggested that subscription lists should be sent round for the benefit of Mrs. Austin. Mr. Farrer explained that a. list ' was already in circulation. It was then agreed to leave the case in the hands of- the Surgeon, who was to deal in the matter as he thought best. Dr. Stewart stated that a man named Henry Woolley, who had been an indoor .patient of the Hospital for three years, -had- expressed a wish to be trans-ferredi-to tho Ifenevolent Asylum. He (Dr,. Stewart) wo^d recommend tha Coni-

mittee to endeavor to obtain Woolley'a admission into the Institution, a3it would be far preferable to his remaining in tlu Hospital ; and as a considerable time had elapsed since tho last patient was sent, he thought thero would bo no difficulty in this case. Mr. Potts movsd, and Mr. Henderson . eecondod, "That tho Secretary be instructed to write to the Bonovolont Asylum, asking for the admission of Henry "Woolley, aa a patient being incurable" Mr. Hay waa elected a member of the I Visiting Committee in place of Mr. Ifenl dorson, who retired by rotation. ' Mr. Potts would ask the Visiting Committee if the man who had been engaged about the Hospital grounds waa still employed. Mr. Henderson stated that, as the man j could do little or no good on the grounds j at present, he had thought it advisable to discharge* him. Mr. Henderson also stated that he had heard several complaints respecting the delapidated state of the windows of the west ward. Tho patients had complained of draughts ; and he thought that repairs should at once be made. The President, before closing the meeting, stated that an entertainment would be given by the Dramatic Club at Waitahuna on Thursday, 3rd September, for the benefit of the Hospital. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the proceedings.