The Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1872. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 214, 7 March 1872, Page 5

The Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1872. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The Chinese leper who was taken to the lazar-house on. tilie banks of the Tuapeka River, one day last week, was found dead on the following morniug. His death has for the present shelved a question which, had he lived; would have been pressed upon the Tuapeka community for solution. How these poor outcasts of humanity should be treated by a Christian community is plain enough, but, like many other Christian duties, it is not very easily performed. The unfortunate Chinaman who lived for several months a lingering life of wretchedness in the laznrhouse, and who was literally starved to death, was a melancholy example of the faultiness of our social condition. " Touch m& not " Tvas tlie sentiment suggested as one looked at the poor creature, who lay on that unchanged bed for weeks and weeks together, with his body rotting away by inches. With tl>e thought of infection so strongly imbued in the mind, no living soul .could be found to administer to his wants. The Government could not be blamed, as they built a place for him to live in, and gave a small allowance for attendance upon him ; but blame undoubtedly rested with those who selected the site for the building, and had the dispensing of the Government's. allowance. The poor helpless creature, unable to obe} r the calls of nature was left to flic, while the firewood that was intended to keep out the cold was left uncut, and abundance of good wholesome food remained uncooked, and was left to putrify before his eyes.

With a large and increasing influx of Chinese, similar cases are bound to occur oftener than they have hitherto done, and it would be well if some better and more humane means were now decided upon for their treatment. If the poor creatures are beyond medical skill, they are still human beings, and as such, on the ground of our common humanity, claim better treatment from us than starvation.

We are informed by Dr. Halley, who has made himself acquainted with the leprosy common to Chinamen, so far as can be ascertained from writers on the subject, combined with his own experience, that the disease is not contageous amongst Europeans. This being the case, we imagine it would not be a very difficult matter to get some person to attend to any future case which might occur. The first thing we would suggest, would be the removal of the lazar-house from its present outlandish -site, to a place within the reach of human beings. Let it be placed on the flat amongst the old workings, where it will be

more easy of access, and where any benevolently disposed per&on, whose Christian feelings can overcome the fancied dread of infection, may without labour /isit the poor outcasts, and perhaps, by administering to their necessities, alleviate in some measure their wretched lives.

The public meeting advertised last week for the purpose of selecting a suitable site for a school at Evans Flat wa& held on Monday evening. It was unanimously agreed that the site should be selected near Mr. Smith's store, on tie main road. Mr. Drapper occupied' the chair. The Clerk to the Committee was requested to make application to the Warden for the 'site, agreed upon. At the next meeting of Committee a treasurer will bo appointed, after which a subscription list will be sent round the district. We have no doubt the public, with their usual liberality, will' contribute well towards this good object.