CURRENT NEWS.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 194, 21 April 1893, Page 2

CURRENT NEWS.

During the month of March the arrivals in this colony numbered 2,795, and departures 2,413. Of arrivals, 5 were from the United Kingdom, 2 from Queensland. 1,672 from New South Wales, 898 from Victoria, and 110 from Tasmania, Of departures, 177 were for the United Kingdom, 1,263 for Now South Wales, 824 for Victoria, and 29 for Tasmania. Captain John Bushel], formerly of the Auckland schooner Three Cheers, barques Devonport and Northern Siar, aud other Auckland vessels, as taken over a fruiterer’s business in Queenstreet, having left the sea, Mr R. Thompson M.H.R, has returned by the s.s. Mararoa from a visit to Australia. He says there is great distress iu Melbourne, and that Sydney swarms with unemployed. Alfred Pullen, a Sydney boy 16 years of age, has been sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude for throwing stones at a Chinaman and causing him fatal injury. The Duke of Wes'minster has sold his residence known as Clevedon, near Maidenhead, to William Astor, the American millionaire. Regarding Alexander Scott, who is lying under sentence of death in Mount Eden Gaol, a Sydney paper says : “ Alexander James Scot r , sentenced to death at Auckland for the Waikomiti murder, is the son of a highly-respected West Victorian timber-merchant. He was always a quiet unassuming young fellow, aud had splendid prospects had he remained in Victoria. The news of his son’s conviction has nearly kill d his aged father.” A writ lias been served on Mr W. L. Rees, M. 11,R., at the instance of the Native Minister, claiming £I,OOO as damages for alleged libel contained in memoranda forwarded to Ihe Premier by Mr Rees. THE AUCKLAND HOSPITAL SUICIDE. Tabrum seems to be the correct name of the fish-hawker who was reported in our latest telegrams last week to have first cut his throat anl then, after being taken to the Hospital, to have com nitted suicide by throwing hims ;lf from a window, An inquest on the body- was In Id on Friday, at tho Hospital, Dr Sommevville considered the mau quite sane ; he had him placed in an upper storey ward because there was no other place for him. He objected to the police sending such cases to the Hospital. The window through which deceased must have crawled was only open about 15 inches aud was fully 40 feet from the ground. On examining the body it was found that the neck was broken, as also were all the ribs on the left side and two on the right ; the left collar bone was broken and the lungs m uoh torn, After about ten minutes’ deliberation, the jury announced as their verdietthat deceased had com mitted suicide whilst suffering from tempo; ary insanity : that they attached no blame to anyone, hut recommended that iron bars be placed across ahe lavatory windows Dr. Philson : Then you altogether exonerate Dr. Sommerville from all blame.

A Juryman • Dr. Sommerville did his best. He could not do more. We think there is a serious lack of accommodation at the Hospital, when such cases have to be put into a general ward. Dr. Philson : Then you agree that the Hospital is the proper place for such cases to be bro ught to. The Foreman : We have considered that point and we consider it is not. Dr. Philson : By placing the iron bars across the windows A Juryman : Only the lavatory window, the ward windows are in full view of the patients and nurses. Dr. Philson : But iron bars are suggestive of a prision. A Juryman ; Well, it is a prison when lunatics are taken there. The jury were then discharged, and proceedings ended. Lady Glasgow has started a branch of the New Zealand Mothers’ Union in Auckland. The staff of Inspectors under the Board of Education have asked that a fifth Inspector bo appointed in view of the proposal to inspect the native schools and the continual increase in the number of European schools. There were 299 schools iu the district and 46 native schools. The question was deferred. Air Udyhas been appointed Chairman of the Auckland Board of Education. Intelligence is to hand that the barque Corinth, hound from Launceston to London, has been burnt at sea and that all hands were saved. The crew of the Corinth were rescued by the steamer Fifeshire,