The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1881

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 746, 19 April 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1881

We aee very doubtful as to the merii of. the Hospital and Charitable Ai Bill which the Government propose t re-introduce next session. It appear to us like a Bill to abolish the Govern meufc nuisances, by the simple process c creating a rate. If wise and pnulen provision for Hospitals and charitabl aid were contemplated, they wouL never be linked together in one mea sure like Siamese twins, but would b discussed and arranged separately Hospitals cannot be treated on tin same basis as charitable aid, the twi things are essentially separate and dis tinct. It is true they have been com bined in some institutions like Mr Wellington Hospital, but the rcsul has been marked inefficiency. 'Mii:j the question of maintaining Hospitals we hold that the existing voluntary system which obtains in many countrj districts, including the Wairarapa, ii far preferable to a rate. Employee! on stations and working men—the class in fact, which contributes the large proportion of the patients-help in t great measure to support these institutions. Why should the burden whicli they voluntarily bear be placed upon the shoulders of others by means of a rate? Why should the saddle be shifted from the right horse to the wrong onel In Wellington the system of voluntary contributions is not practised but it would be better for the inhabitants of the Empire City if they were to adopt it, and we venture to affirm that had the Wellington Hospital been managed by a committee elected from a body of subscribers, the tale of mismanagement and gross extravagance which was revealed some time

ago, would not have had to be told, Voluntary subscriptions, aided by subsidy ought to be sufficient to maintain both town and country hospitals. We do not believe in creating new rates and new departments. Counties could well distribute on behalf of the Government necessary subsidies and protect the expenditure of all public money, All that the Government need do would be perhaps to selectnot import—an inspecting officer, who could make an annual report to Parliament. As far as charitable aid is concerned, experience of the past indicates that organised relief does more harm than good. Tn many instances it keeps men from earning their own livings. Both in town and country able-bodied men have been the recipients of relief, and have been discouraged thereby from industry and self-reliance. With very rare exceptions, there is work for all in New Zealand. Necessity forces the indigent to seek it, but charitable aid keeps them paupers. As yet private benevolence is equal to all the claims made by thoso who are really destitute and distressed. The organisation of charitable aid committees will certainly be followed by an increase of pauperism. We do not say that there should be no responsibility on the part of the Government to relieve extreme cases, h\J we do say that if the Gommmk to do good|s||his directio||||lft6h will be by a of evil, it-"must be extremels?:cautious in attempting to legislate on any comprehensive scale, [ts policy should rather be to remove institution than to provide for it. Any iction taken should be tentative and

- experimental rather than permanent. The colony has not arrived at that stage when a poor law has become a necessity, There may be lame dogs which' require to be helped over styles, and we would gladly see the Government act as a good Samaritan to them. There are, however, many idle dogs ' which are willing to be succoured and fed, and we should be very sorry to see the Government undertaking such a i task as this.

Rousakoff, the assassin of the late Czar, and Ins accomplices were hanged on Saturday last.

file nominations for the vacant seats in the Town Lands Trusts will close at the Town Eall at 12 noon to-day. Tho death is announced of Prince Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte, third son of Lucien Bonaparte, and nephew of Napoleon I. He was 65 years of age, Tho police have received information of the destruction of a threshing machine by lire at Gladstono, near Carterton, under very suspicions circumstances.

_ A successful soiree was held last evening in the Town Hall, Greytown, in connection with the local football club Dancing ( \vas kept up till an early hour this morning. The music was provided »y Messrs McKenzio and Mills, and refreshments by the ladies who kindly interested themselves in getting up the soiree.

It IS stated that the release of quite a number of Maori prisoners (political ploughmen), at present confined at Lyltelton, has been determined upon by the Government, and that the steamer Hmeinoa will leave for tho South some time this week to convey them to their several districts,

The Easter Holidays, in this district having been devoted to shooting, rabbits have suffered in the upper valley, and hares hava died in the lower one. Here and there some good pigeon shooting has been obtained. Two sportsmen from Wellington bagged 51 pigeons in one day, at tho Uppor Taueru. On Sunday last St Matthew's church, at Masterton, was specially decorated with flowers and evergreens. There were large congregations both morning and evening, The Rev Mr Pais>e was suffering from'a sore throat, and it was as much as he could do to deliver his sermons. In the other portions of his services ho had the assistance of Mr Seaton a lay reader from Tenui.

The _ Masterton Amateur Dramatic Club give thoiv opening performance in the Town Hall, this evening, when H.-J. Bryons three act comedy "One Hundred Thousand Pounds" will be produced. Every preparation has been made by the Club to secure the success of the piece and of tho farce which follows it, and we trust to see a generous Bupport given by the public to the efforts which have been made to interest and amuse them.

On Saturday evening at about half-past ten, as Mr David Dalgetty, an old settler, was riding homo from Carterton, he fell or was thrown from his horse. After being brought back to Ray's Hotel, Taratahi, he was found to be insensible, and Dr. Watts attended, but gave no hopes of recovery. Yesterday morning at about 11 o'clock Dalgetty died, not having recovered consciousness An inquest was fixed to be held to-day.

The Wesleyan tea-meeting held at Groytown yesterday was a complete success. Over a hundred sat down to a very nice tea, provided by the ladies of the congregation, after which a public meeting was held in the chapel when there were a large number present. The chair was taken by the Mayor, Mr H. Udy senior, and addresses were given by the Rev W, G. Thomas on the affairs of the circuit; the Rev J. Dukes, on Christian fellowship; Mr Rush on Christian liberty; and Mr Baumber on Christian power. Mr Gundy, sen., also said a few words to those present, which were well received. The Choir assisted materially to make the affair pass off enjoyably, and a very pleasant evening was spent by all. Tho total proceeds amounted to £9 lis 9d, which will be applied to the Groytown Circuit Fund, Votes of thankß were given to tho ladies, the Choir, tho speakers, and the Chairman, after which tho meeting dispersed,

f The New Zealand Times says :-As a s by no means unexpected result of the s very trenchant report of the Royal Oom- ., mission enquiry into tho late management > of the Lunatic Asylum here, we find that t the late Superintendent, Whitelaw, was arrested on Saturday afternoon last, on an information sworn by Chief Detective 1 Brown, instructed by the Government, i under the Lunatic Act. It is in that i measure provided that if any one in charge > of a lunatic shall ill-use or maltreat any , so afflicted, he or she shall be liable to special penalties, and the information on . which Mr Whitelaw has been arrested is in regard to his alleged cruelty to a patient 1 named William Mcintosh, by stripping him, making him traverse a portion of the i yard on a winter's night, and ultimately keeping him in a cold shower bath for ten minutes, The offence is said to have been committee] in May, 1878. Though no other informations have yet been laid, we understand that others will be proceeded with under tho same Act, though no particulars are yet made known. The warrant in question was signed by Colonel Reader, but bail was allowed, the accused in £3OO and two sureties £l5O each, After a short delay the required bondsmen were found, viz,, Messrs J, E, Hayes, plumber, &c, of Lambton-quay, and W. Light, of the Queen's Hotel, Mr Whitelaw will probably be formally brought up to-day and remanded, and the case, when finally disposed of will not be dealt with by Mr Shaw, R.M., as he has already, in common with the other Commissioners, expressed a strong opinion on the subject. It is needless to say that there is considerable interest felt on the subject and that a great deal of feeling has been evoked both by the enquiry and its result. We hear from reliable authority that it ! is the intention of Messrs Schroder, i Hooper & Co. to make their first grand ' display of Autumn and Winter Millinery, ] Drapery, and Clothing at the Hall of I Commerce, on Saturday, March 19th, 1 consisting of 71 packages and bales. As ( the bulk of their magnificient stock has f been imported direct from the manufac- t turers, the public can rely upon obtaining t all the latest fashions and designs of the c season at extremely low prices. We r would advise all purchasers and lovers of \ fashion to make an early call at the Hall r of Commerco and inspect their stock, i Their advertisement will be found on the ( front page of this paper.-fADvrl. $