THE IMMIGRANTS AT CAMBRIDGE. (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 534, 17 February 1876, Page 3

THE IMMIGRANTS AT CAMBRIDGE. (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Whex at Cambridge yesterday, a member of our staff made searching enquiries »uto the condition of the Government immigrauts a t that place with a view to elicit anything there migbt be to say on the other side of the question, or corroborate what had been already stated, and has furniahod us with the tallowing facts 'which we puoiiSh without comment and as wiitteu : The first case of fever wag that of Mis Hutehings, who on bein^ taken ill was removed from her own residence into one of the cottages by order of the Government Ageitf, since which time the sick uesa

has prevailed to a greater or less extent. The death of Geo Barton took place iv f the early part of September. ■He was u blicksirith o.iiplcjod by Mr Richardson. He died of dysentry, and was neglected ' by the inmates of the cotlages, ao much so that he was allowed to go outside in a halt delirious stAt) am! fUI down ai.d remained s^me hours on the ground before he was missed, immediately on this beingknown in Cambridge a subscription list was opened, nurses appointed and a dootor telegraphed for, but tue exposure to the night air had been too much for him. Another case was that of a child named ( Jones- A geutleman in dmbringe sent for a doctor to attend him and became responsible for the expense. A collect lon was made in the Church, and considerable kiuduess shown. The child recovered arid the parents h-tve since returned the amount paid far the Doctor. Air Henson au old settler has been very kind visiting tho sick ani supplying medicine vrtieu reg aired. Some of the immigrants tare been offered work and refused. Mr Geo Watts went to the cottao-es one morning to get a days work, He offered a man' 7s for the day and his food, aud to give him a ride out to the work about 3 miles. The man refused to go unless he was brought back and allowed beer. Mr G J Neal offered oue of them 5s to help load a barge in a hurry, not two hours' work, bat the m<iu refused, and Mr Neal did the work himself in a little over au hour. A gre.it number of the immigrants who have arrived the last 12 mouths are doing- well aud are perfectly contented, several of them having purchased allotments, intending by the help of certain people to buiM cottiges. The storekeepers have assisted «the immigrants by letting them have tools and provisions to a large amount. One storekeeper saya ho has lost a large amount in bai debts. Tlae great want has been the establishment of a Hospital where the fe^er ta^es could have beeu isolated and properly treated. Siucyjthe enquiry the irfimigrants hare modeifcmsLierable improvement ia their hojses, winch is looking much cleaner and more wholesome. A subscription l.st has been opened by Mr AlcVeagh and a few pounds have b*m already given to relieve their more pressing necessities. The man Denton is much better, beiug able to get about.