MELBOURNE GOSSIP.
(FROM OUK OWN OOKKKSI'ONDKNT.)
At tho inquest on the bodies of Captain Parsons and Claude Williams, tlic two men who lost their lives at the lire at the Bijou Theatre, the city coroner very properly drew attention to the want of organisation amongst tho .Volunteer Fire llrigades in the metropolis. It was elicited from the evidence that, at fires, much damage was often done to property by the dischaige of large quantities of water upon places where no fire existed, nor were likely to take fire. The rivalry which exists between the brigades, likewise. frequently led the firemen to risk their lives when there was no occasion for so doing Tho fate of poor Parsons is a case in poinc. The bravciy he displayed is beyond all praise ; but, unhappily, it was misdirected, because it was useless. His superintendent had ordered liim from the dangerous post five minutes before tho wall fell and crushed the life out of him. During those five minutes he continued doing great work ; but brave as was the action, even his great courage cannot conceal the fact that his open disobedience of tho orders he had received was not only fatal to himself, but also subversive of discipline in the brigade of which he was the captain. It was tho same with Williams. He was not even a fireman. His efforts to assist were worthy of praise ; but he had been warned that the roof he attempted to cross was unsafe. He persisted, and— perished. Now it must bo patent to any one that some person must be entrusted with the supreme command when a body of men are engaged in a perilous contest with such an enemy as that which had to be faced on Easter Monday. He must not only plan the attack, but he must also think for those who have to act ; while they are at work lie must have his cyia upon every point, and whilst his object is to extinguish the flames, his first consideration must bo the safety of the men who have presumably voluntarily placed themselves under his charge. Under no circumstances whatever is he justified in risking, or in sanctioning the risk of, the life of a single man—except for the purpose of rescuing lives from destruction in tho fire. Then, indeed, all risks are justifiable, and there are plenty of men in the volunteer brigades who would bravely face them. Hut happily there was no such necessity on Easter Monday, and it is to be regretted that two men lost their lives through tho display of a species of heroism .vhieli has a close affinity to
foolhardiness. Under proper discipline such a painful event would not have happened. The overcrowding of our two great lunatic asylums is being constantly brought under public notice, and yet the Government makes no effort to improve the condition of the unfortunates whom it insists shall be placed under its charge. The internal arrangements at Kew, and at Yarra Bend, are about as defective as can be well imagined ; but whilst no steps are taken to improve them, private enterprise is shut out of the field. All patients aro treated alike, whether their friends are willing to improve their condition or not—that is to say, the buildings are so overcrowded that paying patients aro herded with paupers, and even with criminals. Why, therefore, should tho Government- continue to arrogt.'.u to itself tho exclusive right of taking charge of these unfortunates, if unable to discharge the obligations imposed upon it by the receipt of money for their safe custody, maintenance, and proper treatment. Last year nnney payments were made by the frieiu's and relatives of n certain class of patients amounting to more than £15,000, and yet the treatment they received was just the same as that which is extended to paupers—no better and 110 worse. It is only just and equitable that people in well-to-do circumstances should support their relatives when bereft of reason. But it is not only hard but positively unjust as well—if the act does not deserve a harsher name—to insist upon tho payment of money, and then to compel tlio unfortunate people, on whose behalf tho money had been paid, to herd with the dregs of a pauper lunatic asylum. Nevertheless, such is the case.
" Another bank clerk has gone wrong," is becoming quite a stereotyped phrase., It is flippantly said, but one little knows the amount of sliatne and misery it means to many families. One of the latest cases is that of a clerk in the Prahran branch of the Bank of Victoria. On Good Friday he joined :■ party of friends in a yachting excursion to Scbnapper Point. Late in tho afternoon he left tliem there on the plea that he had been recalled by a telegram stating that bis father had been taken ill. The holidays lasted until Wednesday morning, but when tho bank opened for business the clerk in question was not iu bis place. The cash in his charge was taken out of the safe in which ho had placed it before leaving on the Thursday evening previous, and was counted. The amount found was less by £2,203 than it ought to have been—the money missing being principally in notes. It is worthy of remark that, during the Christmas holidays last year, Allpress took advantage of the temporary closing of the Collingwood branch of the Commercial Bank and disappeared with £7,000 of its money in the same manner.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2629, 18 May 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)
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919MELBOURNE GOSSIP. Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2629, 18 May 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)
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