South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 14 April 1888, page 5


STATE OF THE HOSPITAL.

The report of the Head Nurse, as laid before the Hospital Board yesterday, is a very serious indictment against the management. If all the statements con-

tained in it are exactly true — and as they were not contradicted we see no present reason to doubt their accuracy — the confidence which is generally felt in the institution will be rudely shaken. The Head Nurse, who is a new impor-tation from Tasmania, finds the staff which she controls to be "very inade-quate." Last report gave the number of nurses at twenty-six, of whom two were night nurses. With the average daily number of patients in the Hospital at about 180 — just now there are 205 — this staff would not seem to have too much to do; that is always supposing that attendance on the sick is their only duty. But we find from the report that they are expected also to do their own wash-ing ; to clean and scrub the wards, stairs, lavatories, &c; to carry food, linen, refuse, buckets, &c , from and to the wards ; in fine, the Head Nurse complains that "the greater part of their time is taken up by these things, which are certainly not a nurse's work, and a very small share has been left for real nursing duties." Then but little regard is paid to their comfort — their rooms are badly furnished and their food "not at all comfortable." Of course the amount of weight to be attached to these serious charges depends on the experience and trustworthiness of the official who makes them, bat it is not likely that there can be so much smoke without any fire at all. Persons discharging the arduous duties of nurses should receive high consideration and every possible comfort. The physician and the surgeon can do little more than direct the course which should be adopted in a certain case, and a very great deal depends upon the nurse to whom the performance of the directions is entrusted. If Bhe is engaged in ordinary housemaid's work she can hardly bring to the discharge of her important duties that lightness of touch and thoroughness of attention which are so eminently needful. And, again, the smallness of the staff necessitates increased work for individual members of it — which, in moat cases of the kind, means that the relaxations from duty are curtailed or abolished. The nurse, then, instead of coming bask cheerful and refreshed after her holiday is worn out and unable to act as if her work — perhaps the highest and most womanly work there is — were a pleasure to her. As we understand the report, the Head Nurse proposes to substitute for the two nurses who at present are in charge at nights a trained nurse with pupils to assist her. Everybody knows how much good has been done by trained lady nurses, who enrol themselves, as it were, in a hospital sisterhood, and devote their lives to the service. If it be the object of the authorities to establish such a body, and if they can get the recruits, their plan is deserving of encouragement; but it is questionable whether the class of ladies in Adelaide having leisure to do what is necessary is large enough to supply the continual need. The public will look forward with much anxiety to the report of the Nursing Committe, which consists of Drs. Gardner, Sprod, and Way, and Messrs. Graves and Either, on the Head Nurse's remarks. Though not much in favour of Dr. Campbell's sugges-tion of an inspecting committee of ladies, yet there are times when matters which directly concern women — such as the accommodation of nurses and the furnishing of their rooms— might well be submitted to female consideration and advice. Whilst the revelations about the

nurses will astonish and grieve the public the remarks made by the Head Nurse on the condition of the ward furnishings are, if possible, still more damaging. "'The bedding, linen, &c, need almost complete replacing; palliances are- required both for the comfort and to raise the -beds to a better height." Visitors have to sit on the patients' bedB, which,' consequently it is impossible to keep: dean and tidy.' The linen cupboards are too small and ate falling to pieces, and, worse than all, noxious insects -infest the wards., If all these charges are true the; management has been ; very negligent of its duty. It may be questioned, whether the action of the Board in authorizing their publication before they have; been reported on is particularly wise,, for many people are apt to, take what, is not denied for, undeniable.. But now that the- worst is known we may hope that all the defects in the system will, be remedied with the least possible delay. These defects, , it will probably be found, have for the most part arisen from an undue anxiety on the part of the manage-ment to keep down expenses to the lowest possible point. There is no reason why economy should not be practised in connection with hospitals as well as with other institutions supported by the State, but a parsimony which leads to a state of things such as is detailed by Head Nurse Wilson cannot be too strongly condemned. . i Tblkgbaphic.— Durban notifies that the mail for Mauritius closes at 11 a.m. on Saturday, 14th, Battambang states that communication with Bangkok is restored. Bangkok notifies that the Saigon line is restored. Berne gives information that the St. Vincent-Barbadoes cable' is interrupted ; bnt there are frequent steamers and sailing vessel by which messages are forwarded without charge on tariff. Saigon notifies that the Saigon-Hongkong direct cable is interrupted. Singapore notifies that the Saigon-Binkok line is also interrupted. The Hbsstatt Ely.— The Premier (the Hon. T. Playford) has forwarded the following letter to the Premiers of the other colonies :— ?'I have the honour to inform yon that the .Royal Aericultural and. Horticultural Society of this colony has called the attention of the Government to the ravages committed by the 'Hessian fly' amongst the cereals in Europe and mentioning that the pest is reported to have appeared in New Zealand. We have obtained a report- (copy enclosed) upon the from Mr. Frazer S. Crawford, an Inspector under the Vine, Fruit, and Vegetable Protection Act, 1885, and I beg to say that we propose, taking action in accordance with the suggestion contained in the sixth paragraph of the report. I.shall be glad to be favoured with your views regarding the matter, and as to whether your Government will take ; similar action to that we purpose taking in reference to this important qnestion. If such . action is notjtakenby you our efforts may berendered futile.' The sixth paragraphref erred to

in Mr. Crawford's report is as follows :— ' The question therefore arises, ' Should not straw packing, &c, be prohibited from all infected ports f Such an interdiction, if carried out at once, would entail great harden p on the consignees of certain goods, obliging them to be repacked in bond ; but I respectfully suggest as worthy of consideration whether it would not be as well-to proclaim the Hessian fly under the Vine, Fruit, and Vegetable Protection Act of 1885, and in the regulations to be proclaimed to prohibit the importation of wheat, straw, &c, after certain dates according to the place of shipment, so as to allow all goods now being packed or that are afloat time to arrive, and be landed without regard to such regulation, but that after that date grass, hay, or other inocuous material must be used for packing, &c, instead of wheat straw, any breach of this regulation entailing the repacking of the goods in bond at the consignee's expense.' Intercolonial Mails.— A train carrying mails and passengers for Melbourne will leave Adelaide on Sunday night at 9 o'clock. 'Thb Yearbook or Austbaha.'— We have received from the Adelaide agents (MeaBrs. E. S. Wigg & Son) 'The Yearbook of Australia' for 1888. This ' textbook of the commercial, political, and social world of Australia' is replete with the latest information upon all kinds of subjects. It deals in nineteen sections with a mass of matter which must be examined to be properly appreciated. It is easy to believe that the reputation of the handbook as a collection of facts prepared in a haody and concise form should have spread far beyond the Australian Colonies. Not the least meritorious partis the prize essay by the Re?. H. T. Burgess, of thifi colony, on ' The Future Position of Australia amoDg the Nations.' Iu this essay, after reviewing Bome of the labours of the early discoverers, explorers, and settlers in Australia, and touching upon the existing permanent conditions, historically and geographically conBidered.iMr. Burgess gathers up the suggestions of history with a view to their application to Australia, and then suggestively iscusses the elements of national greatness. His conclusion is that 'this confederated dominion must be queen of the Southern Hemisphere, and only iu the front rank of nations can an appropriate place be assigned for Australia among the other nations.' The very satisfactory condition of Australia, financially considered, is the theme of a paper which fittingly follows. Amongst the other subjects to which sections are devoted are land, minerals, railways, postal, sporting, public works, administrative, ecclesiastical, educational, legal, medicine, military, commercial, Banks, and institutions. There is also given a short political biography of some ol the leading members of the Australian and Tasmanian Parliaments, Amongst the special features of the publication, which contains 892 pages, is a copious and wellarranged index of the multifarious information, to ensure the accuracy of which every available means seems to have been employed. The work as a whole refbeta credit not only upon Mr. E. Greville, the Editor, but upon Australia, to which in distant parts it serves indeed as a reliable and well-posted guide. Cossicbahoh or ihe Bishop of Pobt Augusta.— The Very Rev. Dean Nevin leaves Port Augusta on Monday (telegraphs oar correspondent) to attend the consecration of Dr. O'Reilly as Biahop of Port Augusta, which event takes place at Sydney in St. Mary's Cathedral on May 1. Cardinal Moran will perform the ceremony, and Bishop O'ftoilly will arrive at Poit Augusta some time in the latter end of May. Connecting Westbes Austkalia asd Ihdia by Cable.— With respect ta a telegram from Western Australia appearing in our issue of the 11th inat. referring to a proposed telegraph cable direct to India the following is the proposal of Messrs. Millar Brother 8, contractors for Beverley and Albany Railway, to the Government of the neighbouring colony :— ' We are prepared to lay a submarine cable from a point on the north-west, coast between the North- West Cape and Cambridge Gulf to connect the telegraph system of Western Australia with that of the Indian Government Bhonld the Western Australian Government allow the following concessions: — To grant the eole right to construct and work this cable, and' to allow a rebate of 25 per cent, on the ordinary rates from all messages passing over Western Australian wires between Earope and the eastern colonies. We are prepared to cany out and complete undertaking within a period of two and a half years from date of concession being granted. We would point ont the great advantagethiscable would prove to Western Australia. It will be the shortest route between the eaitern colonies and Europe ; it will possess the great advantages of avoiding the shallow waters and coral formations which have proved a source of so much trouble to the more' eastern line, and will also possess tbe great advaataze in the event of a European, war of passine entirelv throneh British territory : it woald

also add greatly to the business of tbe Weatern Australian lines between the northwest coast and JSucla,. and must render them highly profitable. In laying the seems before the ? Western Australian Government we feel ' we are making 'a proposal which will materially advance the beat interests of the colony while not involving it in any direct ontlay.' r Thb Centennial Celebrations. — Those who had the privilege of being Government guests to the State banquet held in Sydney on January 26 last in commemoration of the completion of the first hundred years of Australian settlement' are no tr receiving an interesting and handsome souvenir of t&e1- ' historic event* : in the ' form of the card of invitation .beautifully lithographed in rich colours, the appropriate deeiga being comprehensive, suggestive, and artistic. A representation; of Her Imperial Majesty— a jubilee picture— supported by British and Australian flags, sarmonnts the printed invitation, the guest's name being however inscribed in old EngliBh, while beneath is a view of^., active ?far-reaching Sydney hi 1888, and on either side are the British and Australian arms. At each corner of the illuminated border is a miniature sketch, one Bcene showing the landing of Cook, another Sydney Cove in 1788, the third Port Jackson in 1788, and the fourth fort: Jackson iu 1888, and, the viewB have a merit apart from the historical facts they revive and the contrasts; they Bugge'st. Oh each Bide of the border the names of the Governors of the mother colony appear on scrolls, interspersed by : portraits of Captain Cook and Governor Phillip. Native flowers furnish ornamentations to complete the design, which belongs to the lithographer, Mr. John Sands, of Sydney. The card is beyond the usual Bize, being about a foot Bquare. Pobt Adelaide Municipality. — There being a vacancy in the representation of Centre Ward owing to the resignation of Councillor Wallace, who is leaving Port Adelaide, a deputation representing forty ratepayers waited upon Mr. F. Hustler, local Manager for Messrs. Fauldiug $ Co., On Friday evening, and requested him to Btand. Mr. A. J. Butler and others testified to the high qualifications of Mr. Hustler, who subsequently acceded to the request of the deputation. Alaem of Fire.— The Fire Brigade received notice on Friday afternoon that fire had broken out at Whinham College. Reels were dispatched, and a large crowd of people collected outside the grounds of the building. It was found, however, that there was no cause for alarm, the fire being confined to some heaps of rubbish on properties distinct from the College grounds. Adelaide Hospital.— At the meeting of the Adelaide Hospital Board on Friday an important report from the head nurse, directing attention to various requirements in her department, was iead and referred to the House and 'Nursing Committees. Baptist Jubilee Fund. — Prior to the Association Jubilee Meetings held early in August, 1887, the amount received on account of this fund reached £1,932. Since then vigorous efforts have been made to raise this : amount to £4,500 in order to be in a position to receive Mr. G. S. Fowler's promised £300. On Thursday evening at a meeting of the Managers the Treasurer (Mr. A. S. Neill) reported aa received £4,443 ; this, with a further donation of £100 from an anonymous donor and £16 subscribed in the room, made

a total wicn Mr. a owier s cheque ot to.iou, the Managers decided to distribute at once the £5,0C0 to tbe debt-burdened Churches. The balance covering incidental expeneB of collection. De Makham.— This medical gentleman, who holds the offices of Health Officer and Hospital Surgeon at Port Augusta, returned to Sonth Australia by the steamer Port Jackaon on Friday after a voyage to the old country during leave of absence. New Buildings is Rundle stbeet —Extensive building improvements in Rundlestreet are projected, and if such are carried out the appearance of that row of business establishments between Stephens-place and rlundle-place at the close of the year will be entirely changed. The street frontage from Bundle-place to Stephens-place is about 200 feet, with a depth towards North-terrace of 147$ feet, the block of buildings having a right-of-way as a boundary at the rear. At the corner of Bundle-street and Rundle-place are two structures known as Marshall's Buildings (one being occupied by Messrs. S. Marshall and Son, mnsicsellers, and the Chambers therein by the S.A. Auxiliary Bible Society and others), whilst the adjoining edifice is a clothing and outfitting house ocoupied by Mr. G. Stone. On the remaining and greater portion of the land stand Messrs. Bermingham & Co. 'a boot and shoe warehouse, Mr. J. Beaumont's fancy baziar, Messrs. Gerke and Rodemacn's grocery establishment, one of Messrs, Haamer and Co.'s photographic establishments, and three shops the property of Messrs. Charles Birks and Co., drapers and clothiers. Ten years ago Messrs. Birks & Co. purchased on lease three shops. One of these— the centre oae— was rebuilt, and Marshall's Buildings at the other corner were constructed after the same design. This building as well as Messrs. Marshall's block are three stories iu height, and it is proposed to demolish all the other buildings in the row and make them of a uniform size. The South Australian Company, to whom the land belongs, have granted Messrs. Birks a thirty years' lease of the buildings running from Stephens place to Marshall's block, and it is the intention of Meesrs. Birks to begin the building operations immediately. TVo of the shops which will soon be empty are to be sold, and after the material of the same is lemoved two structures, for which tenders are being invited, will ba substituted. Two other establishments will be similarly treated when their present tenancy expires, so that in all five or six buildings will be pulled down. Plans are being prepared by the architects (Messrs. Withall & Wells.} At present only a frontage of 40 feet for the two establishments will ba built upon. Each shop will be allowed a depth of 142 feet with a width of 20 feet. The fronts will be cemented, and the baild'Dg itself constructed of brick. There will also be a basement for each, and when the whole block is completed the architectural appearance of this important and busy street will doubtless be improved. One noticeable featuie is tbe width of the footpath in front of these shops. At the present time the pedestrians' walk is at least 5 feet wider iu front of Messrs. Birka's and Marshall's establishments than in front of the other shops in the street. The new buildings will allow of the same width, viz., about 15 feet from the edge of tbe kerbiog to the shop fronts, which will certainly be very convenient, as thepublio attracted by the display of goods will not be liable while gazing iu the shop windows to the policeman's request, 'Move on.' By the erection of these buildings a considerable amount of additional employment will be afforded to the building trade. 'Thb Pictdbesque Atlas.'— P*rta 22 and 23 of the| Atlas have come to hand. Both numbers will be specially interesting to the people of this colony, became a great deal of the Bpace is occupied by South Australian pictures and South Australian history. In concluding the story in No. 22 of the settlement of Queensland, the writer becomes eloquently complimentary, as befits a man who describes a country with so many diver s-fied resources. To these resources the Atlas has throughout done full justice, whether one notes the refer3nces to the romantic Barrier passages, wherein the world ? famous Captain Cook endured so many buffetinga of tempest and of fortune when Australia was a century younger ; or to that mysterious western coast of the York Peninsula, of which we know little more than we knew immediately after the Dutch visited it ; or to the coral reef a which in the calm inside Barrier seas provide tbe yachtsman with a wonderful natural aquarium ; or to those coial reefs, again, which in their rapid growth have enveloped in a beautiful fretwork the cannon that Captain Cook jettisoned to relieve his stranded ship ; or, dealing with material concerns, to the wonderful mining, and pastoral, and tropical agricultural interests of the country. Summarziog his opinions the writer draw* attention to the cheering fact that through out this Australia, with a few exceptions,

Nature delights in pleasant compensations. The land which looks moBt unpromising and sterile for agriculture or pasturage is rich in minerals, and so the rule is extended. The . frontispiece to No. 22 represents ' Hargraves discovering gold.' The artist has justified his reputation in this work, though a glossy black belltopper upon Hargraves'B head seems a rather incongruous sort of thing. The other pictures illustrate the sugar and the mining and the pearlnshing industieB, the beauties of the Barrier Reef scenery, the remarkable anthills of Northern Queensland, and the extraordinary Barron Falls, over which a writer waxes grandiloquently! effusive to the extent of a full page. He has fair excuse in the magnitude of his subject. People do not heareveiy day' of waterfalls 600 feet high— 436 feet higher than Niagara ; or of a stream 300 yards wide and 60 feet deep, whioh precipitates itself at the rate of 20 miles an hour over a rock - broken declivity, falling 900 feet in half a mile. The history of South Australia begun in Part 22 is continued through Part 23, at the end oi which are maps full of detail, of both the northern and the southern parti of the colony, with a moderately extensive and accurate gazetteer. The stoiy of our pioneer settlement, and its results is given in interesting outline. Ths author (Rev. H. T. Burgess) waa rigidly limited to confined space, and what he has written is rather suggestive than exhaustive ; bathe has done his work well, as might only be expected of a man bo versatile' and so well informed. The special feature of the Part is the extended reference to explorers and their explorations, and thia, though it crowds other matter is only natural, considering that South Australia, governmentally and individually, has probably done more for exploration than any other* colony. The writer has included in his praiBe giving nearly every explorer, major and minor, from the days of Flinders to the times of Lindsay ; and by a stretch of courtesy even the Hon. J. L. Parsons (called J, ' R.' by the way) is olasied with the minor explorers. All the pictures except the frontispiece (a portrait of Cardinal Moran) are South Australian, and amongst them are several especially dear to the hearts of pioneers. There are George BateB's hut on Kangaroo Island; Baudin's Rock with its interesting French inscription ; Flinders monument at Franklin Harbour ; ' The old Gum Tree, near Glenelgj' 'Adelaide in 1836;' Colonel Light'a monument; and the firBt Congregational Church ; with the present Stow Memorial by way of contrast. Portraits are given of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, George Fife Angas, E. J. Eyre, J. M. Stuart (with his celebrated 'Tree,') J, McKinlay (with his Gawler monument), E. Giles, G. W. Goyder, W. C. Gosae, Colonel Egerton Warburton, SirR. R. Torrens, C. Todd, and Bishop Short. That naturaphenomenon, Chambera'a Pillar, ia well depicted, and in all respects the Parts of tbe Atlas now before us are really excellent. Mr. J. 6. Jenkins, M.P., is the South Australian representative of the publishers. Zoological and Acclimatization Society.— A meeting of the Council of this Society was held in the Mayor's Parlour, Town Hall, on Friday, April 13. There were present Sir Edwin Smith, K.C.M.G. (in the chair), the Chief Justice, the Hons. G. C. Hawker, H, Scott, and J. C. Bray, Messrs. J. H. Bagster, M.P., A. Abrahams, R. L. Mestayer, and George

Boothby, and the Director (Mr. Minchin). ApologieB for non-attendance were received from Dr. Mayo, Messrs. L. L. Furner, F. J. Sanderfon, and C. J. Valentine. A letter was received from Sir Thomas Elder, G.C.M.G., tendering his resignation as President of the Society. The Director stated that he had waited on Sir Thomas Elder with the object of inducing him to withdraw his resignation, bae without avail, It was therefore proposed by the Chief Justice and seconded by the Hon. G. C. Hawker —'That this Council with great regret accept the resignation of Sir Thomas Elder, and desire to place on record their high appreciation of hiB valuable services during the four years he has held office, their gratitude for his munificent benefactions, and their hope that his health may soon be completely restored.' Sir Edwin Smith, E.C.M.G., waB elected President for the current year. Mr. W. J. Magarey, J.P., was elected to fill the vacancy in the Council occasioned by the death of the late Sir R. D. Robs. The ' Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science' have requested the Council to take part in the proceedings of the Association, and to appoint a elagate to represent the Society on the General Council. Hia Honor the Chief Justice waa requested to act in that capacity. A letter was received from the President of the Zoological Society of France, desiring the sanction of the Director to allow himself to be proposed as a member of that Society. Request to be complied with. Mr. G. W. Stace's offer to erect a Bhade opposite the reptile house was accepted subject to certain conditions: The Council desired thankfully to aoknowedge valuable gifts received since the last meeting from MrB. Hayes, Robe ; His Honor the Chief Justice ; Mr. William Saltmarsh, Lake Plains ; Mr. AuguBte Davlea, solicitor, Adelaide; Mr. Richard J. Benham, St. Peters ; Miss Allen, North Adelaide ; Mr. J. Russell, Palmer ; Mr. W. N. HedgeB, Mount Barker ; Mr. Walter Saltmarsh, Lake Plains ; Mr. Rowland E. Nutt, Willow Farm, Yatina; Mr. W. J. Ledger, Riverton; Mr. R. N, Colley, Glenelg; Mr. J. H. Bagater, M.P.; Mr. R. L. Mestayer, Prospect; Mr. T. F. Darmody, Port Wakefield ; and Mr. Walter Gill, Wirrabara. Lecture. — On Friday evening the Rev. R. M. Hunter delivered, in the Kent Town Weeleyan Schoolroom, his popnlar lecture on 'Enoch Arden.' There was a good attendance, The entertainment was of the natnre of an elocutionary recital, and was a great succeaa. The musical part comprised the songs ' Annie Lee,' ' Enoch Arden's Prayer,' ' Fishermen's Boat,' ' The Golden Lock of Hair,' 'Enoch Arden's Dream,' and the duets 'Enoch Arden's Farewell,' 'For years I've waited,' and a quartet *' Sweet ia the hour of rest.' The vocalists were MisEea Nesbit and Hawke and MeBBra. Dunn, Lathlean, and Barlow. Lectube on the Land Question.— To a very good attendance, under the presidency of Dr. Rees, Mr. P. McM. Glynn, M.P., lectured on Friday night in the Hindmarsh Institute on ' The Land Question.' It was advertised that Mr. Glynn's discourse would be a reply to the question raised by the Hon. Alexander Hay, M.LC:-'How best to deal with our waste lands eo as to increase settlement on them, and also to increase the population and wealth of the colony and the comfort of the people.' The lecturer advocated tbe stoppage of the sale of lands asd tbe substitution thereof of leasing in perpetuity, and quoted figures to Bhow that in South Australia landlordism was growing alarmingly, and only a land tax could meet the evil. The addie» waa listened to with much interest, and the eloquent member for the Light waa thanked for his lecture. Thb Homestead League. — At the naoal meeting of tbe Executive Commttee held laBt Thursday evening a arge amount of business waa conBidered. The refusal by the Government to grant the application of working men for blocks suitable for irrigation on the Murray was commented upon. One of the men who had been waiting for years had in sheer despair had gona to seek work in Victoria. It was resolved to bring the subject before Parliament at its meeting. A case of water diverted from a block near Aldgate was considered snd directed to be written about to tbe Government. The committee having sent one of their number to Currency Creek, it was found that there is Government land thereabouta particularly fitted for an irrigation colony, with the superior advantage to that of Chaffeys' of not having the water to be pumped. It waa suggested that all persons in the district or in tbiB colony who would like to settle there should immediately write to the Homestead League, who would urge upon the Government the importance of having the land surveyed for the purpose. A letter from Teetalpa having been read, great surprise was expressed that the Government had refused to survey woiking men's blocks in that locality, where the raising of garden produce waa so essential to the health as well as to the comfort if the miners and other surrounding

population. Notices from New Ziahnd papers were referred to, wherein it was afcated that the advances to small holders had been a great boon to them, and that already they were beginning to repay the Government money advanced. MSLBOUBXS CB5TB52OAL EXHIBITION.— Ilia Bub-committee appointed to deal with the applications for space for the Victorian exhibits (writes the Argus of April 12) at the Centennial International Exhibition have a delicate and difficult duty to perform. They cannot grant all the applications, and it ia inevitable that they most give dissatisfaction to somebody. The apace asked for amounts to about 340,000 square feet, and the amount of apace available under cover is 243,000 equate feet of space. This includes 13,000 eqoare feet in the main building, 217,000 Equate feet injthe main^nnexea, 47,000 in the brick machinery annexe, and 72,000 square feet in the two additional annexes. This makes a total of 338,000 square feet, from which about 100,000 square feet have to be deducted for passages, leaving 243,000 square feet The applications have already been reduced by 65.C00 square feet. This leaves 275,000 square feet of space to be found; and in order to do this it ia proposed, after having tilled all the space available under cover, to make arrangements for the display of certain cf the exhibits within the Exhibition Grounds, on the Nicholson-street side. The Bub-committee have not declined any of the applications for space for machinery of Victorian manufacture, bat they have rejected all applications for Bpace for imported machinery. The report of the sub-committae ia to be submitted to a meeting of the allotments committee on Friday next, and exhibitors will shortly afterwards receive a formal notification of the amount of space allotted to them. Thb Actkess ajsd heb Dog. — Mr. Monty Browne called upon the Secretary for Agriculture to-day, with Miss Ada Ward, and applied for permission to bring into the colony a pet poodle, belouzing to the latter (writes the Melbourne Her aid of 12). In the coursa of conversation Miss Ward informed Mr. Martin that it is about twelve years since she first visited the colony, and also stated that the primary object of her present visit is to recruit her health. Mr. Martin referred to the regulations dealing with the importation of dogs, and promised to proclaim Miss Ward's residence a place of quarantine for tha reception of her pet. Should, however, Miss Ward during her stay in the colony desire to introduce her dog into any performance she may take part in the theatre will also have to be proclaimed a quarantine station for dogs. This is following the practice observed when Miss Genevieve Ward and her dog resided at the then Grand Hotel. Mr. Charles Arnold, who arrived by the Orient, and will appear at the Bijou, also has a dog, but it is a huge St. Bernard, and an application has been made for it to be landed under gimfUT conditions. This application will also be granted. A Sad AsklolS Epbode.— The following telegram from London appears in the Melbourne Daily Telegraph of April 12: — 'The mournful intelligence reaches us that Mr. Walter Ingram, son of Mr. W. J. Ingram, who formerly represented Boston in the Imperial Parliament, has come to a melancholy end. Mr. Walter Ingram, a young man of great parts and promise, after passing safely through all the spirit-stirring scenes of the Soudan War with high credit for enter prise and bravery, attending Sir Herbert Stewart, Bart, in his march across the Bayuda Desert, and accompanying Sir Charles Wilson in his famous approach to Khartoum, has met a sad fate in the Barbera district of the Somali country. Engaging with the pluck, characteristic alike of soldier and sportsman, in the favourite local pastime of elephant-hunting, he found himself confronted with a wounded elephant at bay, and fell a victim to the expiring energy of the maddened beast.' Colonial M'mrgrt»r. Wateb. — A mineral spring on the north bank of the Lerderderg Biver, near Blackwood, neglected for many years, is now likely to be properly protected (says the Age of April 12). Mr. J. Rowan, an officer of the Mining Department, who was sent to report upon the state of the spring, says:— 'I found the spring greatly neglected, and in danger of being completely destroyed by Chinese ' fossickers,' who earn a living by reworking the bed of the river and undermining ita banks.' About nine years ago an acre of land surrounding the spring was temporarily reserved from occupation, but not from mining. Mr. Rowan recommends that the area should be exempted absolutely, and he mentions the report of Mr. Frederic Donn, analyist, who says the spring is natural sodawater that could be used instead of the imported Apollinaris water, which it closely resembles in composition. Apollinaris water costs 2s. 6d. per bottle, and the long sea voyage does not improve it Here we have at our doors a spring pronounced to be equal to Apollinaris. The amount ot sediment was 0 52 of a grain per imperial gallon ; and this consisted principally of oxide of iron, with a trace of carbonate of magnesium and calcium. Mr. Rowan adds : — ' The great elevation of Blackwood above the sea level, its comparative proximity to the metropolis of the colony, its rugged mountain scenery, and crisp bracing atmosphere combine to render it one of our finest health resorts.' Mr. Rowan suggests that the land round the spring should be exempt from occupation of any kind whatever, and this request has been addressed to the Lands Department. Rotal Ketsetok Hill S.M. Co.— From an account of this mine given elsewhere it will appear that it has a reef 60 feet wide, containing rich silver galena ore, from which fact it is claimed that the property is unique in South Australia in respect to the promise of quick and profitable results. The galena from the surface has given, it ia said, results previously unknown ia the history of South Australian mining, the average of numerous assays extending over two years, being 40 oz. of silver to the ton, and lead 60 per cent. As this property is so close to Adelaide its development will be watched with great interest. Certainly there seems to be every reason why the DuiDerous shareholders should engage the Directors in energetic work. Rives Levels.— The following figures show the state of the rivers at the undermentioned stations on Friday, April 13 : — Murray — Aibury, 1 ft. 10 in.; Wahgunyah, 3 ft.; Echuca, 3 ft. 5 in. ; Ssranhill, 4 ft. 3 in. ; kuaton, 2 ft. 9 in. ; Overland Corner. 6 ft 2 in.; Morgan, 8 ft 'Murrumbidges— Gundagai, 3 f L lin.; Wagga, -2 ft 9 in. ; Hay and Balranald, summer I reL Darling— Bourke, lft. 10 in.; Louth, 5 tt. 5 in.; Tilpa, 12 ft ; Wilcannia, 18 is s ia.; Menindie, 22 ft 6 in.; Pooncarie, 20 ft. G in ; Wsntworth, 8 ft 6 in. Barwon— Munguidi, Mogjl, Walgett, and Brewarrina, low, Culgoa— Ctoodoga and Namoi, low. ^RiMBOSa's Usioh Brewing akd Malting Company.— It is proposed to form this Company to purchase and carry on the business known as Primrose's Union Brewery, Rundlestreet. The capital will be £125,000 in £1 shares, and of the first issue of LLO.OOO shares 20 000 fally paid up are taken by the vendor in part payment and 90,000 are offered to the public A 10 per cent, dividend per annum la guaranteed for four years on all capital paid up during that period. Lion Brewery asd Malting Company.— The prospectus of this Company appears to-day. It ia proposed to raise a capital of £75,000, in £1 shares, for the purpose of acquiring the brewing and malting business and to purchase the freehold and leasehold hotels and properties in South Australia owned by Messrs. Beaglehole & Johnston. A dividend of 10 per cent, per annum is guaranteed for four years. Droughts ast- Ibbigatios'.— Mr. Maurice Weston, of Tasmania, has arranged to give a lecture on Monday evening on a subject in which he takes a great interest, ana as to which he should be able to impart information of a specially interesting character. It ia hoped that his lecture on ' Droughts and Irrigation' will therefore attract', a generous attendance and appreciative audience. Pbetbose's Bbkwesg and Maltesg Company, T.rMiTKD. — Messrs. Cornish & Strange informs us that 24,000 shares were applied for during yesterday, although the prospectuses were not issued.