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Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1128, 11 September 1882, Page 2

About a weok ago a medical man recently settled in Wellington, named £r HutchinsDi), delivered a lecture before the Philosophical Society of that city on the Hawaian Islands, in the course of which he spoke of the loathsome and highly contagious disease, leprosy, as existing there. ' his in itself would not he of special interest to the people of New Zealand excepting to such as may contemplate migrating thither, but the lecturer added whai is of very material 'moment, that the same curse exists in New Zealand at the present time. What grounds he had for making such an assertion, we cannot say, but should imagine that before such a critical audience and in the .capital city of the colony, he would not have made such a startling statement without undoubted and unquestionable proof of its truth. Accepting the fact as correct then, it is one of the most serious that has been madeforsome time, and it is no wonder that it has excited alarm and has been brought forward in the I egislature. The Hon. P, Buckley asked in the Council if it was the intention of the Government to take any steps in connection with the matter, and at once isolate any persons who may be suffering from this dreadful afflliction. The reply was characteristic of red tape, the Hon. Mr Oliver on the part of the -Government stating that if any proof of the existence of the disease were furnished them they would take action, but they had no evidence on the subject. Instead of waiting for cvi. dence, is it not rather the boundnn duty of a Government to probe the truth of such a statement to the bottom, without tho loss of a single hour '? Dr. Hutchinson would not speak without foundation, and what could be easitr than to ask him for- proof of what he said. Perhaps the enquiry above referred to may induce the Government to act in a common sense way in the matter. There aro, no doubt, many in the district, who know what a hideous complaint this is, and what fearful objects its victims are. It is incurable, and not only V contagious in an ordinary degree, but so fearfully so that contact onth&bas©skin with tho smallest rag which hrvs touched a sufferer will communicate it. The patients become encased >•> frisihtr *"ful "armour as it \^%^^^f^amg^ ing and -becoming a dead ,un vv ]\&&8?!?i& colour, and as soon aatiTe enefssememi is completf^the victim /lies 'It is .not uncommon amongst the Chinese, and in some parts of Victoria it was found necessary to establish isolated leprosy camps for cases occurring amongst that race. No cases have been redutfd in this district, and it is most probable that none exist, but at the same time, if it be in the Qolony at all as alleged to rigid an inspection could not be made, or too great care exercised in connection with the disease, It is to be hoped that the Government after full enquiry, will make public the result, and that the authorities, wherever the curse exists, may, without delay, bo put on their guard, and lie enabled to take necessary precautions.