GARRISON DUTY,

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2165, 9 February 1865, Page 3

GARRISON DUTY,

(To the Editor of the Wellington Independent.) " England expects every mmi to do his duty."

Sin, — I was glad to see in a recent issue of your paper that you had advocated (as you always had), the cause of the Welliugton liiHe Volunteers, by calling attention to the state of the guard room of the Barracks. The first time I was called to actual service, I found the guard room dirty in the extreme, and inhabited by more than one kind of obnoxious insect, no provision was made by the oflicers iv command for our comfort ; we had rations served out, but no plate, cup, or knife to make use of; but on remembering that we were called out at a short notice we were willing to make the best of our misfortunes, hoping for a better state of things. On mounting guard this day I was surprised to find nothing had been done for our comfort, the men willingly scrubbed tho floor and gave it a liberal sprinkling with Burnett's fluid, but thought it should have been ordered by the powers that be, who appear like the Wellington public, only too glad to turn a cold shoulder to the Wellington I rifles, although they have been ever ready to ! do their duty ; and to a mau volunteered for garrison duty during the present month, knowing it would fall heavy on the corps. \ Trusting you will still advocate our cause. I I am, &c, ! Skntky Go. j

( To the Editor of the Wellington Independent.)

Sir, — My attention was drawn tho other day to a letter inserted in the Advertiser, of date February 2, 18G5, signed by C. P. Borlase.

I certainly think it would havo beon more desirable that the communication had, previous to publication, beeu submitted to the medical practitioners in Wellington, who, no doubt would have suggested a greatly modified epistle, and I trust to see some satisfactory reply from the "Wellington Medical Board," whose special duty it is to draw up some such document whenever anything like a destructive disease exists.

As resident Surgeon in the Porirua District, I have to sfcato that tho prevailing cpi domic has as ) r et appeared in my practice only at Pahautanui, and was clearly traced to haying been caught in Wellington. The cases were all rather severe, more especially in a young married woman, m>d io. a girl of 14 years residing with the family. She was removed from tite house by her parents, and I have not heard whether she recovered. On referring to my notes, 18(53 and 1801, I find that during the samo season (November, December, and January) Hooping Cough prevailed to a great extout, and in most cases left more or less cough which was not easily removed. As it is certainly of the last importance in connexion with epidemics of all sorts to preserve some notice of tho weather, I subjoin an extract from a series of careful obsorva-* tions made in Johnsonville. The thermometer is suspended in my surgery, in the shade, and the temperature taken at 9 o'clock a.m. The season unquestionably has been all that could bo desired, and consequently healthy. I am, &o, John Knox, Resident Surgeon, Johnsonville. Monthly Months mean temperature. November ') (57 December £■ Summer 180!) & 18G4-MU January ) .(/>■* —3-181 G0.3 mean for tha season. November ) (54 December j- Summer 18G4 & 18G5 1 6!) I January ) (G5 —3-188 ! G2.G6 moan. DIRECTION OF TIU! WIND. Summer 1803-04 Summer 18G4-G5 Northerly 57 days Northerly 58 days Southerly '28 „ Southerly - 2 I J „ Calm 7 „ Calm 5 „ ltaiu on _G days during summer 1804 and 1805.