A prisoner is given the right of appealing against an order made for his detention in such a hospital.
The essential clauses of the new Bill provide that the Governor may, by proclamation, declare any hospital to be a prison hospital.
Every hospital so proclaimed shall be a prison, and every person detained therein shall be deemed to be a convicted prisoner.
The expiration of the term of detention will be determined by the physical condition of the patient.
It is understood that this Bill is intended to give the authorities power to control parties of soldiers who have been returned to New Zealand suffering from certain contagious diseases.
• Word was received in Balclutha on Saturday morning that the Clutha River Board's steamer Clutha had sunk during the night at Tuapeka Mouth.
It appears that the boat seemed to be all safe and sound when Captain Tsukigawa and crew retired on Friday night about the usual time.
At 3 o'clock in the morning the captain was awakened by a rushing sound that at first appeared like wind, but jumping out of bed to investigate he immediately discovered that the boat was very much up by the head and down by the stern, and the noise he had heard was water making its way through some of the rear compartments under deck.
The boiler pressure was high, and the crew being quickly alarmed, attention was given to see if it was possible to get the pumps going.
It was found, however, that the stern was too far submerged to enable this to be done.
The boat was at this time lying at the jetty in very deep water, with a rock bank and bottom, and with considerable presence of mind the moorings were cast loose and the boat allowed to drift down stream for about two chains to a sandy sloping beach, where she gradually settled down by the stern, the bow and port side being still fairly well above water.
The depth of water on the outer starboard side is about 11ft.
Messrs M'Inerney, Mitchell, and Fleming (members of the board), together with the secretary, visited the scene of the accident during the day.
Until the result of further investigation is known it is impossible to say what was the cause of the intake of water.
There was no cargo on board at the time excepting a few sacks of coal, and these, with the men's belongings and other things, were safely put ashore.
The salvaging of the boat is not considered to be nearly so serious or difficult a matter as that of the Clyde, and immediate steps are being taken to commence operations.
It is quite evident that the river traffic will be suspended for a week or two.
• A large portion of the oysters and blue cod taken in Foveaux Strait and along the southern coast is exported to Melbourne and Sydney, where there is a constant demand notwithstanding the inconvenience caused by curtailment of the steamer service.
Mr A. Pasco, of the firm of Pasco Bros., who are largely interested in the trade, left Bluff by the Wimmera for the purpose of making personal investigation into the distribution and sale in Australia, and ascertaining whether improvements could not be effected that would lead to further expansion. - ODT, 28.9.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
