Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-09
FINANCIAL POSITION
DubIin's Estates and Finance
Committee Report.
Special cablegram to The star.

DUBLIN, April THE report OF the
estates and finance committee OF the cor
poration on the estimates of receipts and
expenditures for the year beginning the
LIST of April has just been issued and In
dicates an Improvement in the financial po-
sition of the corporation and a decrease.
though unfortunately very slight one in
the burden of the rates. The consolidated
rate has been reduced by 21zd in the pound.
and the rate of a farthing in the pound un-
der the disease of animals act disappears.
But the poor rate on the north side has
increased farthing and on the south side
penny farthing All the other items re-
main the same The result is that the rate
payers will this year pay: On the south
SIDE 1Os., instead OF los. 111d. last year.
and on the north side, los. SID. instead of
los. Sd. last year. 1t is not big boon. but
the overburdened rate payers of Dublin
have learned to be thankful for small
mercies.
A very important question has just come
up before the meetings of the irish boards
of guardians in relation to their contracts
for drugs and surgical instruments. A num-
Der of the boards have adopted resolutions
to the effect that the contracts should be
given for certain good reasons only to Irish
hrmS, and these have been sent letters by
the local government board threatening TO
withhold the usual so per cent recoupment
from the local taxation Qreland) account
should they in any way infringe the regu-
latlonS or the provisions of the poor laws
acts in refusing to accept the lowest tender
without valid reasons" which must first
De submitted to and approved of by the
customs house authorities The Waterford
guardians have adopted resolutions declar-
ing that they cannot accept tenders for
drugs and surgical appliances from Other
than Irish firms. The resolution winds up
by pointing out that it IS the invarable
practice of English and Scotch unions. such
as Exeter. Leeds, Liverpool, Leicester, Cow
entry, Northampton, Newcastle, Edinburgh
Aberdeen and Glasgow to confine tenders
to local firms. as shown by letters received
from these unions refusing to consider
Irish tenders. 1t Is claimed that the local
government board is apparently trying to
punish the Waterford guardians for acting
on this resolution and will treat other
boards that have acted similarly in the
same way
Long-Lost Child.
The long lost child is the favorite theme
of the story teller and dramatist, but prob
ably fiction writer's never conceived a story
as strange as that which comes from Bally-
ndhinch, County Down. Nine years ago a
little girl Susan Kerr, disappeared from
her parents home In BalIynahfnch The
other day a girl of thirteen coming into
baIlynahinch ON a message from farmer
In whose employment she had found herself,
u.
The final result was her restoration to her
mother who had In the interval moved out
OF the town, but who had no difficulty in
recognizing her long lost daughter The
whole incident is still wrapped in mystery,
for the child has no distinct recollection of
anything before coming into her last en-
ployment. There ought, however, 10 be no
difficulty In tracing her history back to the
time of her disappearance. and the public
is awaiting with interest the second chap
ter In this curious little romance
Mr.. J. F. Williamson, Summerhill, NAL
low. a well-known seed potato specialist
and grower of mixed and new varieties,
has produced a variety of great
strength and fructivity and disease resist
ing power. which appears to be particularly
suited to the Irish climate and soils He
has named the new tuber Duchess of Corn
wall" A specimen of it was exhibited at
the Royal Dublin Society's winter show last
December and obtained both the first prize
and the third in the open classes.
Canadian Cattle Question.
The Canadian cattle question has
reached the grand jury stage in one way.
At Tralee the grand jury at the spring
assizes on the motion of Mr.. David Mort
arty, seconded by Mr.. James D. Crosbie,
d. L., adopted a resolution setting forth
that having had attention directed to the
orders of the day for the consideration of
parliament on the 9th of April, which con-
templates the second reading of the dis
eases OF animals amendments act, 1895, and
having from past experience knowledge of
the disastrous consequences Of cattle dis
eases being introduced into the country we
earnestly press upon his majesty's govern
ment the paramount Importance of not in
terfering with the protection from disease
now enjoyed by the stock breeders of Ire
land, as we believe that 1t is only by the
maintenance of the existing regulations that
the immunity from the disease is essential
to the agricultural prosperity of the coun-
try"
Lord O'Brien said that the matter was for
the chief secretary and not for him.
Prof. Ronald Ross. F. r. 81. c. B., the
authority on parasitic disease has tlst de-
showing the Importance of the study of
parasites, especially in relation to santa
ton in the tropics. One of the chief aims
of the study Is to discover how various
parasites pass from one host to another.
There are few things more wonderful than
the means by which nature effects this
transference. One parasite lives in the hui
man foot, from which its young escape and
take up their residence in water fieas. An
other, a blood-sucking intestinal parasite,
which causes immense mortality In some
countries enters the body by diving through
the skin. Another lives actually within
the blood vessels of man. The parasite
carried by the tsetse fly causes great NOR
tally among cattle and produces sleeping
sickness among men. Reapsing fever and
tick fever are caused by another parasite,
which lives in ticks.
Mortality in India.
Great mortality Is caused in India by
parasite which develops outside the body.
The parasites carried by mosquitoes are
perhaps the most deadly of all; they cause
elephantiasis yellow fever and malaria
Prof. Ross and his colleagues have been
able to devise means for combating these
terrible pests. and the results SO far OBJ
tanned are so promising that complete
alteration In the destiny of whole nations
and peoples may be anticipated.
Mr.. Farrell is agitating in favor Of
Waterford corporation bridge bill. The
provision of an open door for Ireland Is re-
garded as vital IL the prosperity of the
surrounding district is to be fostered. The
project involves two steps. The trustees OF
the old bridge must first be brought out IN
accordance with a decision of the courts
before the new free bridge can be built.
But both steps are regarded being In
reality only one operation. The govern
ment is ready to hand over S165 GOO Of the
S45O0 mortgage loan on the Waterford
railways taken over by the Flshguard and
Rosslare combination. and the rainway
companies are engaged to pay $4,000 to-
ward the relief of the contributing authori-
ties to the construction OF the new bridge.
1t Is now proposed that the companies may
contribute that sum to the corporation of
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