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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 4
[miscellaneous paragraphs]
At a late meeting of the Otago Branch of the Medical Association a resolution was passed:— « That this branch views with alarm the spread of immoral and corrupt publications, and would urge on other branches the question of how the growth of indecent advertisements and literature can best be met with in view of taking concerted action. » It is quite time that this matter was brought before the notice of the proper authorities. Certain pseudo-scientific books (chiefly American) which are really immoral publications of the foulest kind, are not only actively pushed in all parts of the colony by book-fiends, but are actually kept in stock by regular booksellers. One of these books in particular was suppressed in the United States, and the author heavily fined; but unexpurgated editions are shamelessly exposed in certain booksellers' windows in the cities of this colony. Whose business is it to put in force the law regarding obscene literature?
Last year a correspondent drew attention to the munificent gift by M. Anthony Galignani to a town with which he had for many years been connected. He headed his letter « Do likewise. » We do not think that any reference has been made in Typo to Sir Sydney Waterlow's splendid gifts to the City of London. Sir Sydney (who after completing his apprenticeship went to France, and worked for a time with Galignani) has one of the largest printing establishments in the world, employing four thousand hands, and paying about £950,000 a year in wages. In 1870, recognizing the need of a convalescent hospital for patients removed from St. Bartholomew's (of which he was treasurer), he fitted up Lauderdale House, at his own expense, for thirty-two patients, and presented it, with the charming grounds, to the Governors of St. Bartholomew's. It was opened in 1872 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. This, however, was put into the shade by his gift of the Fairseat and Hertford House estates, on the southern slope of Highgate Hill, Parish of St. Pancras, containing nearly twenty-nine acres, as a public park (to be known as Waterlow Park) for the north of London. The properly was freehold except 2¾ acres on long lease; and accompanying the gift was the sum of £6,000 cash, an amount sufficient to purchase the freehold interest of this portion. The London illustrated papers at the time published engravings of scenes on the property, which is exceedingly beautiful, and will become one of the finest public gardens in the city.