HOSPITAL AND DOMAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 32, 6 February 1912, Page 4

HOSPITAL AND DOMAIN.

i An interesting proposal is to be re--1 vived during the course, of the next few ; <iavs when the Hospital and Charitable ' Aid Board will discuss the advisability j j of again suggesting to the City Council |an exchange of lands. The position is clearly explained in a letter published this evening from Mr. Potter, a member of the Board. In connection with our general hospital very extensive additions require to be made to complete the scheme of building necessary for the institution. We do not think that the best advantage has been taken of the existing reserve in tno laying out of the ■present buildings, and. further, we feel that generous provision was originally made for a city hospital. At the same time, if there is possible an exchange of I public lands advantageous to citizens | generally, and which will at the same j time add materially to the hospital area, I it v-ero only rational to carefully investi- | gate the matter. And now. when the hospital authorities are on the eve of committing themselves to further expenditure on buildings, is surely the time for such consideration. 'When this | matter -was brought before the public some years ago the real issue was ; obscured by the pa.rrot, cry that a plot ' had been hatched to fiP/h a public tpserve. It is to lie h(«ped that in the discussion of the next few weeks the question will receive unprejudiced consideration, and be dealt with on its real merit=.

The southern boundary of the Domain towards its western end adjoins the hospital reserve; and at this point the domain lands fall away abruptly towards (Jrafton-road and Stanley-street. The site is too steep to be made use of by anyone who frequents the Domain, and it has all along been utilised for grazing. Now, on the northern side of the Domain, and extending from the fringe of bush to rail-way line, and down to Stanley-street, is an almost level six acres of ground. It was parly net aside as a hospital reserve, although separated from the main reserve by the width of the Domain. Passengers in and out of Auckland by train will l>c familiar with this piece of ground, as it ha.s been industriously cultivated for very many years as chinamen's gardens. The value of the land to the Domain is very considerable. In the first place it would afford an imposing entrance near the Stanley-street corner to our splendid reserve, and more important still.the area is sufficiently level to permit of its conversion into recreation grounds, where all manner of games could be played. The configuration of the T.'omain. while it. adds to its piclurcsoueness. limits the area of land sufficiently level for sports and recreation u ounrfs nf various = orts. and it is in this particular especially that the reserve fulls fhort of the ideal.

In our judgment there are a great' many arguments in favour of this exchange of a barren liii|si<ie fnr a valuable flat which, while it adjoins the reserve, is yet much nearer tile centre of the town. 'We would not suegost that the Domain lie robbed of a square yard in area, but that the amount on the hill be the exact equivalent in size of the miteh more valuable land on the flat. Any person sufficiently interested tn view the two sites will not lie long in deciding that the balance of advantage of such an exchange would be on the side of the city. Land to be useful to the hospital has to adjoin its boundary, and an area a mile away, while it may be ever so much more valuable in every way, loses its serviceableness for purely hospital purposes. It is this position that the city earlier had the opportunity of taking advantage of. hn* derlinml. We trust that when the occasion arisej again, as it seems likely to do within the next few days, more far-sighted counsels will prevail.

"When a solicitor asked at the SJM. Court this morning to have a case adjourned, Mr. C O. Kettle sAed th« reason. The answer was to the effect that the solicitor on the other side was engaged at the. Supreme Court to-morrow and: there was no chance of the case being reached that day in the S.fcL Court, there being 17 defended oases a.bead of it on the list. Mr. Kettle said he would not agree to cases set down for hearing being adjourned to suit the convenience of counsel. As soon as the Supreme Court sessions started that kind of thing wns attempted. If counsel was engaged in another court, they must instruct someone else to look after their cases in the S.M. Court. His object was to dispose of the cases set down each week, and it would never do to let the cases bank up by beinp adjourned from week to week. Thp adjournment was therefore not granted.

Mr. .1. Sholdrick, manapr of ttw , Northern iSjeS. Co. at. Ouehunpa, nar-! rowly escaped a serious accident on Sunday afternoon. He was sitting in a buggy in Que#n-street. Oni-hunga. wait■insr. for a friend, when the pony became restive at the approach of ;". down car, and, turning, backed into the car. Hail the pony turned a second earJier. the vehicle would have been on to the tram track, and a collision would have been inevitable. As it was, the var grazed the trap in passing the. whole length of the car. Regarding the examination recently held of candidate* for New Zealand vacancies in the Australian Military Training College, the Defence Department states that six successful candidates have yet to f.ubniit themselves to the general officer commanding for his approval, and also to undergo the final medical test. The remaining four v.%ancies wilj not he filled by selection, lae previously stated. Two eases arising out of the death of a man named Klein at Port Awanni were heard at Gis-borne yesterday, before Mr. \V. A. Ba.rton, when F. O. Allen, licensee of the Sea Viiew Hotel (near Port AwanuD. was charged with manslaughter, in that he supplied excessive quantities of liquor to Klein, who was under his care in a helpless condition. The magistrate considering that there was not sufficient evidence, the charge was dismissed; but for permitting drunkenness on his premises Allen was fined £ls, and bad his license endorsed. Our Tonga correspondent writes:

"To celebrate th« anniversary of the birthday of his imperial Majesty Emfieror Wilhelm f'l. of Germany, our oca] German residents gave a most enjoyable "beer evening' in the Victoria Memorial Hall on Saturday night, January 27. There was quite a good attendance, including the King of Tonga, who opened the proceedings hy proposing the health of the German Emperor. Consul von Ireskow, in return, proposed the health of M 3 Majesty George Tuibou 11. of Tonga." It transpired in the Police Court at Invercargill that a man arrested for drunkenness some few weeks ago was found at the time to have a bottle of whisky in his pocket. The whisky was, of course, taken from him and he was locked up. On his release the whisky was ■handed' hack to him by the police. The "Magistrate expressed surprise at this, hut iSergcant Bingham explained that the liquor was the man's property, and he (lid not see what else couM be done. The fact that the man was afterwards discovered to be a prohibited person added a spice of humour to the situation.

The statement was published on Saturday morning (says the "New Zealand Times") that the tTamway strike in Wellington had had no detrimental effect on trade in the city, and that instances were known in which business had actually improved. More careful inquiries elicit the fact that the cessation of the tramway service ihas had a serious effect upon volume of bu-siness done in the city, though the shopkeepers of Newtown and Petone are reported to have "done really well." Last week the seamen on board the s.s. Rarawa. trading between Onehunga and New Plymouth, went on strike because the rook scjrveil ,them with potatoes boiled in their jackets. Three ionics refused to peel the potatoes when requested to do so, and they left the ship. The Seamen's Tnion withdrew einht. seamen from the Rarawa. ami found them other berths. One of the cooks has since returned to work on the Rarawa.

Arrangements arc well in hand for the third and final wool sale of the season in Auckland to-morrow morning, and with the exception of a few small lots which might or might not come to hand in time for inclusion, ihe catalogues are now complete. The quantities to lie offered by the respective firm interested, in the order of sale, are as follows: Messrs. Alfred Ruckland and Sons. 775 bales; Messrs. (;. W. Kinney and Sons, 27."> hales: Messrs. Dalgety and Co. and the Auckland Farmers' Cnion (in conjunction). 874 bales; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. SKK> bales. Tn view of the firmness of the wool market in the old world at. present it is expected that the sale will he well contested by a large gathering nf buyers, and that satisfactory prices will prevail for all classes. The offerings at the three sales of the season now closing totalled 1.">.718 bales ajrainst lfi.2f>7 bales fnr the previous season.

The preparation of plans in connection with the proposal to erect buildings and establish a native Parliament at Ngaruawa-hia has been -completed, the estimated cost of the structure being in the vicinity of £7.Oo<>. The dimensions arc I46f't. by 80ft., while a tower ■II striking design, with a llagM-arT at eit!icr etiil, is provided for. Lighting and ventilation are amply provided for, while Maori carvings are to play an important part, both in regard to the external and internal decorations, providing, nf course, that til" scheme materialises.

The Council of the Clydesdale Horse Society of N>w Zealand has just received information by cablegram of the acceptance by Mr. James Rankin, at present on the. staff of the Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain and Ireland, of the position of secretary to the New Zealand Society. Mr. Rankin will leave for the Dominion by the R«nnera on February 7, and will reach Wellington early in April. The appointment of Mr. Rankin was only made after the most careful consideration by the Council, and after receiving the most satisfactory references from Mr. Archibald MscXeilage, secretary of the Home Society. Mr. Rankin has the best credentials as to his fitness for tire position he has been appointed to on the Editing Committee, aid on Mr. Rankin will fa'l the responsible dnty of compiling the Book.''

It is announced in our advertising columns that to-morrow afternoon, at Mr James Furguson's stone yards, Cus-tom-street Kn.st. the first consignment of building stone from Pukekaroro quarry will be placed on exhibition. Engineers, architects and representatives of local bodies art particularly iirritsd to be present.

An employee of Wirth Bros'. Circus, named Charles Scharrell, was admitted to the Napier Hospital on Saturday night, suffering from a dislocated hip joint. The injury -was received while the animals of Wirth's menagerie and a portion of their circus material and effects were being conveyed to the railway station. Searrell was in rharge of a loaded lorry drawn by an elephant. In attempting to jump up on the lorry his feet slipped, and he fell between it and the elephant. He called out to the elephant to stop, which it did almost at once, and Pcarrell was only pushed along the roadway a few yards hv the from part of the lorry. Dr. Harvey was summoned, and the injured man was subsequently taken to the hospital by Mr. (;. i'lested in the municipal ambulance.

Complaint was mad- 1 at a meeting of the Waitemata Count;, (mtiicil lhat serious carnage was being (lone by the I Wailii (!..M. Com|«iny'cs traction en 'pities hauling great, loads of machinery 'from the Hinuera railway station to' ! the work at Ilorahora. The member j for the riding said every culvert had been broken in by the cns'.nes. and they 'were now filled in with clay; but when wet weather came on. the road would :be impassable. 'Hie chairman reported ; having interviewed Mr. Una V engineer | for the Company, re the damage being done, ai;<l after lengthy discussion Ciov 'had arrived at. an agreement, which, lie : thought, would meet with ihe approval of Councillor-. It was that Mr. T. i Burd (Government Kngineer of llainilIton) should go over the riads now. and after the haulacre was <•■ imi'l >!. land that, he should assess the da.M.ize. ! which the Company vnjnM pay for. That ; ho •considered an equiL.iiide arrangement. LAn agreement to that effect lvvl been | prepared, and only needed signature. !A similar complaint was made against •the Harvester Company, who have been j hauling timber between Putaniru and ; Waotu, per traction encine. the dee.k- ■' ing of a newly-erected bridge over the i I'okaiwhenua stream having been great;ly damaged through daggers b°:ng on | the engine wheels. An agreement of ' i similar import to that mentioned above '.was dulv executed by (he agent of the 'lCompany, who said "diggers'" should ' ' not again l>e used, and that the wide ' j wheels of the engine did good by run- ' i soiidating the roacus.

The authorities at the Christehurch district military headquarters office in Montreal-street were considerably annoyed yesterday that the fences surrounding the office and King Edward Barracks had been placarded with copie3 of a printed manifesto urging all and sundry to oppose "Conscription." and with a number of small square "stickers" bearing such niottos as "Don't be a Conscript, be a Man," "Men not Pimps," and 'The Military Strike is Now On." The stickers bore nr> imprint, and were evidently made with a rubber press, but the more elaborate manifesto, in addition to bearing the imprint of a local printers' firm, bore the signatures of nine persons. An inquest touching the death of Albert Ernest Skinner, who was drowned at Bowentown Heads on Sunday morning, was held yesterday at the Waihi Courthouse, before the Coroner, Wr Wm. Wallnutt. The evidence went to show that deceased swaru out some 200 yards to where a boat was anchored, but was caught in a current just as he got to the stem of the boat. He endeavoun i! to reach the boat again, but failed, then called out for help, but sank immediately. Dr. Borrie considered that the. areide.nt was caused by heart failure brought on by eating a heavy meal just before entering the water, death resulting from drowning. A verdict oi accidental death by drowning was returned by the Coroner.

The decision of the Whangarei Harihonr Board to place the new light at Busby Head on the summit caUed forth some forcible remarks from Captain Meyers, of the Kanieri, yesterday. In the captain's opinion, placinsr the light at .such an elevation would defeat the purpose the light was intended for. especially in thick or foggy weather. He considered the light should be plated low enough to escape the mist and fogs that envelop the summit of the promontory. This opinion was shared by Captain Stephenson, of the Ngapuhi. Were the. liight placed on the summit they would have no guide in thick weather, as its rays would not be able to piervc the fog to any distnnce. As the light does not begin to bear till Bream Head is rounded, its utility would not be impaired of it were placed at a point, say, about 40ft. above higb-wuter mark, -where it would prove of the greatest service. Captain Meyers st-ated that he would make representations to the Harbour Board to reconsider the matter.

An exciting expeTtenee attended the occupants of the launch Seagull at cTgunguru on Sunday. Mr. E. W. Tattler, manager of the Kiripaka coal mine, was o»rt for a run. having with him three children and Mfs«rs. H. Kean, Clarke, A. O. Crai»rie. and Cecil Turner. When some distance out the ensrine broke down. and. the anchor not holding, the launch began to drift on to the rocks, which abound hereabout*. A reef was struck, and the boat started bumping badly. As seas started to come ower. it was decided to get. ashore hy swimming. Mr. Tattley had <*onsidcrablc diifiiculty in landing with a two-year-old child, but. all the rest reached the rocks in safety. The Seagull was subsequently rescued by another launch. She was badly knocked about and half full of water." Members of the Auckland Prohibition League met in private last night at the Y.M.C'.A. Building, about .">0 being present. The Rev. J. Cocker presided. Some m:nor Tontine business having been transacted, the Rev. John Dawson delivered an interesting addTe.ss. in the course of which he out'ined the matters to he considered a* the conference to be held in Wellington between the Yew Zealand Alliance and the Cono-ilt;'five Committee set up hy (hj« riominion Con- ! ference of Temperance last year.

In the Waihi Police Court this morning .lolin H. Jnhanson was charged with breaking and entering the store o-f N. A. Johnston at Ka-tikati and stealing therefrom goods and cash valued at £0 10/. Sergeant YVohlman askerl for a remand for eight days, which was granted.

The Auckland Garrison Band, under O. F. Cater, will play the following programme in the Albert Park on Wednesday evening. 7th inst.. at ei/rh.t p.m.: —il<arch ( "The Boiler Maker" (T. .Tudporl ; waltz, ".lolly Lore Fellowe*" IA. Dryland i; humoron* sketch, "The Wbistler and his Dog" (A Prvor) ; selection. "Our Miss Oihbs" {'- Moncktonl' Othr Weiber, "Oh. Von Women" (P. Donglas); American fimtnzti. "In Old Kentucky" (S. Douglas); march. "Invercargill" (A. T.ithgrowt : "God Save 'the Kinp."

Holiday bats for men. The yachtsman, th« cricketer, and tbe bowler t&n all be satisfied with our soft hats', ace them. — Oa. Fowlda, Ltd,— (Ad.) Smith Ca>agbcy*« great »nmme* tlcanmee iaintaw la. foil wdnffv^AiL)

I , 4 Wellington's deprivation lut its habitual means of tr*«u iTU quence of the strike of tramw.J**" caused much excitement mK*S Dense crowds assembled at mL JS" inga held in the citv streets a nd't ?* : town Park to hear i 3 ,° „"> jcauou of the strike from To£ ft labour leaders. A good idea d, k * citement created roav L *t ■ "* «* tra-ns of the leaders; a! , Q 'fc. ""' P* Jfied men on the w«v to „*, *"»* Trades Hall, and snWban h£L. •* maintaining the postal serrfm , [""' aid nf brakes \$ *££™>> «» tTtelir*! sod of tha Nap er^iA V*"* * of -on-e four thousand Mrt, "J""**"« ahh .Huffed. With STbtlVt* o-P;ny H »- of ill.Htrat.Mns Hvp, . n inj ?; A "»» ! threatened l,v the ereeihn J' .« .JL? i vie. -W tV Welv fn-«t i?' °, ftw Aockbnd to Tif'r.in*- tV £? tt 7r .. of th A ;t '^g .■A, strums ,-„(, machinery n n them*, fields: new b,thi^, , . -Miss FJiel Irvine; their Miiwrt. -on the voyage to the' Dnrbar; « ■ ; trnma of the * the Auckland represent<tir» erWfiTZ ' : who are bent on reem-*™* the tS ;! ,hioid. _ j ed stones and topical articles.

Ready support wm. uncorded the fund organised (n provide recognition 0 f t i, work done fnr trade* TrnkwHsm by tha " l, j s t> N • I n - v 7 l , s r retar y «* the Jhtct land Punters' I nion. The hiaa & now rinsed, and as Announced nv L Secretary Mr IT. L. Horning, in ,nX column, the satisfactory total of flffl has been received. Unionists in Auckland, Wellington, ChriPtohnwh, Dwiedin and Oisborne all responded liberally f 0 the proposal to in this way reeomiij the late Mr Dyer's work. Rare opportunity. Occasional 1 tabid from 4/11. at Tonson Gerlick'i .cut sale.—(Ad.) Many -wearers bear witness to the wonderful fit of our ready-made sm'ti; then the price and the iiTality Of thi cloth are other winning features-Gm Fowlds, Ltd.—(Ad.) . . j Smith and Canghey's great "eleMMcs fair now proceedirg.— (AA.) Are you a swimmer? W» hive ill the correct costumes in a.V. shapes, sizes, ind" colours, right here—Geo. Fowlds Lti—(Ad.) Toilet ware 5-piece sets; only */g per set, at Tonson Garlick's cash. salM-(Ai)