ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18303, 10 February 1925, Page 4

ASHBURTON.

PERSONAL. At. yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board the resignation of Sister A. E. Watson, who has accepted a position in Samoa, was received with regret, and it was decided to place on record the Board's appreciation of her services. Ashburton'a congratulations to Mr 0. T. J. Alpers, of Christchurch, upon his appointment to the Supreme Court Bench were forwarded by tho Mayor (Mr E. Galbraith), who telegraphed the following message:—"On behalf of the citizens of Ashburton, I de'siro to extend to you hearty congratulations on your appointment as Judge of the Supreme Court, and trust you will be long spared to enjoy this well-merited honour." General News. Only poor results were obtained by fishermen who visited the mouth of the Eakaia on Saturday afternoon. There were eight rods out, including four from Ashburton, but only four trout were lauded. No further cases of infantilo paralysis since the Allenton case have been reported in the Ashburton. district. Fifteen members of the Ashburton Motor-Cycle Club left at 2 p.m. on. Saturday on a week-end run to Akaroa, and after a non-stop performance, the journey, of about 90 miles, was covered in 5.j hours. Tho party left on the return trip at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, and, after making a deviation, arrived in Ashburton at 7.15 p.m. With tho exception of experiencing slight showers and a few miles of rougfc road, tho trip was devoid of mishap. Hospital Board. At the monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Hospital Board, held yesterday morning, there were present: Messrs C. Reid (chairman), W. T. Lill, W. G-. Gallagher, A. Horsey, A. J. Magson, W. Bryant, J. Bruce, and P. W. Watt. The statement of receipts and expenditure revealed that receipts since last ,meeting, including a credit balance brought forward from December (£2OIG lis lid) amounted to £3676 Os lid, while capital and maintenance payments totalled £2930 9s lOd, leaving a credit balanco on February Ist of £74£> lis Id. Tho Building Committee reported that the architect had been advised that tho committee would recommend tho Board to enforce the penalty clause owing to the delay in tho completion of the contract for the building of tho Chalmers Ward. Tho reports from the various homes stated that during the month four patients wero admitted and five discharged, leaving one at Methvenjs soven were admitted, six discharged, and four remained at Malvern, wJiile five we're admitted, seven discharged, leaving one at Rakaia. In the Hospital Committee's report it was stated that advice had been received from the contractors that work would be commenced in the new laundry in the near future. The Medical Superintendent's report stated that 102 cases had been treated at the Hospital during the last two months, while 48 had been discharged, and 5i remained. During January 37 operations had been performed, and 394 patients had received massage treatment. In view of tho possibility of .an outbreak of infantile paralysis all the necessary preliminary preparations had been made for the admission of cases. Spocial accommodation had been arranged, and a supply of scrum obtained, while a list of cases in the county who had recently suffered from the disease had been compiled, and, if necessary, an appeal for those willing to give serum would be made: Tho Waipiata Sanatorium Committoe forwarded a circular to the effect that the Ashburton Hospital Board had been allocated six beds in the sanatorium. A circnlar letter was received from tho Department of Health suggesting that all incurable patients who had been in tho Hospital for a period of over two months should be transferred to some suitable home or institution. It was decided to ask the superintendent to report upon the matter. Tho agreement between 'the Ashburton. United Friendly Societies, and the Board was perused, and after minor alterations was referred back to tho Societies' Council, ■ and then to the Public Health Department. , The Board recorded its appreciation of the services of the matron (Miss E. J. Watt), and increased her salary from £2OO to £275 per annum. A committee, consisting of Messrs Reid, Watt, and Lill was get up to wait upon the Borough Council to .make arrangements with regard to fire prevention.

The Hospital Committee's recommendation that the Borough Council be asked to supply water at a cheaper rate than at present, Or the Board would take steps to inaugurate a scheme of its own, was agreed to. , In answer to a question by Mr Gallagher as to when the Chalmers Ward would bo officially opened, Mr Wattsaid the ward would probably be ready in about two months.

Arising .out of the report of the last meeting o£ the "Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, the chairman stated that at the next meeting of that committee it was intended to consider tfyc policy in the matter of capital expenditure for next year. Personally, he considered that as a great amount of work had been carried out up to the present time, operations should be curtailed. Mr Li]l moved, and it was carried, that the Board recommend the committee to straighten up the arrears of work and then call a halt. Mail Notices. Mills clcee today for Northern ports at 5.15 p.m.; late fee letters 5.10 pja.; guard's van, 6 p.m. Mails for Fiji, Pago Pago, Honolulu, also Japan, Tonga, Niuo, United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Central aDd South America, West Inches, Mexico, States of Columbia, Ecuador, Venezuela, British, French, and Dutch Guiana, and Continent of Europe via Vancouver (due London March 16th), per Makura, from Auckland, oloae at Ashburton, February 14th.