SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18672, 22 April 1926, Page 6

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU. Social and Personal. Mr and Mrs A. Hamilton (Timaru) are visiting Dunedin. Miss Netty Harper (Park lane) has returned from Christchurch. Mrs Geo. Webster (Xelson terrace) left yesterday for Dunedin. Miss Ivy Oliver (Surrey Downs) has returned from Dunedin. Mi=s Alice Evans (Xorth street) left yesterday for Dunedin. }li?s Dorothy Hay (Christchurch) is en a visit to Mrs Win. Hay (Highfield). Mrs Douglas he Crcn (Fairlie) returned from England this week in the s.s. l'emuera. Mrs J. Campbell Gillies (Dunedin) is the guest of the Misses Turnbull (Waiiti road). Mrs K. G. Turner (Christchurch) is with Mrs F. A. Raymond (Beverley road). Mr and Mrs George Andrews (Evans street), and Mrs Maleolmson (Christchurch) motored to Dunedin yesterday. Mrs Quane (Christchurch), and Mrs and Miss Gabites arc at the Bungalow (Wai-iti road). .Mrs A. E. Lawrence (Lc Crcn street) has returned from Christchurch. Miss Gladys Andrew (Wai-iti road) has returned from Puuedin and Oamaru. Mrs \V. 11. Collins and Miss Collins (Ashburton) are the guests of Mrs Herbert Holdgato (Bidwill street). Mrs Godfrey, wife of Commander Godfrey, of 11.M.5. Diomede, who was the guest of Miss Alien McLaren (Highfield), has left for Wellington. Mrs John Mnthesou (Wai-iti road) left yesterday for Wellington. Miss Moana Matheson will stay with friends in Christchurch. Miss X. Fitxherbcrt (Palmerston Xorth), who was with Mrs J. I'. rvewman ("Moana"), has returned. At yesterday's meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board, the I?cv..T. Wilson Potts was unanimously re-elected chairman. The Weather. Weather conditions in Timaru have been dull but hue'since Saturday last. At the beginning of the week cold winds ruled, but yesterday was warm, and the clouda showed signs of dispersing. Hospital Board. A meeting of tho South" Canterbury Hospital Board was held yesterday, the Kcv. T. W. Potts presiding. Eeplies were received from the Geraldine and Levels County Councils, and the Timaru and Waimate Borough Councils, agreeing to co-operate with the Board in finding suitable work for ablebodied applicants for relief. Mr A. C. Mclnnes wrote accepting appointment as X-ray technician at the Timaru Hospital. The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee advised that the Board's levy was £289!), and that no levy would bo required for maintenance purposes, other limn the charge of £3 3s each for patients. The chairman reported that a special meeting was held on April 36th, to consider the appointment of an honorary staff to .the hospital along the lines suggested by the medical superintendent (Dr T. L. Parr). After a legthy discussion the following motion was carried: "That the mati ter of staff be held over pending an attempt to get an early'attendance of the Hon. the Minister for Health, and Dr. T. 11. A. Valintine for a roundtable conference.'.' The medical superintendent (Dr. T.I L. Parr) reported 'that Sister Francis had resigned, giving ouo month's notice from April Bth. She had been on tho staff for about two yea rB, and had given good service during the infantile paralysis epidemic. A ward sister would be required, and he had asked that one be advertised for. He suggested that the approval of tho appointment be left to the chairman to avoid delay. Charge Nurse Price was permitted to resign after three months' service in that capacity. Charge Nurse Clayton wished to leave at the end of May. Ho recommended that Nurses Philpott and Lindsay be appointed charge nurses as from June Ist. The report was adopted. The dentist (Mr C. A. Collier), reporting on the work for the year ended March 31st, stated that it was steadily increasing, and the clinic was booked up till June. The total operations fulfilled during the year was 1267. The report stated that if bookings continued as great as at present, it would be necessary in the near future further to increase the staff. Tho chairman made a. verbal report on conditions at Waipiata Sanatorium, stating that the progress of patients was i most satisfactory. The Finance Committee recommended that the following fees for outpatient treatment be adopted: Consultations, medicine, massage and dressings, 2s 6d per visit or treatment; minor operations 10s Gd; V.D. treatments free. The recommendation was adopted. The financial statement for the year ended March 31st, disclosed a very satisfactory state of affairs. The receipts from all sources during the year ended March 31st, amounted to £44,868 'l2s sd, to which had to be added, the cash balance brought forward from the previous year, of £SIBO 6s Id, making a total of £50,048 18s 6d. The total expenditure, including capital for tho same period, was £46,572 3s 6d, leaving a cash balance to be carried forward, of £3476 15s. The maintenance expenditure exceeded that of the previous year by £2334, the principal increases being, Timaru Hospital wages £829, Waipiata Sanatorium maintenance £llß3, and Timaru Dental Department £738, making a total of £2750, which more than accounted for the increase. The revenue from fees, etc., amounted to £10,333 Is 2d, being £859 Is 2d more than the revenue of the previous year, and £1250 Is 2d more than the estimated revenue. The estimated total net requirements for the ensuing year, amounts to £33,757 15s Gd, and to this amount, subsidies will provide £16.262 17s lid, leaving an amount to be levied on local bodies of £17.524 17s 7d, being a decrease of £129 4s lOd. GERALDINE. The local Drill Hail was completely destroyed by fire early on Wednesday morning. When discovered at about 1 o'clock the firo had a firm hold, and though the brigade turned out promptly the firemen could do little more than keep the fire from spreading. Until recently the hall was used for entertainments as well as the Territorials, Cadets, etc., and the Horticultural shows were held there. In addition to the nail proper, with rTs stage and dressing-rooms, there were commiteee and orderly rooms and magazines for rifles and ammunition. On Tuesday evening the Boy Scouts met in the hall but they left early, and all appeared quite safe when the custodian left the building. During the fire, which demolished the structure, there were frequent explosions of rifle ammunition. The Godley Cup and a silvery cup won by the Cadets were lost in the flames, as well as a fairly large stock of rifles. So great-was the heat from the fir© that the plate glass windows of a shop on the opposite side of the street -were cracked, and the brigade had to keep

the hose going on the nearby premises. Tho hall was insured in the State Office at Wellington, and the amount is not known locally. TEMUKA. The monthly meeting of the Temuka branch of the Mothers' Union was hold in the Parish Hall on Tuesday afternoon. There was a very good attendance of members, there being over 45 present. Musical items were given by Mrs C. Stanley and Mrs F. W. Salmon and were much appreciated. Mrs G. N. Watson (president) gave a reading which was much enjoyed. Afternoon tea was handed round by the committee. At a meeting of the Mechanics' Institute held in the office of the secretary, Mr J. T. Smart occupied the chair. On account of the demolition of the old building it was decided to approach the Fire Brigade for the use of their room for the library and reading room. The Brigade very kindly agreed, and the room will now be used as library and. reading room until the new buildUigs are erected. At the Waihi Football Club's ball there was a very large attendance. The hall had been tastefully decorated with coloured streamers, and the floor was in perfect order. Extras were played by Mrs A. B. Scott and Miss D. South, and Messrs J. C. South" and J. Cripps efficiently carried out the duties of M.C.. During the evening a presentation was made to.Mr A. B. Scott who has decided to retire from football. He had played football since he was 17 vears of*age. and in making the presentation of two cases of stainless cut]erv Mr J. C. South said all would regret* very much, the loss of their captain.. However, they were pleased to hear that Mr Scott had decided to act as coach and selector, for the Club. Mr E. K. 0 'Neill and T. H. Langford also spoke. Mr Scott suitably acknowledged the gift.