IN OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 142, 10 March 1908, Page 8

IN OTHER CENTRES.

(BI TKI.EGEArn—EI'ECIAI, COERESPOKDENTS.) , CHRISTCHURCH. ' .March 9. . The Hon.. R. M'Nab, accompanied by Messrs. H. G. Ell and G. Witty, M.P.'s, and Mr. F. H. Pyne (chairman.cf the Canterbury Jockey Club), yisited Riccarton Racecourse oil Saturday afternoon, to enable Mr. Witty to elucidate upon the spot certain proposals regarding tho roserve. - It is suggested .that in tho first place twenty acres of tho Racecourse Reservo land should be taken over and- converted into a . public . rccrcation ground, and that the. remainder of . the ; 150 acres outside x the actual ' racing ' enclosure should be devoted to the' purposes of closer settlement, tho Government purchasing the land. It is'further proposed that,the racecourse, trustees should be allowed,to purchaso outright at. unimproved value' the land upon which the course and its necessary surroundings are situated. As iii dealing with a reserve in this manner it is necessary to provide land of equal value elsewhere in substitution, it is suggested that Dcans's Bush, tho only remaining native bush on-the Canterbury Plains,, should bo purchased, together with other land elsewhere to the value required. Tho money for this purpose'would be provided for by the' taking over of .the outer racecourso area,' while the proceeds of the; sale of tho - inner 'area to the racecourse trustees, it is suggested, should be', oxponded in obtaining land' for recreation purposes- on or neat the Port. Hills for the benefit of tho public. The racecourse reserve was vested in the racecourso trustees for racing purposes only, and is; practically held by'the trustees in perpetuity, and special legislation will be necessary to enable the proposed transactions* to • take place. u - Mr. M'Nab was very favourably impressed "with the proposal, and'stated that he could personally see no objection whatever to tho carrying out of the scheme. 'Sir. Pyne, as chairman of the racecourso trustees, said .he thought there-would be no object-ion by tho trustees to tho proposed transaction, as they only the' lise of the land at present occupied by the course.: The 'consent of the Canterbury ' Jockey Club and tho trus-j, tees would, of .course, be necessary. NAPIER. March. 9. ! At the monthly meeting of tho Hospital Board this afternoon the Chairman (Mr. C. H. Cranby) skid lie had to bring, up a 'vejy unpleasant matter.; Recently he received-a message from-the. matron,; (Miss Edwards) stating that a .complaint' had been received against, a : nurse .and that' she. (the ; matron) had-given the nurse : notico of dismissal. The next day-he found out : that-.the.:niatron: had no right to dismiss a servant, but should make a complaint to tho chairman, who had tho. power to . N 'take * actidiil ■ Tho; allegation was that tho nurse ill-treated a four-:year-old boy patient suffering from a spinal affliction. Tho . matron stated:, that four ..previous complaints . had- been /made .by , patients , and friends against, this-' nurse.' Tho' Chairman' said he .had made; a mistake iu endorsing tho matron's notice. .The' proper, course would have' been to • suspend until the complaintwas inquired into■ by the. Board. ' At letterfrom - the .nurse was read, explaining - the cause "of the complaint, but" denying ■ ill-. treatment of tho cliild. She -asked, for an inquiry into tho complaint.'-.The Chairman sai'' ; .!mt something, seemed to bo wanting at' ,'bospital at the present time,'and lie. t \>'Ji.t: it. would be advisable to inquire into, •, >? k yho.le. matter, •. • Mr> •J. J. M'Grath said -'.iat he/thought it would be found when tho matter ;.was inquired into that ■ the, nurse would be able to justify her conduct. It' (Tas, decided to hold an open inquiry, at tho \'v.jpital '-on Friday, March 27. The, date of .. '■r expiny of the nurse's dismissal notice was ex,>ndc! to three weoks. '