IN .OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 186, 1 May 1908, Page 5

IN .OTHER CENTRES.

fay TELSGRAril —SPECIAL CORUEBPONDENTB.) \ -« . \ \ AUCKLAND. \ ■ April 30. Mr. E. AA 7 . Alison, M.P., Chairman of the T.nipiri Coal Company, criticised tho Govcrnmont jn conucction with the shortago of coal at tho annual mooting of . tho Company yesterday. Ho said, that tho business of during tho past year had been fairly successful, tho not profits for tho' year bejng £6778 13s. ud., a profit which would hive been considerably increased had tho Company boon enabled to supply its orders, which it had been unable to do, because of the shwtago of trucks and haulage power on tho AYaikato lino of railway. Ho could confidently state that had railway waggons been available, tho output last y-sar would have, been (increased at least 20,000 tons. Ho pointed out that inability on the part of the Company to.deliver orders had far-reaching effccts, forlifc affected not only the Company, but tho miners, tho railway department, tho coal merchants, the coal dealers, and tho consumers. iWther, it caused dislocation of trade, injury to industries, and general'" economic, less. I Tho shortage of haulago power on tho AA'aipato line was deplorable. Tho' department was utterly unable to copo with tho goods traffic, which had increased enormously during tho past' few years, tho inability beingtwbolly caused through shortage of wagons and locomotive power. Tho department had failed to keen pace with the general and marked progress in tho AVaikat-o and adjoining districts. It had not anticipated tho increased trade and goods traffic conoequent upon the expansion of settlement, and establishment and development of industries along'thi AYaikato line. Ho most sincerely trusted] that the disastrous stato of affairs now existing would bo speedily remedied. | , ..

• , h ... ■ v. CHRISTCHURCH. , | " April 30. As there aro at the present time a larger number of consumptives at theTimaru Hospital than can be conviently found room for, tho Hospital Board has decided to erect shelters to accommodate ten consumptive patients oft the hospital grounds. A sanatorium proper is to be erected later on in some - suitable locality away from the seaboard. • ••' Scarlet Fever. : \ Scarlet fever is fairly prevalent in South Canterbury just now, and as a result the Infectious Diseases Hospital lately erected at Tiniaru is being 'found very useful at tho present tirao. There aro also fifteen cases of scarlet fover in, the AA'aimate Hospital. Nursing Association. i

Among the most useful and certainly the most modost institutions of Christchurch is tho District Nursing Association, of which Nurse Xvlaudo, well-known in connection with her consumption camps, was the founder, and is till tho head*nurse' and mainstay.. At tho annual meeting of the. Association's subscribers, the committee's statement included a report from Nurse Maude,, in the courso of which sho said: "We aro now entering upon the 13th year of our district nursing, and still many do not even know of our. existence. Much has been done, and much, remains to bo done. I started alone twelve years ago, and ended tho first year, of my work, having paid 1100 visits on foot. ■ Now, wo have two assistant nurses, and during this year havo paid. 5000. visits to patients. ' Most of theso havo boan. cases of cancer, ulcerated rheumatism; paralysis, and ■ tubercular disease.-,. Ono special part of our work is tho card of tho old people, who have, owing to old age, all tho "helplessness of ohildren. When night nursing is required, wo employ certain capable women whom we know something of. If all sick [folk and old folk,needing our care in Greater, Christchurchi were to know of the''District Nursing Association, fivo or six..nurses, .could bo'-usefully employed." It is satisfactory to notrthat from, a financial point of view, the year just closed: .lias been a very satisfactory ono for tho Association,, ending with, a credit balance of £94 ,os.' 5d.. Apart from, tho sum (£100) received' .. .from- ■ •-the. i,. oxecutors . of. Horn- J. T. .Pcaccck,. which has been invested to form the nucleus of an endowment fund, several other large amounts have como in towards the works,.of tho Associa- , : The Lata Fire, ■' ;Tho scene of tho late big fire in this city is now ono of great activity. Within the past few weeks great progress has been mado in tho removal of tho debris, and. tho demolition of those walls 'which- could not he left standing; A large scction, in the heart of tho burnt area'has already become.the proy of tho constructive workmen. Wardell's premises are being reconstructed, with a view to having them completed within, six weeks. Somo of tho heavy concrete foundations of tho D.I.C. building,, which has practically been cleared right away, are. being destroyed by blasting. ' A large ' quantity of tho bricks have boon cleancd up and stacked, \but tho greater part has found a uso that the builders never anticipated, in repairing, somo'of tbo worst roadways of tho city. ■ Small Birds. An interesting'return showing tho expenditure of the Selwyn County Council on the suppression of small birds, i during tho year, ended March 31 last, was submitted at tho Council jnceting yesterday.. The total expenditure on heads and r eggs was £1159 Bs. 5d., mado up a.s f0110w5262,309 -heads at Gd. per dozen, 10,586 heads at Is. per dozen, 55,410 heads and eggs at Gd. per dozen,' and 435,410 heads' and eggs at 3d. per dozen. The total number of heads and eggs purchased was 763,715, so the number of small birds in North Canterbury must havo been materially reduced.. ..Tho expenditure on poisoned grain was £272 2s. od., bird traps £38 195., commission on rates collected £53, and £43 25.. 'was paid'for keas. . Tlio total expenditure, thercforo, was £1566 lis. lOd.