PROVINCIAL NEWS. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 299, 11 September 1908, Page 3

PROVINCIAL NEWS. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

PALMERSTON. At tho last meeting of tho Palmerston Hospital "■-'Board the -matron v,reported as follows:—Patients in on August 1, 33; admitted during month, 53; discharged, 40 (of these 3G were cured); in 011 September 1, 40. The Inspector-General's annual report shows that the hospital and charitable aid rates in the Palmerston district 'are remarkably low. The individual averago days' stay of patients throughout the year amounts only to 26, while the average for the colony is 33.57. This means that patients have been cured within an average of 26 days, about seven days below the general average. The payments from patients during the year totalled £10-16 Os. 2d., which is very satisfactory. Tho total receipts amounted to £9711 65., against a total expenditure of £7875 ss. sd. A total of 1255 outsido rations have' been issued during tho year.; Special attention is .directed to tho rate per head of tho population (hiring the which only amounted to 7\d., the highest rate being that of 2s. 3Jd. per head ' for Westland. The approximate rate per pound on rateable capital value only amounts to one-seventeenth of a penny in tho pound for the year. These are evidences of the efficient administration of the local board's affairs. 'I Mr. A. Levy, of Palmerston, returned on Thursday night from a visit to Australia. His health is "much benefited by the trip. GREYTOWN. / ! SOUTH WAIRARAPA HOSPITAL'. The South Wairarapa Hospital Trustees met on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Morison presiding. An amended plan of alterations to the hospital was submitted by Messrs. Varnham and Rose. The plan was agreed to, except that it was decided not to 'enlarge the diningroom. .A cheque for £317 10s. was received from the district hospital board. The treasurer reported that accounts;amounting to £101 18s. lid. had been paid during the month, and that the credit balance at the bank was £337 16s. lOd. . Accounts, amounting to £103 10s. 3d. were passed for payment. . . ; . The number of patients discharged in August was 9, and the number admitted 9; one patient died and seven were still in the hospital. A motion to raise the fee for patients from £1 to £1 10s. per week was discussed, and was eventually held over until next meeting. The reason' for tho proposal was the increased cost of maintenance. , Mr. A. Booth was appointed visitor for the month. . WOODVILLE. Mr. R. C. Noedl considers that the track for tourist purposes to the top of Mount Whariti will be completed by Christmas. Mr. Hill, inspector of schools, lias been in tho district for tho past week overlooking tho work of the different schools. ' Mr. A. Rapley, owing to pressure of business matters, has resignod his position of captain of tho local volunteer corps. Sir. and Mrs. Yealo are expected to arrivo >.ome from England next Thursday. Business requirements have mado their holiday trip shorter, than was intended. , OTAEI. At the Police Court yesterday a man named John Hirst was charged (1) with being drunk, (2) with supplying a prohibited person with liquor. 011 the first charge Mr. Byron Brown, J.P., lined the man os., in default 24 hours, and on the second remanded him to appear before the Magistrate at his next sitting. ' ' Shortly before noon yestorday a heavy downfall of rain, accompanied with gusts of wind, commenced, and a- fine morning was turned to a dismal day. Rain is needed, and a couple or three days of it would do no harm. The hockey players of this district aro very enthusiastic-over, tho result of tho tourna--1 merit hold at Wellington/ and are ■ satisfied with tho; Horowheriua; team securing second, place for the 'junior honours. The performance is highly creditable, considering tho team did ,ii6t havo a single practice, together. The girls are expected to return to-morrow night. . tt • Owing to', the 'generosity of' Messrs.' Horton and Farmer, the local school grounds* are to be further beautified by ornamerital- and other trees. Tho committee have decided to inaugurate cooking classes fo? adults. SHANNON. Mr. Cording,- statiomnaster, and family returned from a holiday visit to Wellington on Tuesday. ;■■■.- . A largo number of residents journeyed to Levin for the races on Wednesday. It is not likely that the projected cooperative dairy association will materialise this season. Messrs. Dalgetv and Co. aro likely to continue working), the local butter factory throughout the season. At a meeting in the Presbyterian Church on Tuesday night the Rev. Messrs. White, Budd, and Hudson laid, before the .congregation tho conclusions they had come to about appointing a minister for the Shannon and Tokomaru district. Thoy were convinced of the necessity of appointing a minister for this district, as Mr. White had quite enough to do.in tho Levin district. ■ They would recommend to tho Presbytery that a student should bo appointed in November for five months. After that it was likely a permanent appointment. would be (made. The decision gave great satisfaction to tho congregation. ■ JEATHERSTON. The dance held on Wednesday evening under the auspices of tho Fire Brigade was well attended, music being played by Mrs. A. Burt. Messrs. C. Lust and A. Higgison were M.C.'s. , - Tho monthly meeting of the Featherston Town Board was held on Wednesday evening, Mr. J.'W. Card being in the chair. Tho receipts,for the month wero reported to bo £73 17s. Id., and accounts , amounting to £90 ss. 2d. were passed for payment. The amount of rates outstanding was reported to be £165 14s. lOd. A plumber's, license was issued to Mr. B. W. Ship. It was decided to affiliate with the New Zealand Municipal Association. An application from James Martin for an increase to 6s. a day for horse and cart hire was held over. It was decided to recommend the Chamber of Commerce to declare a holiday from 11 a.m. on October 29, the occasion of the Wairarapa show at Carterton. . Certain works were authorised to be gone on with. Mr. A. D. Annesley wrote in reference to a piano for the Town Hall, but the matter was held over. . ' , TAKAPAEAUMTJ. Miss Dolly Field had a narrow escape last week, her hair accidentally catching fire, and not- her mother appeared on the scene and with great presence of mind extinguished the flames, the result would have been serious. It is to be regretted that the basket trade, for which Paraparaumu has been so long noted, is on the decline, the scarcity of supplejacks being the cause. _ The all absorbing question now is whether wo aro to havo a now post office. This is badly' needed.