CLAIM FOR MEDICAL ATTENDANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 21, 25 July 1910, Page 8

CLAIM FOR MEDICAL ATTENDANCE.

In the Magistrate's Court; to-day, before Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M., Harry Edward Qwos, medical practitionei-, of Wellington, proceeded against Charle-s Hickey, of Wellington, to recover the balance of an account for medical services rendered during a recent confinement of defendant's wife. Mr. D. Jackson appeared for the plaintiff, Mr. Meredith for defendant. It was stated ! that' plaintiff had performed the services in May 1909 and made twentyfour attendances in all. The account i was for £15 15s and this was reduced to j £12 12s, "out of consideration for do- i fendant." For the defence it was contended that plaintiff had agreed to perform the services for £3 3s, and plaintiff himself admitted this, provided the j case were a normal one. The case, however, he alleged, waa not a normal one : defendant's wife contracted blood J poisoning, an operation had to be car- ' ried out by himself and Dr. Ewart, and the patient died. Plaintiff could npt swear that he informed Hickey of his wife's condition, and the necessity for an operation on the day the operation was performed. Plaintiff cross-examined, admitted that the ordinary charge was £3 3s, including attendances up to the r.inth or tenth day. The sum of £7 7s had been paid into court, and judgment was given for the plaintiff for this amount, without costs. The defendant entirely withdrew any allegations of negligence or unskilfulness, and it was admitted that in the ordinary way, if no contract had been made as alleged, 'the fee charged would not have been excessive.

There js due at Auckland on or about Wednesday next the initial steamer of the new Eastern Canadian, Australian and New Zealand line, tho Rakaia, of the Aew Zealand Shipping Company. The date of her Wellington arrival" is 31st July. The line has been subsidised by the Canadian Government to the extent of £25,000. From Canada the Rakaia brings cargo specially selected for the New Zealand markets, and it is confidently expected that return cargoes will be forthcoming- of a character oi which Canada stands in especial need — raw materials for the most part, such as wool, skins, and hides ; also mutton and lamb! Hitherto Eastern Canada has purchased such Australian and New Zealand products as she requires in the London markket; but it is hoped now that a direct route is inaugurated, a direct trade will follow. The proposal to rename Palmerston North Manawatu did not meet with the favour of a public meeting at that town on Friday night. It was urged by one speaker, however, that if some very rapid steps wero not taken Palmerston North was in danger of being merged into the J\lanaw3tu (river) without residents being asked to discuss the matter. As *ir as Dannevirke is concerned the "fight pictures" will be allowed to be shown. "We as a race would become absolutely milqsops if it were decided \ to stop the contests, calling for strength and endurance, for fighting was one of tho best means of building up a vigorous manhood," said a honorable councillor, speaking aginst a suggestion of the local W.C.T.U., that a bar should be placed on the reproduction of pictures of the contest in the local amusement hall. "We want," he added, "men to grow up physically and morally strong — men who cam receive hard knocks and take a licking. The prize fights wero not brutal, and not demoralising." The council declined to give effect to the reqoest of the society. It is notified in our advertising 1 columns that the second term of Miss Borlase's dancing classes has commenced. Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald, Ltd... will offer a. catalogue of household fur" nishings, including' ottoman couch, bedroom suite, oak diningroom suite, extension dining table, etc. etc., afc 1.30 o'clock on Wednesday, in their auction mart. Five hundred sheets iron, doors, sashes, frames, carpenter's bench, two WO-gallon tanks, and 100-gallon t*nk will be sold at, 11 a.m ou Thursday, on the ground adjoining the Star FouiKtty, ReTams-fltrect, Newtown,