BLACKBALL NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 3

BLACKBALL NEWS

(Own Correspondent.) The weather here has been cold, with very little sunshine. It is ideal weather for causing sickness, and althougn Blackball may not be worse than any other towns, still there is a fair number of adults laid up, but very lew children. Some, homes have both husband and wife laid up. Our local doctor can be seen before daylight doing his rounds. The Medical Committee were asked to meet Dr Little at the Surgery last Saturday night, but several of them were laid up, including the chairman. Air W. R. McDonald was appointed. The doctor explained the reason for calling them together, as Dr leliord had sent over Dr Phillips to the Coast to organise from various bodies 111 all towns, to be ready should the ’flu get worse. It was not expected it would, still it was better io be prepared. It was resolved that the Medical Committee make all ararngements, and that Air 11. Ritchie (secretary) and Mr I. \\ iiliamson (treasurer) go round hotels and others to arrange for beds, etc., also halls, and to discuss the matter at the .Miners’ Union meeting on Sunday. Also to invite the ladies in the district to meet Dr Little at the surgery on Thursday evening at 7.30 for instructions should they bo required. Messrs Ritchie and Williamson lost no time, for with the- doctor and Constable Gurdan they sent an elderly man to the Hospital on Sunday. His hut is far from sanitary. It should be destroyed. There are others also. One has not been occupied for several years and was condemned during the last epidemic, but is still vermin-infected. It seems that the County Council wants the Health Department to have it destroyed, while the Health Department wants the Council to act, so it remains. One wise precaution the Committee took was to write to the Health Department inquiring if they would meet am expense that might, occur, as it is known that Millerton during the last epidemic was put to large expense, which the Health Department would not pay. Mine No. 9 Dip, which has been closed since last December, re-opens on Monday with a full complement of mem Last Thursday on the dog watch there was room lor eighteen pairs of miners, but only five pairs turned up, so it has been stopped for the present, until sickness is over. His friends are glad to hear of the promotion of Mr Rasmussen, son of our stationmaster. He served his apprenticeship in the engineering and electrical department of the Blackball Coal Company under three former foremen. He received an appointment as electrical and junior shift engineer al a freezing works in Canterbury, and he has now been appointed electrical inspector in Canterbury.