DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 April 1933, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] STOCKS AND SHARES. AUCKLAND, April 1. Sales: Commercial Bank 14/-, Waihi 22/-, Bank of New Zealand 44/6. BOROUGH OF TAURANGA. TAURANGA, April 1. The financial soundness of the Borough is indicated by the fact that the Town Clerk reports that, for the financial year ended yesterday, 97.08 per cent, of the rates was collected. While a little below the previous year’s result, the figure is distinctly satisfactory. HOSPITAL LEVY INCREASED. DUNEDIN, March 31. The Hospital Board estimates disclosed at a meeting yesterday evening fixed the levy on local authorities at £40,000, about £2750 more than last year. The finance committee explained that the debit balanc of £6500 was carried over, ine sales tax and exchange are estimated at £l5OO. The revenue is estimated to be reduced by £2OOO. OPIUM-SMOKING PREVALENT. WELLINGTON, March 31. An indication of the extent of opium smoking amongst Chinese living in the Taranaki, Haining and Tory Street districts of Wellington, was given by a Chinese interpreter during the healing of a case at th© Magistrate s Coui . “Are th© majority of the Chinese in this district opium smokers?” asked Mr. Page, S.M. The interpreter: “Well, I should say about 50 per cent, of them are. The others would not be. He said that there were a number of unemployed Chinese in the district. These Chinese were given food and shelter by their countrymen, and in return help was given with cooking. NEW RAILWAY ENGINES. WELLINGTON, March 31. Four new “K” locomotives, built at the Hutt railway shops, are out on the road, and it is officially stated that they are meeting admirably the requirements for which they were constructed. There is no curtailment in the construction programme, and one engine will be turned out every six weeks. When replacements have been completed bigger trains and heavier loads in goods trains will be the rule, and it also is anticipated that there will be faster trips. All of th© “K” engines are to be absorbed on North Island lines, and when they replace “Q.S.” th© next heaviest type, the latter will be sent to South Island lines. HOUSE SURGEONS RESIGN. WELLINGTON, March 30. Disappointment among the house surgeons iat the Wellington Public Hospital at the restriction of work under the medical reorganisation is believed to have been the cause of an unusually large number of resignations within the last twelve months. The chairman of the Board, Mr F. Castle, explaining the attitude of the Board, said that major operations were performed under the supervision of the honorary staff, but the house surgeons would be given reasonable opportunities to perform services. He was quite sure that it was the desire of both the Board and the honorary staff to give house surgeons the fullest opportunities, having regard to the welfare of the patients, whose interests must come first. The house surgeons must acquire their knowledge under the supervision of competent men.