DOMINION NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1939, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS

[FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

INTOXICATED DRIVER. WELLINGTON, August 24. Fourteen clays’ gaol, and delicensing till November 24 next year, was imposed on a truck-driver, Stuart Fraser, 33, for intoxication while in charge. TIMBER MILL BURNT. TAUIVIARUNUI, August. 23. The Marton Sash and Door Company’s timber mill, alongside the National Park railway station, was totally destroyed by fire about 1 o’clock this morning. The fire had a strong’ hold when discovered, and there was no chance of saving the mill, which was a small one, employing 10 men. HOSPITAL PROBLEM CHRISTCHURCH, August 23. “The position is acute. I don’t know what’s going to be the end of it,” said the chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. Mr. L. B. Evans, when the board to-day received a report that the number of in-patients showed a steep increase during the last few weeks. Mr. Evans said that there now were 484 patients in the hospital. Sir Hugh Acland, chairman of the Hospital Committee, said that last year the peak was 471. It had been expected that there would be about a 5 per cent, increase over the normal number of occupied beds because, of free service. This would have meant an additional 20 or 30, increasing the average number from about 426 to 446. However, the figure had jumped lo 484. Sir Hugh said that the matter -was receiving urgent consideration.