DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1945, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

MINER’S DEATH. ’ TAUMARUNUI, July 18; An inquest was held to-day into the death of John Cecil Coffin, who was killed at the State mine at Tatu on May 31, during a derailment. A verdict of accidental death was returned. Ernest Kerry, a brother-in-law. of Coffin, said impressions at the mine were that Coffin had been manpower - ed, but if the department said he was not directed, but went on his own free will, he would not dispute it. MURDER CHARGE. ‘ AUCKLAND July 19. Charged with the murder of Lila Willemina Hamfnond at Otahuhu on July 9, Stanley Winwood McKissick Reid, 41, labourer- and range fitter, made his second appearance in the Police Court, this morning. On the application of the police accused was remanded until August 2 was stated the Crown will be ready to proceed with the hearing of the charge. As was the case last Thursday when Reid made his first appearance the Court was crowded this mornm-. NURSING* AIDS DUNEDIN, July 18. The imperative need of maintaining the ranks of voluntary aids at full strength was emphasised to-day by the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer), »who made a special appeal to all. young girls and women interested in making a practical contribution to the community service performed by these teers. “We want them for staffing convalescent homes, hospitals for soldiers and children's health camps, he said. “They arc needed at once in the smaller public hospitals in country districts, and in the big base hospitals, where the number ot pupil nurses is insufficient to cope with the increasing bed-rate.” The Minister added that before they could qualify applicants must obtain certificates in first aid, home nursing, and hygiene, and must have ccmpleted 60 hours’ practical work m a public hospital. They could, go on to qualify later as State registered nursing aids, providing they completed 6000 hours in an approved hospital and passed the necessary examination.

SEAMEN’S THEFT. DUNEDIN, July 18. Bed linen of the finest quality from the liners Queen Alary and Queen Elizabeth was displayed in the Magistrate’s Court this morning when four seamen from a vessel in port were charged with the theft of the linen. The accused were Henry Russell George, aged 22. Reginald Hugh Cooper, aged 44. Owen Connelly, aged 34, and George Gower, aged 44. The total value of the goods was £2O. The men pleaded guilty. The police said that a large quantity of material from the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth had been stored in Sydney, where the liners were stripped at the beginning of the war. This material was recently loaded for transhipment to England, so that the liners could be refitted. While the vessel was at Port Chalmers considerable quantities of the material had been pillaged, and a search disclosed some of it in the accuseds’ cabins. Each had a fair amount of wages due, and the captain wished them to sail to-morrow. All the accused were fined £lO, the money to be paid forthwith.