NEWS IN BRIEF

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1921, Page 2

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Hospital Board, at last night’s meeting decided to request both per s here to open a subscription column for donations to a fund to assist in erecting the proposed X-ray room at tile hospital. Mr G. M. Knapp of Greymouth, left by last evening's train for Reefton, en route to Spring Grove, Nelson, on a visit to his parents. The attention of butchers is called to Mark Sprot’s advertisement of sale of fat South Westland cattle ami fat sheep at Preston Road on Monday, the 23rd in st. Ex-Senior Inspector of Police, Robert Darby, died at Westport yesterday. He was widely known throughout New Zealand and was for years a very capable police officer. The prospecting areas now pegged out in the Alexander River district aggregate dose upon 3000 acres. There are naturally going to be some conflicts in tie Warden’s Court in regard to pegging out claims. The majority of the leases pegged out are coining north towards the Inangahua and prospectors have actually been engaged north of that river. During last March 5.77 inches of rai fell in Greymouth, the fourth highest rainfall for the West Coast from Cape Farewell to Pnysegur Point. In this regard Greymouth was defeated oy Otira, 21.72 inches, Oukra 10.76, Ross 10.09. Although rain fell in Westport on 21 Ttays, against IS in Greymouth, only 5.28 inches was registered. In Ross during March rain fell on -- out of tho 31 days. Further Slump Goods arrive at McGrner’s fast and furious. Business is being done in every department. There is a reason for the. great rush. Pay a visit daily. The low prices defy competition. A few shillings go a long way during this great Slump Sale. Me-

Gruer ami Co., Greymouth. Reefton and Hokitika. —Advt. Some of the members of’local luxlies I in Greymouth adopt free and easy methods in discussing matters on the order paper at meetings. Frequently they ramble on in an inane manner on trifling matters, or deliver lengthy harangues when it is quite unnecessary. The Press has n# cause for complaint over these things, but it »S time that members realised that what is said in open meeting is at the discretion of the reporters fai publish, and they do not wish to be* prompted or dictated to as to what they should report. Mr G. Heinz, jun.. has been appointed manager of the Hokitika Gas Works. The appointment was made at last meeting of the directors of the com- ’ pany, when a letter of appreciation of past services was frowarded to Mr W. Steward. ' Mr H. R. Sweney appointed secretary to the co- i ,in - * i vice Mr W. Wilson, resisned. s The proposed X-ray room at ‘He - Grey River Hospital was under disl cussion at last night’s Hospital Boar meeting. Mr Hannan asked it ..he ■ Doctor was conversant with operating . the x-ray plant. Mr Williams ami ' Rev Cut tie assured the meeting t at J Ductor Johnson was quite competent to il use it as every surgeon had. prior I i • a ...o take a course >! to taking lus degree, to s I in X-ray work. , , | The custom of saerihcmg on. s fe > ent of loyally to marter 11 ° r . E^“ r ■ is still practised occasionally in Jap-n- - i: Tho suicide of General Xogi and his >! wife on the death of the late F.m--i „ ero r is historical. On January 6, i Up a Japanese schoolmaster gave r his ’life by rushing into a burning I! sc hool building to rescue the portrait ’ of tho Emperor which is a s c . , . v rjnverument schools. ■ object m al. ’ Tho suden death toik place at Ho 1 kitikn, of Mrs Thorn, wife of Mr E;l--,lma„d Thorn Of Gibson Quay, which : took place on Tuesday night about lin o’clock. The deceased was a na- , I five of Cherfford, Devonshire Eng.l j.,„d and 66 years of age. The end I cope very suddenly, heart failure ‘ Kdith . Thorn at. home) are left to mourn their sudden loss. Many friends nd . hear with regret, of the passing .of 1 an estimable citizen and will - their sympathy, to the relauves.

I For last April the Grey Valley [ Boroughs had the second highest birth rate, per 1000 of population in the Dominion. At* last night’s meeting of the Hospital Board, Mr Skoglund brought up the matter of supplies being ordered from the Hospital. He stated that the Board should know what was being ordered and thus prevent any unauthorised expenditure. He referred particularly to* drugs as on occasions large orders had been made and these would not be used for years. Mr Irvine said that on one occasion a drug had been ordered and there was a supply of it now at the Hospital sufficient to last 20 years. Mr Skoglund gave notice of motion as follows: “That domestic requisites be ordered from the Hospital (apart from the con tracts already in hand). That orders for surgical and medical supplies he first submitted to the Board.” Mr Parfitt agreed with this and said that this matter of ordering goods should be placed on a- business basis, and to order goods indiscriminately was bad business. Rev. Cuttie remarked that it would not do to tie the I>o< - | tor’s hands too much. Mr Skoglund | said that when Rev Cuttie had been ■on the Board for a time he would • know that it was rfecessary to do so.” It is not every day that the general public have the opportunity of buying goods from the warehouse. Messrs Glasson and Co., warehousemen, of Christchurch, are offering until Saturday, May 21st., at the Sample Rooms, Mackay Street, opposite the Town Hall, the following astounding values: Jap Silk Blouses for 12/6; warm Winter Coats for 69/6; smart Check Coats in lovely tweeds at prices that show a saving of fifty shillings per coat; Jap Silk Jumpers, 19/6, 21/-; beautiful Velour Coats, with fur collars, for 10 guineas (the collars alone cost six pounds in England); Fox’s Serge, 54in 14/6 per yard; All-Wool Coating Serge, 54in., 14/9 a yard. Made-to-Measure Suits are offered from £5 10s, and Ready-to Wear* 79/6; also smartly tailored Top Coats, real Angora Scarves, Ladies’, Gents’ and Children’s Oilskins. Other special values for early callers. An early visit will be advisable to avoid disappointment. The even tenor of the routine of the Hospital Board meeting was a little disturbed last evening as a result of brief wordy warfare between Mr Williams and Mr Skoglund. The Board was lengthily and leisurely discussing the matter of Nurses’ hours of work at the Grey Hospital. Mr Skoglund had held the floor on two or three occasions and his example had been followed by most of the other members. Again Mr Skoglund arose and commenced t* offer some advice on the matter. XV hen Mr XV illiams marked, sotto voce: “You’re alwavs holding the floor.” Mr Skoglund (heatedly) : “I’ve got as much right as you to hold the floor.” Mr ••Yes, and you also have the right to allow other members to have a say, you’re always on your feet!’’ Mr Skoglund : “Well, Mr Cuttie wasn’t on his feet when he spoke; I get up when f have anything to say.” Mr Wiliams: “Quite so: and frequently thosa who sit down and discuss things quietly, talk more sense than some of those people who are always on their feet.” T’he brooze which had temporarily ruffled the -placid water” of the meet’ng again subsided into its uninteresting routine. The matter of the Nurses af the Grey Hospital having a> day off in each week was brought up by Mr Skoglund at last night’s me&ng cf the Hospital Board. He stated that the present staff of nurses prevented them from having a day off. It was unfair in this respect that tho Sisters were able to have a day while the Nurses had to work seven days « week. He moved that* two probationers be advertised for and thus the increase in the staff would allow «he Nurses to have a day off every week. Mr Parfitt seconded this and slated that the Minister for Hospitals had proposed a scheme whereby nurses would be able to have time oc. Mr Williams called the Board’s attention to the fact that there were’ four nurses at present off on account of sickness. It would be ridiculous to increase the staff when there was the possibility of these nurses taking up their duties again in the near future. Mr Greaney deprecated the proposal to increa.se the staff. At present they had a large staff of five sisters and 14 nurses. There was nothing against them having a day off, hut it was not necessary bo increase the staff After some discussion it was decided that the matter be held over till next meeting in order that the Matron be given the opportunity to submit a full report as to the working conditions of the Hospital.