HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1935, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

’(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, August 13. The Westland Mining Executive has been advised that the proposals to prosi pect a large area of maiden country between Kuiuara and Callaghans has been approved. Mr. S. W. Strong, mining engineer, is to the consulted in regard to the operaticlls, which will be carried out on full t||ie. Expedient ed miners will be reqil-fed for the work, who must be rel istered unemployed, and those desirilg employment should advise the County office. . A euinu wi l be on Lhe field oil Loopline road, and a lieries of shafts put down. The scheme prlivides for well equipped shafts, so th|t unwatering will be possible as and three shafts are to be daily, to combat the waler to th** advantage. The undertaking prdKiises to be the most comprehensive scheme of alluvial prospecting yet attempted under the Unemployment Board ,in this district, and will be watched) with much interest. A start will be (made next week with the erection of \the camp. Mr. A. L. Dewar, of t|ie Wataroa School, has received notice C'f his transfer to Ongarue, about fourteen miles from Taumarunui, the transfer *o take effect from the end of thjs term. Mi. Dewar has made hiiusof very popular at his profession, ami with his active interest in local sports bodies, Aero Club, Medical Association, JSouth Westinnd Kugov Sun Union and \l?ennis Club will be greatly missed. The following have been chosen to represent South Westlaud iy l the Dittman Shield match on Saturday: Fullback, Adamson; three-quarters, Jim Nolan. Wyatt, Cooper; fivejeighths, S. Hendry, Caezar; half-back., Vincent; forwards, R. McMillan, Mclßride, W. Thiele, Bowes, Gardiner, Ct Theile, Beard, Cox. Emergencies: Forwards— Ueveldl, G. Berry; back, Eberly, J.

Nolan. 1 A motion of sympathy wits: the relatives of the late Mr. J. Ritchie, was passed at the Westland liospinal Board last evening, members standing as a mark of respect. The ehairmyu (Mr. T. W. Duff) referred to the g|>od services rendered by Mr. Ritchie, fpvhen a member of the Board. The weather changed last nigfht and steady rain commenced to fal/1 about midnight, and continued steadily this morning. * The Westland Rugby Sub-Uyaion met last evening when there were present Messrs. .1. C. Stafford (president), A. Stevenson, W. H. Reeves,/C. L. Harper, D. R. Dowell, A. Cutjbush and E. W. Heenan. The fo lowin/g fixtures for Saturday were approved:/Seniors; Dittman Shield match, Wosllland v. South

Westland, Cass Square, j No. I (Air. D. Breeze). Juniors: —Ki/wi v. Arahura, Cass Square, No. 1 1/.30 (Mr. C. , L. Harper); Kokatahi w. Ross, at Kokatahi (Mr. M. Walla/ce); School v. Excelsior, Cass Squares, No. 2 1.30 (Mr. J. Rutland). Mr. 1). ,’Breeze reported having ordered off l/. Muir and W. Craig in the Kiwi-Excl’lsior match on Saturday. On the motion of Mr. Reeves, it was decided th/e players be cautioned. W. Groweott’sf application for regrading to juniors/was granted. It was decided the annual seven-a-side tournament be held Jon Cass Square on Saturday August/24, nominations to close next Monday’ evening. The tournament is open to /ill teams in the district Mr. Cu.t.b".sb-'was appointed manager of the Wi’estland team for Saturday. It was the team assemble at the Central Hotel at 2.15 p.m., those unable to play to notify the manager or secretary immediately.' It was decided to send a letter of congratulation to the Canterbury team on its winning the Ranfurly Shield. School was granted permission to play an Old Boys’ team on Wednesday and against West Christchurch D.H.S. on August 23. It was decided to send a letter to L. Hughes, ex pressing pleasure at his recovery from illness. Bruce Bay residents arc looking forward t.o the formal opening of the Bruce Bay Timber Coy. mill, which is now in good working order. The aero drome at Mahitahi river is being improved to accommodate all classes of planes. On Sunday i't was visited by the plane Z.K.A.D.I, with Mi’s D. Nolan and Mr Mowatt as passengers who went on to Okttru. At the R.S.A. meeting, the secretary reported that he had an ’applieatior for two days’ subsidised labour from an ox-soldier at present out of employ ineiit,. butt not registered as unemployed.— It was decided to grant the two days in this case. The headquarter.' advised that the National War Funds Council had allocated .£8 for Wes-fbim Patriotic Association, and that the armed forces of the Crown be invitee to take part in uniform, in all par ades on Day. Accounts amount ing to £8 6s 9d were passed for pay mont. Mr W. F. Park, ex-member of the R.F.C., was elected a member. The president reported that he bad final ised the purchase -of scats for the hat from the proprietors of the Princess Theatre; also that ho could not come to any 'agreement with an account, in dispute.—lt was decided to make an offer 1.0 pay half tho amount of thi portion of the account that is ques tinned. At the Hospital Board’s usual meet ing the Medical Superintendent rc periled as follows: Remaining in Itos pital on July 1. 72; 'admitted dunrq July, 66; total treated during July 138; discharged cured, 67; discharged relieved, 20; died, 2; unrelieved, 2; total. 91; remaining in hospital on July 31, 47. In June, 210. and in July 315 massage and electrical treat

meats twere given. Tho Department- ot Health wrote authorising an overdraft of £l5OO. The Matron reported that patients varied from 71 (highest) to 48 (lowest), averaging 58.2. Nurses Cameron and Gillespie passed their final in the recent. State examinations. Nurse Camcron is on annual leave. Nurse Herring left on July 19. Miss Edna Rawlings left nt the end of tho month, and Miss Bertha He.hrooder resumed duty on August 1. Miss Maureen Martin i s off duty at present, and has been admitted to the ward for treatment. Joseph Freitas went off duty during the month with injured fingers. Mr Wylie is applying for annual leave. Wc are graternl 'to Dr. and Mrs Wilson for their gift of four duchesses and seagrass chairs for the side rooms, which have added considerably tio the comfort of the patients. We also wish to thank Mr Renton for two sets °f scales and Mrs David Graham and Mrs Peter Graham for books and magazines. The treasurer’s statement showed receipts £lBBO 9s 6d, expenditure £1169 13s 7d, debit balance £637 9s Bd. Accounts amounting "tlo £llOl were presented and passed for payment. The Hospital Boards’ Association wrote, recommending that the Government be asked to jallow the board to restore the 5 per cent, cuts. The chairman con

sidered ithe letter did not affect, this board. The tender of Mr Geo. Kennedy 1 for the supply of blinds for tho hospital was accepted. An application from Nurse D. McCaskill *to rejoin the staff of the hospital was filed for reference. Mr Parry reported on behalf of the House Committee. —It was resolved that, the works recommended bo carried out. Mr E. Freitas was granted leave for annual holidays. The secretary was instruc’tod to write to the Health Department requesting it, to expedite plans for new nurses’ home. The secretary was also author ised to obtain a report on the water supply from lhe Health Department. At the Hospital Board meeting, a letter was received from Nurse M. W. Gunn. South Westland, offering to perform nursing, etc. Mr James Donovan wrote asking for a subsidy for Nurse Gnnn. The chairman (Mr T. Duff) suggested bringing the matter before the South Wes’tland Medical Association. Tf the association approved of the appointment of a. nurse, ap plications would be invited. Mi Eleock said it might be some time before a doctor was obtained, and in the meantime assistance should be given Nurse. Gunn. Mr N. Brown said that as a member of tho association he was not so free to speak. It would seem they were doing nothing, but that was nnt so. They were attempting to make tho position more attractive and wer e appealing to the Health Department for some assistance. They would prefer a doctor to a nurse. lie recognised Nurse Gunn’s value and work, and thought the board should recompense her. H© was opposed to the association’s funds being used in this direction. He would support a motion to give Nurse Gunn, some assistance. Mr Jamieson also supported this. The chairman moved that Mrs Gunn be .asked to accept the position of district nurse for three months at the rate of £l5O per annum, to date from this day. Seconded by Mr Evenden and carried. Mr Brown asked the board to deal patiently with

the association, which was looking to th© future. The south slowed signs of expansion. Ri fi i-cnce was last made at the Hospital Board’s meeting to the criticism of Crs. Murdoch *and Jeffries at the recent, County Council meeting concerning the. restoration and raising of salaries. The chairman (Mr Duff) stated the pupil nurses in the Westland Hospital were receiving £2O per annum more than in other hospita s, where £25 a year is paid, and here it was £45. The raising of the salaries of higher officials was fo bring then) into line with .other hospital;.. He stated that he and the secretary visited the. Grev Hospital as diie.ted by the board, for the purpose of making inquiries as to the manner in which the outpatients’ department? is conducted. It was found that their system would not bo of much assistance in giving a lead, as their doctor is residential, and also they have, a dispensary at' the hospital. They have a scale ,of fees chargeable and their outpatients arc treated in the same nfanner as Westland inpa’tients, insofar as all fees and medicines are charged up to the patient, and those who are in a position to pay do so, and fees uncollectable arc written off. The position of the terms of the Westland agreemen't with the Medical Superintendent, permitting him the right to privatie practice, a difficulty, as so many of the doctor’s private patients are put in'to hospita l for this hospital service, and when discharged from the institution naturally must be regarded as the doctor's private patients. The question could be gone into and certain arrangements •iadc whereby indigent patients could, on application to the chairman or secretarv, obtain a form which thev woub' fill in., and then attend nt the hospital on a certain dav or days and con suit the doctor, and obtain incd’cine either from tho hospitia 1 . supply or from Mr Williams, the hoard’s dispenser. The question could he gone into further on the lines suggested, and a de finite scheme adopted. After disuussioi 1 it was decided to have an ou-t patients ’ day. Wednesday mornings n’t 11 o’clock, tho chairman and doctor to finalise the scheme