WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 22 April 1937, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent), Hospital Affaire: ' WESTPORT, April 21. Hon. Mclntyre was in the ehair at the monthly meeting of the Buller Hospital Board, held last evening. The Department of Health advised that an overdraft) limit up to £4,000 had been authorised for the quarter ending 30th June. The sum of £5 was voted King George A 7 Memorial Fund for establishment of Children’s' Health Camps. The Minister of Internal Affairs drew attention to an article in the Timaru “Post,’’ when the chairman of the Board was reported to have said that on one occasion the Board had received only £9 from an art union, and that was tho limit of assistance granted from that source. Since applying the whole of art union profits for relief purposes, the Board had received the sum of £642. The chair, man referring to the letter said he had been ineorrectUy reported, what he meant to convey was that instead of private people promoting art unions, .they should be promoted by the State end all profits go to Sthte institutions. The secretary was authorised to write the Minister, explaining the position. For the purpose of <->e levy tor 193738. the Valuer General advised that the- capital value of the Buller County at Ist April, was £1,018,620, Westport Borough £546,720. Hammond and McArthur Ltd. for. warded donation of £2O from “Land, ed at Last” Art Union to be allocated as follows: Millerton £B, Granity £6, Denniston £6. The Buller Medical Association wrote asking for reconsideration of a former request in regard to the treatment of members who may be absent from the district, and have to enter an outside hospital. The Board decided to adhere to its previous discussion, not t 0 entertain liability. The Association also asked that age for children of members of the Association for hospital treatment be raised from 15 to 16 yeais. The request was- refused by a majority of 5 votes to 3. The chair, man, Mrs Bird and Mr Caldwell supported the application. An application from the Master and Matron of the Old (People’s Home, for an increase in salary was referred to the Finance Committee.

' It was decided to advise the Diree. toi-General of Health, that the Board did not think another ambulance in the county wa s necessary.

Airs Bird and Mr Finlayson were appointed a visiting committee for the month. Pakihi Lands:

Authority for the employment of 25. additional men on the breaking up of a further block of 237 acres of pakihi land, on the west side of the main highway, opposite the Cawt'hron experimental plot at Faildown, has been granted by the Government, according to a communication received ' from the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister for Mines, by the Buller County Council Chair, man (Mr R. J. Hawes). An immediate stait will be made with tiie work. 'Pen men will also be employed on road work.

Tribute to Rev. and Mrs Webber: Rev. Fell of Greymoutli, presided over a large gathering, who as einbled last evening at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Hall to say goodbye to Rev. and Mrs Webber, who left to-day for Oto. rohanga, in the North Island. Those present included Ministers and members of all denominations, t'he Junction being a well deserved tribute to the good work done by Rev. and Mrs Webber during their time in Westport. ’fhe chairman in the cour.-e of his remniks', paid' handsome tributes to fhe manner in which the Rev. and Mrs Webber had carried out their Christianly duties. Theirs being a labour of love, they had never counted the cost, always doing their best to advance the Master’s cause and seeking only that reward which He Himself best-’ows on the faithful. They probably at times felt discouraged believing they were not achieving those- ends which were near and dear to them, but the great gathering that! night was a magnificent testimony to the good work the.v had done and was encouraging to them in the new sphere of service to which they had been called. Other speakers were Revs. Bloyce, Larsen, Messrs G. Taylor, J. McLeod. Seaton (Reefton), Campbell (Reefton), Airs Wilkie (Ladies’ Guild) and Mrs Stewart (Mothers’ Union). Air J. McLeod, on behalf of the con. gregation, presented the departing guests with an electric table lamp, . a crystal bedroom clock, and an inscribed leather tJoilet case.

The Rev Webber, who received an ovation on rising to reply, thanked most heartily the chairman and all the speakers for their many tributes and the gathering for assembling in such Targe numbers to show appreciation of tlhe services of Mrs Webber and himself. The speaker reviewed his Ministry in Westport, recalling its discouragements and encouragements, and said 'he never regretted having left the Public Trustee Department to fake up the Ministry. He, was very thankful to his brethern of the cloth, in the different churches, those who were with them that evening and others who were unable to attend, but yet sent their good He asked for the prayers of all present, not merely for the success of his own Ministry, but also for that of others engaged in the Master's cause in Westport. Little did they realise how helpful their prayers were and how needful. He hoped whoever were their succes. soi's they would have co-operation, help and encouragement such as had been so generously given to Mrs Webber and himself. They would always take an interest in Westport, and recall their many happy associations. In conclusion, he thanked all who had assisted in any way in the Church, helping to make more successful his Ministry in Westpor*. None could say how far the good work they had done would extend. Mrs Webber also spoke, feelingly referring to the hearty co-operation she had received both inside and outside the Church and to the- .regret she felt at bieaking the connection with so many friends. She hoped opportunities of meeting them would come again and meantime warmly thanked them for all they had done to make her stay in Westport a -very pleasant 0 "Tho hymn “Old Hundred,’’ “God Bo With You Till We bjeet Again, and “Auld Lang Syne” were feelingly sung. Mr s Trail and Miss Nesbi.t gave at fine rendering of a Venet.an duet. A number of games added interest fo the- evening’s programme. < be 'Vinners being Mesdames Jackson, \\ ilson, E. Larsen, W. Taylor and bliss Prout. Sea Erosion at Karamea: The Hon. R. Semple, Minister of > Public Works, writes Mr K. J. Holy.

oakc, M.P., for Motueka, as' follows:— It has been found that erosion is taking place at several places along the West Coast between Greymouth and Karamea. It is also considered tlhat the building up and denudation of beaches occurs in cycles which may be due to several causes. You are no doubt aware that the gravel that is brought down the rivers is carried along the beaches until such time as it is ground up so finely as to be carried awav in suspension, and that unVess there is a balance between the amount of gravel supplies and the amount ground up then the beaches are either 'built up or denuded. If floods are frequent and severe then it [is likely that: the supply will be great, er than the demand, but apparently during the erosion that has been taking place the rivers have not supplied sufficient: gravel and therefore denudation has been taking place. It i s possible that the Murchison earthquake of 1929 is still .having some effect on the position, in that in quite a number of the rivers lakes were formed which for the time being are trapping the gravel that would other, wise be washed down to the beaches. Coming more particularly to the Little WanganuLKongahu section, some time ago some case groins were tried with a view to arresting some of the sand that might be travelling along the beach. However, it was unfortunate that a particularly heavy stbrm washed out these groins before they became established.

To protect the foreshore with piles and timber pl'anking would cost at least £14.000 and it is felt that the sum is too large an expenditure to overcome what after all_ might only be a temporary phase, and' I feel that the Government should no be called upon t.o face his large expenditure.

Shipping: The Totara, Titoki and Kartigi sailed yesterday. The Rata is due this week-end.

Hospital Inquiry. Certain allegations against the Buller Hospital made by the father ot a child, who died in the institution, recently, six weeks after admission, suffering from infantile paralysis, were considered in committee by the Hospital Board at its monthly meeting last evening, and the following statement was handed to the press for publieation: “At to-day’s meeting of the Buller Hospital Board charges of malpractice and neglect made by Air William Fleming, whose child recently died in the hospital, were investigated. The finding of the Board is as follows:—‘That having thoroughly investigated the matter and having heard the evidence of Mrs —, who, was visiting and attending to the child on behalf of the parents, and of Mrs —, who acted during the other’s absence. also evidence of the Matron and Medical Superintendent, and of Dr. Thomson, Sister Yeoman, Nurse Boult and Mrs Bird,, who frequently saw the child, the board finds that the charges are absolutely unjustifiable, not on e having been sustained in th e slightest degree. The board not only exonerates the Medical Superintendent and staff from any blame, but is convinced, beyond all doubt, that the ease received very special attention and care’.’’

Considerable public interest in this matter had been aroused in Westport and district as a result of newspaper publicity given t 0 Mr Fleming’s allegations. According to the death certificate. the child’s death was not the result of infantile paralysis disease. The certificate read: “The immediate cause of death was uraemia and acidosis. 18 hours; disease, infantile paralysis, 10 weeks.’’