HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1941, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, December 19

The death occurred at Westland Hospital on Thursday morning of Mr. Alexander Brown, aged 65, a native of Kyneton, Victoria, and formerly a resident of Beach Street. lie had been a patient for some lime. Private Penwell, ,who is reporio.l missing, is a brother of Mr. Ron Penwell, of Hokitika, and was employed with Mr. R. E. Norris, of So»ah Hokitika, prior to enlistment. There was a large attendance at the Railwaw Station to .welcome the returning soldiers, Privates G. Davidson and S. Whitehead, The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Perry), extended a welcome and expressed the pleasure .of the people at their safe return. Representatives of the R.S.A. gave a special welcome to Private Whitehead, a former member, who returned to his home at Ruatapu; Private Davidson resides with his mother in Bealey Street. The air service between Hokitika, Okuru and Jackson Bay, has experienced a busy time, as a large number of men have to be brought out lor Christmas,'and the majority piefer to come bv air rather than by sea. On Thursday, the high wind made landings impossible at the Bay, but Hie service resumed to-day. Sisters Minehan and Taylor, ol Westland. Hospital, left bv the air service on Friday fpr Jackson Bay. Sister Minehan will relieve Sister T. E. White at the Hospital at Ja.T.son Bay After a spell of summer weat.ner, conditions changed on Wednesday to cold south-westerly winds, which' have continued. The change nas tempestuously affected the gardens. The motorship, Gaei._ had a tempestuous voyage to Okuru. She left Hokitika on Tuesday morning, and under usual conditions would have 1 reached Okuru the following morning, but met a raging south-west gale and heavy seas, and at daylight next morning was just abeam of Abbey Rocks, or about half way. She arrived the following morning. Conditions at Okuru prevented her leaving on her return. She is now expected Saturday morning. Mr. E. W. Heenan, presided at the meeting of the Westland Hospital Board last evening. was taken to a telegram from the Health Department in regard to a blanket exemption for employe.es at the hospital. Mr. G. H. Chapman said he disagreed with this action, which would take the power away from Appeal Boards specially constituted to deal with appeals. Mr. A. R. Elcock said the Boards .were sc,'. up to deal with appeals, and Hospital Boards were not entitled to any preference over other bodies. The Chairman said the telegram was received the day before the Armed Forces Appeal Board sat in Hokitika. He did not take an v action, deeming the action of the Department against the principles by which they stood. Employees of the Board had already volunteered, one had given his life, and others were serving overseas. The Board would only ask for the retention of the doctors. It was not likely that the Board’s medical officers would be called upon to go overseas. It was unanimously agreed to forward a protest to the Department, and advise total disagreement with the blanket appeal, as j proposed. The Medical Superintendent was empowered to have Red ( Crosses marked out on the' roofs of the main hospital .wards, and to have lire drill carried out. The Board agreed to distribute the usual Christmas bonus to the pensioners in the Old Men’s Home. . The appointment of a Sub Matron was left to the Chairman, Medical Superintendent and Matron, the Superintendent and Matron to draw up a schedule of duties.; In view of present conditions, the Board empowered tno Superintendent to purchase medical and surgical supplies up to an amount of £1,500. It was agreed to ask the Board officers to forward written copies of requirements for the coming year to the Secretary by February 20, the requirements could then be included in the estimates. In connection with the Emergency Precautions’ Scheme, the Hospital was separated from the local organisation, and Dr. B. L. Wilson was appointed Controller for the Hospital. Should any emergency take place in

Hokitika, the hospital would accommodate the maximum number of patients, and if further accommodation was required, two emergency hospitals ,would come into operation immediately. Dr. Wilson advised that preparations were well advanced. The Board agreed to make an appeal to householders for the offer of iuily equipped beds for the emergeneyi hospitals, and also to receive offers from h.ouseiiotdei;s desiring to offer fully equipped bedrooms if required. Under the new scheme, all members working in the new medical scheme would have to be enrolled, and issued .with a special badge.

The Medical Superintendent reported: —Remaining in hospital, 31st. October, 70; admitted during November, 66; total treated, 136; remaining till 30th. November, 53., The farm manager reported: The following produce was sold to the Institution during November: Milk, 560 gallons, £49, cream, 492 pints, £24 12s; pigs, 1 killed, £4 Ils 6d; pigs, 7 sold, £25 19s sd; eggs, 74i dozen, £5 Ils 9d; hens, 2,2 s; vegetables, 398 lbs., £5 s*s 2d; total value, £ll5 Is lOd. The Matron reported the highest number of occupied beds was 76, lowest 52, anil average for the month. 60; massage and physiotherapy treatments, 230; X-rays, 63; operations, 39. Nursing staff: Holidays, Nurse Barlow. Nurses Worthington and Terry on extended sick leave. Resignations: Sister Williams (Night Sister), 10/12/41, Sister Airey 16/12/41, Sister Wheeler 30/11/41, Staff Nurse E. Ward 16/12/4, Nursq Woolhouse 23/11/41. Appointments: Nurses Nisson, Lawson, Hunt, Knox, Lynch, Mulcahy, Barlow and Campbell, commenced duties 11/11/41.

At a meeting of the Westland branch, Canterbury Mountaineering Club, Mr. F. West and party reported on a week spent at Grassy Flat as their base. A party climbed Mt. Newton and visited the Arahura ‘and Harman river flats, and shot eighteen deer. A section of the Styx track above Heslay’s Hut was in a dangerous condition, with overhanging boulders threatening the safety of passers-by. It .was resolved to write to the County Council and request assistance in removing the obstacles.