REEFTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1944, Page 6

REEFTON NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent) REEFTON, May 1. Mr E. V. Jones, Christchurch, is on a business visit to Reefton. Mr A. Loughnan has left for Dunedin where he has secured a position. , , . Miss P Bolton, Christchurch, is visiting friends here. Mr W. Flintoff, Auckland, who. is a former resident, has been looking up old friends. The Fire Brigade was called out ,at 2 o’clock yesterday morning to a fire in Broadway at the Inangahua Times buildings. An adjoining shop also ’ suffered slight damage. Both buildings ha d been unoccupied for a considerable time. T'he fire had a good hold when the alarm was given and the fire brigade worked for almost an hour to quell the flames. While assisting the fire brigade, Allen Parrish, married, of Reefton, suffered injuries to his right leg when he tripped and fell on a hose lead.

There were present at the monthly meeting of the Inangahua Hospital Board Messrs J. Auld, F. W. Archer, J. Coghlan, J. F. Coghlan, F. Watson, B. Mirfin and W. Clayton. The Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Board advised that the matter of making the maternity annexe at the hospital a training school for maternity nurses was being considered. Department of Health advised that no supply of motor ambulances was available for purchase, other than the machine submitted to the board. It was suggested that an all-steel body be fitted to the machine under offer. Mr J. Coghlan said that the County Chairman had j not yet called' a public meeting to I consider the raising of funds to pay for an ambulance. Mr Clayton said I that the Waiuta miners had agreed to pay £1 per member towards the cost of the machine if other Waiuta residents would also contribute. The chairman asked if the machine under offer to the board would be i suitable for conversion into an am- ; bulance. Mr Archer said that provision would need to be made for special springing for the chassis. It j was decided to make further en- j quiries of the St. John Ambulance i Association and the Canterbury Hos-1 pital Board concerning an ambulance. The Health Department for-1 warded approval for an overdraft of £lOOO for next quarter. The National Service Department wrote in regard to the employment of Scheme 13 men for three months from 27th March, 1944. The Director-General of Health advised that it was not considered necessary to include in plans for a new hospital at Reefton, special provision for a tuberculosis ward. Mr W. H. Trengrove advised of the completion of floor plans for the new hospital, and forwarded details of special steels needed for the work. He suggested that application be made to the Minister of Supply for the metal. Mr Archer moved and Mr Clayton seconded ed, that an .application be lodged with the Minister of Supply for the required amount of special steel for the hospital. The chairman reported that Mr D. A. McVicar had asked him to convey to the board appreciation of the treatment .given him while a patient at the hospital. Mr McVicar had paid a tribute to the work and kindness of the staff. Dr Wicken, Medical Superintendent, reported as follows: Admitted 45, inpatients 27, died 1, discharged 37, X-rays 15, births 7. Matron Whisker reported that Sister Quinn was still on 'sick leave. Sister Elwell had been relieving Sister and would next month relieve Sisters who were due for annual leave. The chairman reported that Mr Archer and himself had visited the hospital several times during the month. The estimates were considered and accounts passed for payment as follows: thur and Co. £8 18s 9d, J. Bolitho £7 10s lOd, Chattockville Dairy £2O, District Cash Butchery £l3 10s 9d, W. J. August £8 2s 4d, Chalk and Co. £7 15s 3d, Canterbury Frozen' Meat Co. £l4 Is 3d, Defiance Co-op Party £3, Dominion Dental £4 8s 3d, T A. Dellaca £5 4s 3d, W. J. Duff £1 9s 3d, Harold Bros. £23 16s 6d, ,W King £7 7s 4d, Norcasa Fish £4 4s T. C O’Brien £3O 0s lid, P. and T. Dept. £4 3s. 9d, Whitcombe and Tombs £4 19s, Wyeth and Brother £l9 16s, N.Z. Railways £3 13s lOd, Hughes Estate £4, petty cash. £7 18s 7d, pensions £l2 ss, S. Austin £3 9s 6d, J'. Patterson £1 12s, Dental and Medical £l2 Is Bd, Easton Products £ll 14s 6d. Gregg and Co. £1 Ils 3d, Grey Hospidtil Board £1 Ills 6d, Kfempthorne and Prosser £3 14s 4d. Mason Struthers £6 17s 7d, New Commercial Garage £1 8s 3d, Oval Supplies 9s Td, Palmerston North Hospital £4 13s 6d. Pyramid Coal Co. £6 6s, Reefton Electric Light £l4 is 9d, Watson Victor £3, Westland Coal Producers £lO 12s 3d, National Provident £l4 15s sd. wages and salaries £414 3s sd, North Canterbury Hospital £3 2s; total £731 9s lid. The Inangahua County Council

has made a grant of £2O towards the cost of a motor ambulance for the Reefton district. A request has been forwarder to the Health Department asking it to undertake the innoculation of children against diphtheria in the county. Major C. F. Skinner has communicated with the Reefton L.R.C., stating that he will be visiting Reefton at the week-end. On Sunday he will deliver an address in the Criterion Theatre.

The Reefton branch of the Returned Services’ Association held their annual meeting and re-union in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday evening. Forty members were present and the Waiuta and Ikamatua sub-branches were represented. The election of officers resulted: President, W. G. Porter (re-elected): vice-presidents, Messrs A. F Wells; and T; J E Williams (re-elected): secretary, J. Cutbush (re-elected)’ committee. Messrs T. Brazil, G. Rowley. H. Allen. E. Elliston. W Burnett, D. Gallagher, J. Blackadder and A. Parkinson; auditor, Mr W B. Auld. It was reported that about £25 was received from the sale of poupies, with some country sales still outstanding. The Anzac Day collection amounted to '£7 5s Ud During the year assistance had been given to returned men to the extent of £25 8s 6d. The membership had increased from 48 to 86 members. In an endeavour to have close co-oneration between the branch and sub-branches it was resolved to set up a sub-committee consisting of two delegates from the Peefton branch and the Waiuta and Ikamatua sub-branches to discuss association affairs in general. The Dominion Headauarters wrote requesting that 2nd N.Z.E.F. men should take office. Among the guests at the reunion were Capt. Curtis, Area Officer, Greymouth, and Maior Reid, 2nd N.Z.E.F.. Burnham. * Toasts Were: The King (President).: Our Guests (President—2nd N.Z.E.F. members); Returned Services’ Assn. (A\ F. Wells—A. E. Elliston): N.Z. Army. Navy, Air Force and Medical Services (J. Cutbush—‘Cant. Curtis, Army; W. J. Humphries, Navy; . Maior Reid. Air Force; W. J. Duff, .Medical); Imperial Army (G Rowi ley—W. Burnett). Piper Keith rendered musical items. The catering was in the hands of Mrs R. Cochrane.