HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 24 January 1945, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent], HOKITIKA, Jan. 23. The Gael sailed for Wellington at six .o’clock this morning. She experienced some delay owing to a breakdown of the loading winch. The watersiders passed timber aboard and general cargo was loaded with a shoot. The vessel will take a load of coal to Milford Sound Hostel during February. The cargo will be loaded at Greymouth. Mr. J. C. Clarke of Whakatane has been apnointed Engineer to the Westland County Council and will commence his duties next month. At a sitting; of the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Hokitika, Mr W. Meldrum presided, and with him were Messrs P. J. O’Regan and A. Panther. Westland Hospital Board appealed against the calling up oi Dr E. J. Velvin. Mr E. W. Heenan (chairman) said the board had made extensive inquiries to secure a., doctor for Westland Hospital, which had to be serviced by two surgeons. The district extended from Otira to Jackson Bay, and the hospital had up (.0 80 patients daily, exclusive of the Maternitv Home and Old People’s Home. The district had a population of 10,000. Either doctor was liable to be called to any part of the district. Mr G. G. M. Mitchell: “You know that the Government set out 7000 patients to each medical man.” Mr Heenan: “That may be so, but Westland is a big district, containing many industries dangerous for men, such’ as sawmilling, mining and dredging. Although there are two doctors another is urgently required.” Mr Mitchell: “The Hospital Board offered do objection to Dr. Andrea leaving Hokitika.”, .Mr Heenan: “He secured permission of the Manpower authorities. Dr Andrea and Dr Arnott did not get on together, and this was not in the best interests of the patients.” Mr Mitchell: “The hoard at a previous sitting stated that it would be m the best interests to have a surgeon and a medical man. The board had now' shifted its ground.” Mr Heenan: “The board finds two surgeons, are best for the hospital. If one is out of town and a serious accident occurs the other surgeon is able to carry on.” Mr Mitchell. “The Superintendent' of the Sea View Mental Hospital helps out.” Mr Heenan: ‘“Yes, but there are 700 patients at the mental hospital and the Superintendent has a big job.” Mr E. V. Hughes said that last year there were 450 operations at the hospital, and the average number of natients was 74. Mr A. R. Elcock (Mayor) supported the Board, on which he had served as a member for 11 years. Two surgeons were definitely required, and two doctors was the absolute minimum for the town. Mr. Meldrum said there were no doctors coming back from overseas for some time, and the appeal would be adjourned for three months. For Ralph D. H. Hay an appeal by the National Mortgage Coy. was dismissed, obligation to serve beino' postponed for . two months. For P. S. Wrobleski, an appeal by A. Wrobleski (farmer), was adjourned sine die. For A. R. W. Featherston (millwright) an appeal supported by H. J. Buchanan, was adjourned sine die. An appeal for William R. Fairhall, silver pine cutter (co-appellant J. Manera) was, dismissed, the obligation to serve postponed one month. An appeal by J. R. Bergman (bushman) was adjourned till next sitting. An appeal by an ex-serviceman for release for farm work was refused. Two other applications for release were adjourned. At the ordinary meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council, advice Was received from the Manpower Officer of extension of authority to employ five men for 13 weeks under Scheme 13. The Mayor was appointed delegate to the Regional Planning Committee meeting at Greymouth. The Cricket Club was granted the use of the gas coppers at Cass Square. The Council accepted the offer of the Westland County Council to provide a subsidy of £l5O towards the upkeep of the Hokitika Cemetery. It was decided to ask the Superintendent of the Mental Hospital to provide labour for maintenance work on Cemetery Hill. It was resolved to accept liability for drains constructed in the State housing area. The Preserves Committee decided to draw up a programme of work. It was decided to draw the attention of the railway authorities to the dangerous crossings at Tudor and Park Street. Abattoir fees for the month amounted to £llO Is 9d. Mr E. W. Heenan occupied the chair at a meeting of the Hospital Board. An apology was received from Mrs Harrison. Other members present were: Messrs J. Richards, F. K. Hunt, G. Northcroft, E. Cooke, A. Lawn,' T. Duff, R. C. Wells. The chairman was appointed delegate to the Regional Planning Committee to meet in Greymouth on February 19. It was decided to inst.al an electric oven in' the hospital kitchen, also a Hobart machine, and to replace the present steamer with a more modern

type of larger capacity. A new sowing machine for* the Nurses’ Home was authorised. The Minister of Health forwarded approval of subsidy payment for the maternity home at Tetaho. The board expressed supi port of the retention of the aerol drome at Wataroa. The chairman pointed out that the board preferred to transport patients to hospital from South Westland by ’plane, rather than road ambulance. The railway strike has affected local services, including the railway road service to Rimu, Kanieri and Woodstock, also to the Glaciers, and freight services on the South Westland road, except that of A. R. Wallace timber company. A local carrier brought a load of perishable goods from Greymouth, . but this avenue was stopped on the next attempt. A bus brought up a full load of passengers from the glaciers. No passenger services run to the hospital and outlying townships. Mails were dispatched to South Westland by the break-down repair gang of the P. an f ] T. which went south to effect repairs to telephone lines. Having ample storage space, the stoppage will probably not affect the mills. Coal is in short supply, and there will probably be no supplies for households this week. Owing to the strike the town is quieter than usual. Supplies of fruit and vegetables have given out, the shops beino- empty. Ice cream supplies from Christchurch and Greymouth have ceased. Yeast for break making is very short, and until arrangements are made for supplies to be brought from Christchurch, the position will not be satisfactory. Bread an f ] meat supplies, usually forwarded by road service to South Westland, have been suspended, and customers in the backblock regions are feeling the full effects of the hold-up. All the sawmills are working and timber is being stacked up until the strike ends, the railways will then be faced with a big job. Some coal merchants have no stocks. The hospital depends upon’ Canterbury for vegetables an r i some inconvenience is being caused. 'The coal supplies at the hospital will last for a few days. The local gas works is able to meet the present emergency for some days.