LATE DOMINION NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 15 January 1913, Page 3

LATE DOMINION NEWS.

TRAIN AND CAR COLLIDE. A WOMAN KILLED. PES UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND. Jan. 14. News was received at Helensville shortly before 12 o'clock that the North Teh ana -Helen svi 11 o train, clue at Kaukapakapaka at 11,30, had collided with a large motor oar at a crossing near Kaukapakapaka railway station and that one of the occupants of the car had been killed. A special train with a doctor, nurse and constable proceeded to the scene. It was found that a car occupied by Mr and Mrs Dudley Hill, Mrs Frank Gordon and Mr Denton Tanner, of Hawke's Bay district, had run into the engine, the occupants being thrown out. Dr Meinhold pronounced life to be extinct in the case of Mrs Gordon. Mrs Hill was not badly injured but was extensively bruised and was suffering from shock. Mr Tanner received a bad fracture of the left knee and also severe cuts and hmises over the head and body. Mr Hill had two ribs broken and severe cuts and

bruises over the body and head and face. All injured should recover. Mr Tanner and Miss Hill, who were seated in the back of the car, state that they have no recollection of how the accident happened—it was so sudden. Hill, who was driving the car, states that he was not aware of the crossing. He did not hear the train whistle. Mrs Gordon was seated beside Hill. The party was from Hawke's Bay on a touring trip. Messrs Hill and Tanner are sheep-farmers. Mrs Gordon is the wife of Mr Frank Gordon of Hawke's Bay. Mrs Hill and Mrs Gordon are s'sters and Mr Tanner is a brother, their father being Mr Thomas Tanner, one of the oldest and most highly respected farmers in the Hawke's Bay district. The railway crossing where the accident occurred is a very dangerous one.

DOUBLE DROWNING FATALITY. TRAGEDY AT NEW BRIGHTON. OHRISTCHI7RCH, Jan. 14. A double drowning fatality occurred at New Brighton this afternoon. A married woman named Mabel Highet, 32, wife of Mr Gibb Higliet. of Gll fistchurch, was bathing in the River Avon at Herring Bay when she got out of her depth and into - difficulties. Her brother-in-law, Mr John Highet, aged 37, who was bathing at the time, went to her assistance, but was dragged under, and both were drowned. Mrs Highet's two children, aged five and three years, were on the bank of the river when the tragedy happened. Dragging operations were commenced, and shortly after the bodies were recovered. THE ASHESURTON ACCIDENT. ! ASHBITRTON. Jan. 14. As the result of the circular saw accident Robert McOullough died at the hospital this morning. j

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. 'rOTOR.UA. Jan. 14. Hon. W. H. Herries to-day visited Mamaku, where he received local deputations. This evening a complimentary social was tendered to him afc Rotorun. He will leave tq-mcrrow by motor for Morrinsville, where he will be entertained on Friday.

HOSPITAL DENTISTRY. j CHRISTCHI;RCH. Jan. 14. ' The North Canterbury Hospital] Board has decided to establish a dental] ward at the Ohristchurch Hospital. and | is advertising immediately for the sur-j vices of a. dentist, who will, be on the! hospital staff. It is hoped that with the assistance of the dentists on the honorary staff that the dentist will be in attendance for two hours daily at the ward. It is anticipated that the ward will be in full swing in about a montlt.

ST. HELENS HOSPITAL. AN AUCKLAND INQUIRY.

AUCKLAND. Jan. 14. i The Commission of Inquiry relating! to the administration of St. Helens Hospital, Auckland, was commenced at the Arbitration Court this morning before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M. Complaints were preferred by Mrs Emily Nicol (represented by Dr Bamford) and by the Auckland Timber Workers' Union (represented by Mr A. E. Skolton). Mr I Selwyn Mays represented the Department of Hospitals, the matron, and Dr Tracy Inglis, of Auckland. The Timber Workers' Union complained (1) that in respect of the death of Mrs Laura Elizabeth Chamberlain on September 9, 1912. Mrs Chamberlain sustained injuries, but that the matron failed to send for or obtain the services of a medical practitioner until the third day after such injuries were sustained; (2) that tlie matron further failed in her duty to call in medical advice when who discovered that the patient was suffering from puerperal septicaemia; (3) that the matron, without the assistance of a registered medical practitioner, sutured the torn part of the perinaeum in some three or four places; (4) as to Dr Tracy Inglis, that in' his capacity of medical' officer to such institution, he declined to allow Mrs Chamberlain to be examined or her condition ascertained by another registered medical practitioner when the request for such examination was made by the husband of Mrs Chamberlain at tho time when her j life was in great danger; (5) as to the ! administration, that the institution or j portion of it is unsuited for the purI pose of a maternity home by reason that a portion of it is constructed of wood, and that the Avails are papered, thereby affording opportunity for the fostering of disease and septic germs; (6) that during the confinement of Mrs Chamberlain the matron failed to provide her with necessary and ordinary comforts and requirements of such a case and that in consequence Mrs Chamberlain sustained unnecessary pain and suffering. Mrs Emily Nicol complained (1) m j the case of one Mrs Porch, that the

patient was placed in an isolated ward | immediately after removal of the body of a. woman (Mrs Chamberlain), who; had died from septicaemia, and was attended by the same nurse who had attended deceased; (2) that in the case oi one Mrs Marsh, the relatives of the patient were wrongly informed that she was suffering from scarlet fever, and further, were not notified in sufficient time before the patient's death to enable them to communicate with her ; (3) that the matron had on several occasions refused to admit patients unless at least £1 was paid and that this practice should be discontinued ; (4) that in the case of one Mrs lied application made for her admission was refused, although her husband was in poor circumstances and lives in a congested area (Freeman's Bay), and the case was a proper one for admission. Complainant also directed attention to the following points:—>(l) The need for the appointment of a resident medical officer; (2) the undesirability of the medical officer being in outside practice as a surgeon ; (3) the desirability of appointing a visiting inspector to ascertain the position and means of persons seeking admission to the hospital; (4) the necessity for admitting patients at an earlier stage than they are admitted at the present time; (5) the unsuitability of the present hospital and the desirability of re-establishing it as an adjunct to the general hospital. Evidence was taken in support of the charges, and the inquiry adjourned till to-morrow. GRIPMAN'S APPEAL. DUNEDIN, Jan. 14. Tho hearing of an appeal by George Lamborne, a gripman, against dismissal from tho service of the Dunedin and 1 Kaikonai jTram Company was concluded this morning. 'Hie magistrate (Mr Widdowson) in giving his decision on behalf of tho Board said that a preliminary point was raised by Mr Stephens that the appeal did not lie, as a week's notice had been given. The Board held that section 6 of tho Tramways Amendment Act, 1910, gave tho right of appeal in all cases. The Board came to the conclusion that the appellant's dismissal from the service of tne company for tho reasons given was too severe, and that it should bo set aside. The determination of tho Board was, first that the dismissal being too severe, it. be set aside; that in lieu thereof j the appellant be suspended for two months from November 27, 1912, and that appellant he reinstated in the service of the company as snare gripman on January 27. MOTOR-BUSES FOR TIMARU. TIMARU, Jan. 14. After much discussion in the press of various means of supplying the now! for facilities in getting about the town by tramways, trackless trams, or motor 'buses, the Borough Council tonight. after a debate at a special meeting resolved by 10 to two'to ask tho ratepayers to sanction a loan of £6OOO to instal motor 'buses. The trams were estimatod at £IOO,OOO and trackless trams at £15,000, including the buving out of the present electric works, which would be useless if cheaper power were available from Coleridge.