LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2473, 13 October 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Labour Day, October 23, will be observed as a telegraph holiday, and offices will bo closed at hours usually observed on such days.

Mr B. Mansfield, secretary of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, who has resigned, has been granted three months’ leave of absence on full pay. The number of infectious disease cases treated at the Palmerston North Hospital during the month of September was 7 —scarlet fever 2, and diphtheria 5.

A gift of £SOO has been made to the Palmerston North Hospital by a person who wished to remain anonymous, reported Sir James Wilson at yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital Board. A special train arrived in Palmerston North at 10.80 yesterday morning, carrying about 285 immigrants from the Ruahine. Approximately, 30 of these were for Napier, 10 for Palmerston North, 220 for Wellington, and 25 for the South Island. The season for athletics in the Manawatu will be opened on November 15, when the M.a.A. will hold a meeting at the Sportsground. The events will include half-mile cycle races, 100 yards sprint, half-mile race and 100 yards sprint for primary schools.

During the nast month 13S patients were admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital. The month was commenced with 107 patients; 4 died and 14G were discharged, leaving a total of 95 in the institution on September 30. Sixty operations were performed in the period. The Old Boys’ Association of Christ’s College at the annual meeting last night accepted a tender of £22,750 for the erection of a memorial to the eight hundred old boys who had gone to the front. The memorial has taken the form of a dining-room and administrative block at the College, states a Press Association message from Christchurch. The member for Wanganui is drawing the attention of the House to the breeding of noxious weeds on Government reserves in his constituency. The complaint may well apply to every part of New Zealand, but the spread of gorse on lands adjacent to the main roads leading to Wanganui should receive the attention of the County Councils. There are thousands of acres covered with it.

Out of three applicants for the position of secretary-manager who were interviewed by the Palmerston North Hospital Board at its meeting yesterday, I\l r G. Fraser, of Dunedin, was appointed. Mr Fraser is relinquishing the position of accountant to the treasury of the Dunedin Corporation to come to Palmerston North. He is a New Zealander, married, and an old student of Otago University. He saw 3i years’ active service with the 11th and 6th Batteries of the New Zealand Artillery, during the world war. Mr Fraser will take up his duties at the hospital in about a month’s time.

An amateur poultry farmer in Palmerston North had a hen which had the maternity instinct insulliciently developed. Consequently, out of a sitting of a dozen eggs only one chick merged. A neighbour who professed to know all about poultry, undertook to increase this percentage tenfold, and he took the bird in hand, administering daily doses from a black bottle. The result was eleven stronghealthy chicks. The owner was curious to have the secret revealed, but knowing his opinions on a certain very debatable subject, the “miracle worker” refused to divulge it, and they are still fast friends.

"Did you have lunch with defendant?” asked Mr Justice Stringer of a witness in a Te Kuitl case at Hamilton the other day;, The witness had previously given evidence, and asked permission after lunch to amend certain statements. "No, Your Honour,” answered witness. His Honour: "And you haven't seen or discussed the matter with defendant during the luncheon adjournment. “No, your Honour.” "You are quite sure or that?”—"Yes, your Honour.” His Honour: "Well it will probably greatly surprise you to know that 1 myself saw you talking to defendant, heard you discussing the case with’ him, and moreover, heard defendant giving you instructions in 'the matter.” —Collapse of witness.