NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11873, 27 January 1902, Page 3

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

[prom OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

V. , . ■ HAMILTON. ; * ; THE usual monthly meeting: of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board -was'held •on Thursday. at Hamilton. Present: Messrs. Primrose (chairman),, Chepmell, ' Fisher, Wheeler, Dyer, .Clarke, Bailey,- O'Connor, Vickers, Farmer, and McGuirlc. Mr. Chepmell . was added to the members of the House and Finance Committee. The resignation.' of Nurse A. E. Gill was accepted. A letter was dealt with from the Westport: Charitable Aid Board, asking the Board to - assist in impressing upon the Government the necessity of making the rule less stringent as to proof of age required of applicants .for old age pensions. A motion that the letter; be received was moved, but an amendment' that the Board comply with the request was carried. Edgeoumbe and Wheeler, land agents, wrote pointing out that if: compensation " for improvements were included in the leases of hospital reserves probably-many now unoccupied would be taken up. The name of Miss A. N. Biggs was placed on the list of , applicants for the position of probationary nurse. Only one application 'was received in reply to an advertisement for a, 'charge nurse. Br. Douglas thought that the applicant's age was against her, and recommended the temporary appointment of Probationer Cogswell to the position. She was within five months of completing her time. •- '• This was agreed; to. Miss Moon was appointed to the , vacancy thus caused. This young lady speaks Maori, and on these grounds preference over: applicants of longer, standing ; was given. The .doctor said that as there were generally - several Maori patients a nurse who could speak Maori would be a great convenience. The question of compensation by r Government " for treatment of patients from districts not concerned in the jurisdiction of any Hospital Board was again brought up by Mr. Fisher, and on his motion the chairman and Mr. Dyer were deputed to wait upon Sir J. G. Ward when he visits Waikato and urge the case upon him. Mr. Chepmell called attention to the recentlyadopted system of issuing yearly tickets, and pointed out that it was open to abuse. He added that a man when he felt he was getting queer could at the present time take out a ticket, and possibly receive two months' treatment for a guinea. The matter was referred to the 1 House and i;, Finance Committee to report, no more tickets to be issued in the meantime. The secretary submitted the following financial statement:— by Waikato County Council, £78 ss; Raglan County Council, £43: Government subsidy, £255: balance due, £381 ss; hospital fees (estimated), £100; rents, £40; cash balance, £302 2s 2d total. £823 7s 2d; less accounts to > pay, £118; balance, £405 7s 2d. After passing accounts for payment . the Board rose. ■ In compliance with a wish expressed by vote at the meeting to consider. the water - scheme, His Worship the Mayor has called , a public meeting for Monday night in order to consider the action of the Imperial Government with regard to the war and the abuse heaped unon the Empire by German writers and speakers, and to pass resolutions. CAMBRIDGE. ' ' TWO cases were heard before Messrs. T. Wells and J. 11. Priestley, J.P.'s, on Friday. Peter McKierney was charged, on the information of Chas. Craig, with using threatening language and challenging him to light. Mr. W. i>'. Buckland appeared for accused. '■:! The latter pleaded guilty, but said he had used the language under great provocation. A fine of £1, and costs 17s. was inflicted. William James, alias Sir William James Northcote, was charged with obtaining by fraud four suits of clothes, valued at £18, ' from - Clias. Craig. Accused asked that the case be remanded to Auckland, and that he be brought before a stipendiary magistrate, when he would plead guilty, and asked to be summarily dealt with. The application was granted. - . TE AP,OHA. A MEETING of the Waihou branch of the Waikato Farmers' Club was held in the Public Hall on Monday , evening. There was a good attendance of members, and Mr. A.' Bowler, in the absence of the chairman, was voted' to the chair.'; It was decided to send _ a letter of condolence to Mr. W. Taylor, in his recent bereavement. The sec-rotary, Mr. r. m- | Strange, read > an interesting paper on ratrng I on. unimproved? values, winch was tively listened to, but which. was not largely discussed, owing to there being £0 advocate for the system present. Mr. Strange was heartily thanked for his paper. • , * w The number of visitors during the lg®y e of : weeks has been considerable. _ A , other. excursions to the. Paeroa Goreo jSi c h proplaces of interest arranged by the _ ;: prietora have been taken advantage-of by many. '~ ' V . .