NEW HOSPITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24505, 11 February 1943, Page 2

NEW HOSPITAL

GREEN LANE BUILDING OPENING ON SATURDAY More than 1200 invitations have been issued by the Auckland Hospital Board for the opening of the new main building at the Green Lane Hospital at 3 p.m. on Saturday, when the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Eraser, will officiate. In addition to the guests, who will include representatives of contributing local authorities, other public bodies and organisations associated with hospital work, the general public is invited to attend the ceremony. A tram service on the branch line in Green Lane has been arranged for the occasion. After an introductory speech by the chairman of the board, Mr. Allan J. Moodv, the building will be blessed and dedicated bv the Bishop of Auckland, the Rt. Rev. W. J. Simkin. The Prime Minister will then speak and declare the building open. Afternoon tea will be served to the guests, who with public will have an opportunity of inspecting the new block. Sufficient wards will have been furnished by the opening day to show the conditions under which patients will be accommodated. No date has been fixed for the admission of the first cases.

STABBING ADMITTED RECENT DUNE-DIN INCIDENT WOMAN TAXI-DRIVER INJURED (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Wednesday A. plea of guilty was entered by Richard McQueen, aged 21, a naval rating, in the Police Court to-day to a charge of doing actual bodily harm to Miss Nellie Ingle Duncan, a taxidriver, on the night of January 7. The charge arose out of an incident when accused on leave from the North Island, hired a taxi to take him to an address on Otago Peninsula. Unable to find the address, he drove back to Mornington, and, it was stated, as he stepped out of the taxi he stabbed Miss Duncan in the side with a heavy sheath knife, which passed within three-quarters of an inch of her heart. Accused was remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence.

100 TH BIRTHDAY CENTRAL OTAGO RESIDENT (0.C.) INVERCAEGILL, Wednesday A resident of Arrowtown for many years, Mr. George Henry Romans celebrated his 100 th birthday yesterday. Known as the Grand Old Man of Central Otago, he has taken a leading part in all public affairs in his district, and is still an active man. He is over 6ft. in height, and retains all his faculties, and the tolerance and kindliness for which lie has long been noted. Mr. Romans was born in Tasmania and came to New Zealand about 70 years ago, landing at Bluff. He engaged in shearing, harvesting and road contracting, and settled in Arrowtown. One son of his first marriage is now chief of the Hansard staff in the Federal Parliament, Canberra. Of ten children of Mr. Romans' second marriage, four were sons, three of whom enlisted at the outbreak of the present war. They went overseas with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. One has attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and another is a prisoner of war in Germany. Mr. Romans is one of the oldest Freemasons in New Zealand, and has held all offices in his lodge. He is a keen churchman, and has been a member of the Anglican Church for (55 years.

DEATHS OVERSEAS PRISONER IN ITALY Advice has been received by Mr. and Mrs. J. Weir, of Gilfillan Street. Avondale South, that their eldest son. Corporal Alexander McKenzie Weir, has died of pneumonia at a military hospital in Italy. Corporal Weir, who was aged 28, was educated at the Avondale School and Mount Albert Grammar School. He left with the First Echelon and served in every campaign in which the New Zealanders took part until he was taken prisoner in June of last year. At the time of his enlistment he was employed by the Forestry Department. Reported killed in action with the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East, Gunner Harry Zane-Zaninovich was the son of Mr. and Mrs. G, Zane-Zaninovich, of 51 Church Street. Onehnnga. He was a League footballer, having played senior grade for North Shore and Manukau. He also played in the Auckland Cricket Association's competition for Heard's team. He was aged 23.

ADVICE TO SOLDIER (0.C.) PUKEKOHE, Wednesday The No. 1 (Auckland) Armed Forces Appeal Board, which sat at Pukekohe to-day, reserved decision on an application by John Turner, for the release from camp of N. R. Caie, who had been doing contract work for various farmers in the district and also had a farm of his own.

Caie, who is a grade 2 soldier, appeared before the board and stated that he enlisted to go overseas. He had applied five times to get overseas. He was not doing any good in camp and now he wanted to work on the farm. He had been out of camp since December 14, having been released for seasonal work, but he should have now been back in camp. When it was pointed out to him that he was now absent without leave, Caie stated that he was doing more good outside than in camp. He was advised to return to camp immediately.