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New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25047, 10 November 1944, Page 7

BACK TO JUNGLE

MEDICAL MISSIONARIES former new zealanders (Special Correspondent) 'Reed. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. « A New Zealander who once walked the entire length of the Zambesi River is returning there from London to manage a modern hospital on the north bank of the river in Southern Rhodesia. He is Dr Kingsley Mortimer, of Christchurch, and he will be accompanied by his wife, a daughter of Commissioner MacKorizie, who served with the Australians at Gallipoli and was nicknamed "Fighting M ac." Mrs Mortimer was horn in Christchurch. Dr and Mrs Mortimer are both aged 35. are qualified practitioners, bachelors of arts and adjutants in the Salvation Army. Dr Mortimer spent much of his childhood in Auckland, where he became an officer in the Salvation Army in 1927 and later assistant editor of the War Cry. He went to Rhodesia in 1931 to become headmaster of a native school. It was during this period that his duties obliged him to walk the entire length of the Zambesi, He began studying medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in 1937 and qualified during the war. The Mortimers were married this year. Mrs Mortimer was educated in Australia, China and England. She later qualified in Sydney. The hospital they will manage is 70 miles from the nearest railhead in an area hitherto untouched by medical missionary enterprise. It stands well above the fever-ridden jungle and has 50 beds, modern operating theatres, and wards for men, women and children. It will have electricity supplied from its own power station. EXPLOSIVES IN CAR POSSESSION DENIED CHARGE OF CONVERSION On charges of having been found in possession of explosives, with intent to commit a crime, and of conversion of a motor-car, valued at £2OO, John Leslie Florance, aged 33 (Mr G. Skelton), appeared for trial yesterday before Mr Justice Fair. Mr V. It. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the prosecution. Accused pleaded not guilty. . Outlining the Crown's case, Mr Meredith said that at 2 a.m. on April 14, 1944, a police patrol noticed a small catparked almost opposite the Auckland Hospital gates. On investigation, detectives found accused and another man in the hack seat of the car, which bore the number plates 135311. It was subsequently found that the car had been taken from Pahiatua on April 8, and its Correct number was 33526, the plates for which were found in it. In the glove box of the car were also found wrapped in a blue handkerchief a plug of gelignite, two loose detonators and two fused detonators, and on the back seat were two tyre levers, all these being capable of use for safe-breaking. The two men stated that they were waiting for another, but this other man did not appear, although the car was kept under observation for a considerable time. They denied all knowledge of the explosives. and said the third man 'had picked them up and taken them for a d rive. The owner of the car, Agnes Helen Smith, of Pahiatua, gave evidence as to its loss. Constable Freeman testified as to his search of the car on April 14, and the finding of the explosives and tyre levers. He said that, while he searched the car. Detective Irving questioned the two men. who were then placed in the police car. while a wait was kept for the third man. who did not turn np. An ignition key was not found in the car at that time, but witness found one on the floor of the police car on April 23 The case was adjourned until this morning. CULTURAL CENTRE PROPOSAL IN HAMILTON (0.c.) HAMILTON, Thursday Approval was given by the Hamilton Borough Council last night to the Cultural Committee's scheme to remove the E.P.S.. huts from Seddon Park and the lake gates and use them in conjunction with the old transformer station building in Seddon Park for cultural purposes. The probable cost of this scheme was estimated at £2500. of which £IOOO was approved for expenditure this year. A recommendation that the Domain Board be asked on what terms and conditions they would grant the council a lease of the transformer house and section was also adopted. The borough engineer, Mr A. W. Bettany, stated that the two huts would be placed on each side of the transformer house and one would be fitted with a sloping floor and a stage, while the other would be left as it was entirely for games and gymnastics. Mr R. Braithwaite, chairman of the Cultural Committee, said that, although the amount of £2500 might seem rather large, he felt that it was not unjustified as when a town hall was eventually built in Hamilton these buildings could become a youth centre. THE BENGAL FAMINE WORK OF MISSIONARIES (O.C) CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday The extent to which missionaries had contributed to the famine relief measures in Fast Bengal during the famine of 1943, when about 2,000,000 people died, was revealed in reports presented at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society, held in connection with the Baptist Union Assembly in Christchurch It was stated that the Rev B. N Fade, stationed at Chandnur, did remarkable work During the peak period in 1943 262 gruel kitchens fed 14,599 people daily. Most of them were conducted by the Jute regulation staff and union board members. The number had greatly decreased, but during the cold season 5000 people had been fed daily. In the Government-financed destitutes' borne, workhouse and orphanage, managed by the Chandpur relief committee. 2900 inmates were fed twice daily at the peak period. GRADE ONE WORKER APPEAL FOR RETENTION On the grounds that it was impossible to obtain anyone to replace him, Gordon Hunter, Ltd.. contractors, sought exemption from military service for Matthew Baxter Pendray, aged 33, grade 1, driver of a mechanical excavator, at yesterday's sitting of the So 1 Armed' Forces Appeal Board. For the company, Mr Hal! Skelton stated that the excavator was a highly complicated affair and was valued at about £3500. It was used in quarrying metal for Government departments and local bodies. The district manpower officer reported that, in spite of the fact that the reservist occupied a key position, it was felt that his employers should have undertaken the training of a replacement. ft was considered that this could have heen done in three months. The board reserved its decision. BOWLING TOURNEYS Ponsonby.—Twenty-six teams took part in ;i full-rink tournament Winners of se^ tl ' , " s were• A Mascniai) (Dcvonport); B, Brem ner (Auckland), Walker (Remuera) and Anderson fPonsonby) tied, talker w niline the r>lav off- C, Donaldson (Ponsonhj.). I). Carbines (Ponsonby), Hawthorne f ß ;llmn "'' Pitkelhley (Auckland) and . T >anraster (Carlton) tipd, Hawthorne winning the nlaj-on. In inter-section play Maseman bf>at rr ?; en J"®r ,md Donaldson beat Hawthorne. The final will b«i played later.