NEWS NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6179, 10 April 1907, Page 7

NEWS NOTES

“You’re looking better, Airs ohocringly remarked the chairman of tho Benevolent Trustees yesterday to an applicant for continued rations. “Oh, yes,” said the old woman, “I’m getting a little flesh on rny skin.”

Tho following tenders havo been received for painting the Parliamentary Buildings:—Standidge and Co. (accepted), ill 83; J. Tosto, £-109: \V. Jennings, £059; R. and id. Tingey, £506; T. A. Wells, £658.

There was a largo attendance at the mooting of tho Catholic Young Men’s Literary and Debating Club. Tho Rev. Father Kimbell presided. Office-bear-tars i'or tho year were elected as follows:—President, Father ivimboll; secretary, Mr J. McGowan; committee, Messrs P. «T. -Toran and G. H. Casey. In connection with the abolition of franking privileges tho Hawke’s Bay Education Board has asked tho department to make a refund at the end of tho year of tho amount spent in postage. Tho Board has approved the proposal to pay teachers’ salaries through tho Post Office if it is cheaper and less troublesome than the present system. There were 11G males and 89 females —a total of 205 patients—in the Wellington Hospital yesterday, ns against 168 at this time last year. There were 20 males and tho same number of females in tho Victoria Home for Chronic Invalids, and 9 males and 7 females in the Secldon Consumptive Hospital—a total of 2GI patients in all.

Contributions to the memorial to the lute Rev. R. Coffey will bo received by tho Rev. J. G. S. Bartlett, Messrs W. li. Meek, R. E. Rawnsley (churchwardens), or Mr Albert Staco (lion, secretary). The funds will bo devoted to suitably enclosing tho grave and erecting a headstone and placing in the church an oak pulpit and memorial brass.

of the 210 deaths recorded in the Dunedin district for the quarter just ended, -19 were those of children under one year of age. Tho proportsm is so high (remarks the “Otago Dußv Times”) ns to cause some inquiry into the reasons for such u heavy mortality among infants. By far the greatest number of the deaths were caused by what are now called zymotic diseases.

“I wish I was strong enough to work,” complamecl.au elderly single woman to the Benevolent Trustees yesterday. Then she glared at tho chairman with, glassy eyes, “Half a loaf a day and a cup of black tea won’t mako anybody strong. I want some potatoes. My heart’s weak. I had to heg a loaf this week.” Tho Trustees arranged to add what one of 'them described as “hho king of vegetables” to the applicant’s dietary.

Tho Rev. Hr Jacob, of Hawera, who is at present in Wellington, cn route to the- Old Country, has boon of. fored and Vaccented the vicar.shlp of \he parish of Wanganui, rendered vacant by tho death of the Rev. Mr McLean. There is strong feeling among the parishioners at Wanganui at tho filling of the vacancy, as a petition, signed by ever five hundred was presented to tho nominators, asking _ for the appointment of the acting-vicar, the Rev. Mr Ward Many more would have signed if time had permitted. Tho nominators ignored the petition, and .thore'is likely to bo trouble.

An interesting return, showing the ■number of patients treated in the Wellington Hospital for the pash eight years was presented to the meeting of Trustees yesterday. The return (which ulso shows tho number of tho patients in tho hospital at the end of tho financial year) is as follows: —1899, 1600 (137); 1900. 1534 (152): 1901, 1854 f 145); 1902, 2099 (197); 1903, 1914 (175); 1904, 1994 (175); 1905, 1977 (167); 1906, 2200 (205). After reading the return, Mr R. C. Kirk referred to tho complaints that had been made about the increase in ‘ expenditure, -and instanced that tiho increase of patients last year had amounted to between 25 and 30 per cent.

The "Wellington Benevolent Trustees met yesterday. Present—Rev. "W. Hvana (chairman), Messrs D. Robertson, H. Cook, G. London, and Mrs Darvall. The returns for March showed that during that month £46 Rs was paid away in rent, as against £56 17s lid for the corresponding period of last year; and 3872) rations were issued, as compared with 2716. The total number of inmates at the Ohiro Homo at March 31st was 84 (61 males and 23 females). Of this number 18 were old-age pensioners. The Inmates in tho Homo yesterday numbered 87 (63 males and 24 females). It was decided to decline tho offer of an eye specialist to visit tho Homo for the purpose of examining tho eyes of inmates. Several necessitous cases wero relieved.

At tho Te Aute Students’ Conference at Gisborne, a letter was received from a number of native youths now resident in Dunedin, setting forth the various professions which have been taken up. Tho letter is interesting as showing that tho success which has boon attained in life by Dr Pomaro, Dr Buck, and Mr A. T. Ngata, M.H.R., has stirred the enthusiasm of tho young members of tho race. They include Dr Tutero "Wi T’epa, house surgeon at tho Duuodin Hospital, and Hangi Nuku, medical student at Otago University (both of Hast Coast). Tho others arc a railway engineer, clerk, Valuation Department cadet, Otago foundry (2), railway officials, medical student at 6olwyn College, engineer instructor at Otago University, railway workshop employee, and solicitor.

To-morrow evening a meeting of Lancastrians will be held in Godbcr’s rooms, Cuba street, to further consider the question of a memorial to the late Right Hon. R. J. Scddon. A proposal is on foot in Wellington to run a scries of Sunday concerts after church hours in the evening. It is understood the realisation of the scheme is contingent upon tho charges for the Town Hal! being reduced. During the four weeks ending March 10th last the largest number of passengers carried on the trams in one day was 08,923, on -March 9th, and the smallest number 23,207 on March 17th.

Upper Hutt residents arc making arrangements to secure for the district, a resident medical man. At a meeting held to discuss the matter, the sum of £250 a year was guaranteed.

The party of politicians who intend to travel over tho Main Trunk lino at the end of the month will include Messrs F. M. B. Fisher, AI.H.K., and W. H. Field, M.n.B. They will be absent from Wellington for about five or six days.

At the monthly meeting of tho AVollington Accountant Students’ Association, in the Chamber of Commerce this evening, Dr A. AlcArthur, S.AI., will deliver a lecture on “Tho Legal Position of Auditors, their Duties and Responsibilities.” Acceptances for tho first day’s handicap events and final payments for the North Island Challenge Stakes anti New Zealand St. Leger Stakes, at the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting, close to-night at 9 o’clock with Air A. E. Whyte (secretary). Recently a man seventy-six years of age applied to the chairman of tho Conciliation Board for a permit to work as an underrate grocer’s assistant. Mr O’Rogan referred tho aged applicant to tho Grocers’ Union, which body, at a mooting last night, decided to' grant tho desired permit.

Tho marriage of Miss Ruby Davis, daughter of Mr and Mrs Moss Davis, of Auckland, with Mr Edward R. Harris is to take place to-day, at tho New West Synagogue, St. Petersburg Place, London. Mr and Mrs Davis, who hive been .residing in England for the last three years, Intend returning to tho colony in August next.

At the deputation of musical people to tho Finance Committee of tho City Council yesterday, Dr Fyffo said that Dr Bradshaw had. written to him, stating that his last recital in Wellington had cost him £2l 10s—£18 for the hall and £3 10s for tho organ. It was stated that such charges do not encourage local organists—that they are, in fact, prohibitive. Tho following contributions were mado towards tbe fund for the enjoyment of tho Mitchelltown Cadets during their trip to tho Exhibition:— Staples'Brewery Company, £2; George and Korsley, £1 Is; Kirkcaldie and Stains, £1; W. H. P. Barber, 10s; Union Clothing Company, os; R. Hannah and Co., 10s; Pearce, 10s; G. Winder, 10s; F. Grady, os; Te Aro House, 10s.

A letter was received by tbe Wellington Benevolent Trustees yesterday from a person who had been contributing towards tho support- of a relative whoso husband was in a consumptive homo. Tho writer said ho had only guaranteed to so contribute for a stated period. One of tho Trustees expressed surprise that tho consumptive patient referred to had over been admitted to tho colony. It was decided to remind the writer of the letter that the Trustees were aware that it was through his instrumentality that the sick man and his wife Cftffio to this country, and to inform him that* under tho Destitute Persons Act his payments for the support of tho woman must continue.

Tho annual meeting of tho Wellington Grocers’ Union was held last, night at the Trades Hall. Mr W. 15. Clarke presided. The report and balancesheet were adopted. It was stated in the former that there were now--104 members in tho union. Tho bal-ance-sheet showed a credit balance of £l2 18s. Tho following officers were elected for tho ensuing year:—President, Mr M. Movvatt; vice-presidents, Messrs W. 15. Clarke, S. W. Cope, and R. Evans; secretary and treasurer, Mr M. Ames; trustees, Messrs R. J. Watt and G. Williamson; auditors, Messrs W. 15. Clarke and J. O’Brien; management committee, Messrs W. 15. Labono, J. Lihtler, O. Hulbert, I l ’. Roscoo, E. Murphy, G. Jamieson, G. Williamson, and J. Galvin; delegates to tho Trades and Labour Council, Messrs W. E. Labono, M. Ames, and M. Mowatt.

Tho Department of Public Health has been requesting the Wellington Hospital Trustees to take over tho Infectious Diseases Hospital at Bcrhamporo (an unoccupied building near Vogeltow’n, erected at the time of the plague scare by the City Council), in view of tho possibility of an increase in tho number of cases of scarlet fever and other infectious diseases, consequent upon the rapid growth of tho city. The matter was submitted to tho Resident- Medical Superintendent (Dr Ewart), who reported that ho could not agree to so largo an expansion, as ho saw no urgent necessity for such a course. At tho mooting of tho Board yesterday, tho chairman (Hon. O. M. Luke, M.L.C.), in tho course of a long statement, mentioned that the fever ward was nearly always full nowadays, the remark being apropos of the decision of the medical fraternity that all cases of scarlet fever should bo sent to tho hospital for treatment.

Tramway conductors take considerable risk at times in collecting fares on side-door paiaee-cars in tho narrow mid-city streets. Tho practice is to stand on tho step that runs the full length of tho car and reach inside for tho fares, in which position conductors arc frequently unable to watch tho traffic on the street. "While acting os described at 5.30 o’clock last evening a conductor named Charles Dehourno was knocked off his car, which was trowelling at a good rate of speed past the southern end of tho Bank of New Zealand. , He was thrown violently on to tho wood-bloeks, and tho money from his bag was scattered across the street. Dehourno was picked up in a stunned condition, and taken into a shop, where he was seen by Dr Gicsen, who ordered hi: removal to the hospital. The report from the . hospital last night was that Dehourno had received an injury to tho head, tho full extent of which was not known. He was not unconscious, hut was still rather dazed. Tho sufferer is a single man, thirty-three years of age, residing at Waripori street.

Solid ebony Roods are obtainable at Pringle’s, I.ambton quay. A manager is wanted for a largo drapery establishment.