COOK ISLANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8389, 28 March 1913, Page 3

COOK ISLANDS

From a Correspondent. RAROTONGA, March 19. At a meeting of the guarantors of Dr Dawson, held in the court room on March sth, it was unanimously decided that a deputation should wait upon Mr Northcroft, and urge' for the appointment of a third medical officer, and that- Dr Dawson should be offered the appointment or any other vacancy that might occur on the medical staff. It was agreed that there was no feeling against either the chief medical officer, Dr G. Pearce Baldwin, or Dr A. R. Maclurkin. Messrs F. B. Black, H. Shearman, and Rev. P. H. Hail were elected the members of the deputation. The Resident Mr Northcroft, was welcomed, on his arrival, by the Arikis, Rangatiras, and Mataiapos. The announcement that Mr Blaine has been retired and was being succeeded by Mr Balfe, late clerk of court, Auckland, caused some surprise. Mr Blaine has held the positions of Registrar of the High Court and Land Titles Court for the past eleven years, and has, on several occasions, acted as Judge of the High Court during the absence of the Chief Judge from Rarotonga. In his last annual report Colonel Gudgeon (then Resident Commissioner) stated that he was indebted to Mr Blaine by reason of his legal knowledge and the careful manner in which he had performed the duties of his several offices. It is stated that Mr Blaine had intended to resign his appointment before long, and that his formal resignation was awaiting, Mr Northcroft on his arrival. Mr Blaine intends leaving here for Wellington by the Moana in four weeks’ time.