NORTH OTAGO AND PROVINCIAL SECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 14

NORTH OTAGO AND PROVINCIAL SECTION

THE OAMARU DISTRICT

HOSPITAL LOAN OBJECTIONS TO EXPENDITURE CONFERENCE OF CONTRIBUTING BODIES INFORMATION WITHHELD That the Waitaki Hospital Board had committed an error of judgment in withholding information concerning the extensions to the Oamaru Public Hospital from the public, was an opinion expressed at a conference of the contributing bodies, held in the County Council chambers yesterday afternoon. It was suggested that as the proposed extensions had been under consideration for two years, it would have been wise if the discussions had been taken in open meeting by the board, so that the public would have been informed of the proceedings through the press. On the other hand, it was pointed out that it was not until the December meeting that the board had concrete and definite proposals to place before the contributing bodies and the public, which had been done. As an outcome of the conference, a motion was carried unanimously, that the contributing bodies dp not give their assent to the loan until the plans and specifications of the proposed extensions were placed before them for consideration. Mr James Rodman (chairman of the Waitaki County Council) was in the chair, and there were also present the Mayor (Mr L. J. K. Familton). Dr E. E. Butler, Dr Sevan Brown (medical superintendent), councillors of the borough and county, Mr William Forrester (chairman of the Waitaki Hospital Board). Mr W. A. MurcoU (Mayor of Hampden), and the executive officers of the local bodies concerned. Tribute ,to Honorary Medical Staff

In extending a welcome to those attending the conference, Mr Rodman expressed pleasure’ at seeing such a representative gathering, and expressed the hope that they would arrive at some common ground. The Mayor and town clerk had suggested that a joint conference should be held, to which the Waitaki County Council agreed. Statements had been prepared by the Waitaki Hospital Board and by the honorary medical staff. He would take the opportunity of saying how much the public of North Otago was indebted to the members of the honorary medical staff of the hospital, who had given such good service to the hospital for the past 60 or 70 years, as had also the members of the nursing staff. The members of the Waitaki Hospital Board' had tried to do their duty as they saw it. There was not only the upkeep and maintenance of the hospital to attend to, but also outdoor relief, Victoria Home, the Kurow Maternity Hospital, and the ambulance. It might have been better if the board had given all the information to the public, but it was only a month ago that the board had any idea of the amount required for the extensions and additions at the hospital.

Proposed Expenditure

The details of the proposed expenditure as Indicated in the notice of motion given by the chairman of the Waitaki Hospital Board (Mr William Forrester) to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for sanction to raise, a loan of £BO,OOO for a term of 25 years are as follows: — 1. Ward block, operating theatre, Xray. massage, and minor treatment, including excavation and stone wa11£27,300. £27,300. 2. Nurses’ home block, including excavation—£ 18,700. 3. Heating system in new ward, nurses’ home, and hospital—£ll,2oo. 4. Equipment for operating theatre, massage department, X-ray, and minor treatment in main ward—£9Boo.

5. Laundry extension, morgue, destructor, chimney stack, and porters’ quarters, and plant for laundry extension—£ssoo.

6. Medical superintendent's residence, including fencing and excavation— £3300.

7. Equipment for nurses’ home block £2BOO.

8. Alterations and extensions to board’s offices —£1400. A Frank Discussion

Mr Rodman invited a full and frank discussion on the proposals, and the Mayor asked if all the members of the board agreed that this money should be exnended on the hospital. In reply, Mr Forrester stated that at a special meeting of the board on the previous night all the members were present except Mr W. Simpson, and the board unanimously approved of the statement, with certain small exceptions, which would be submitted to the conference. They could take it that the statement represented the mind of the board members. The estimates had been gone into verv carefully, but in the past two years costs had been rising, and the need for additional accommodation at the hospital had also been growing. Hospital Over-crowded

Mr W, Richardson (secretary of the Waitaki Hospital Board) read the following statement made by the doctors of Oamaru:— “In regard to the building programme proposed by the Oamaru Hospital Board, we, the members of the honorary staff, desire to say that we are wholly in support of the project. For some years past there has been serious over-crowding in the hospital, and we have long realised that something would have to be done. The present men’s and women's wards are designed for 19 beds; frequently they are required to accommodate over 30, and often as many as 36; it is impossible to do full justice to patients in such an overcrowded state, quite apart from the difficulty experienced by both doctors and nurses in attending to them; frequently seriously-ill patients, who should be in special rooms, have to be accommodated in the general ward, because the special rooms are full: frequently it is not possible adequately to isolate infectious patients because of over-crowding, with a serious risk of .cross infection: patients who should still be in hospital have on occasion to be discharged to make room for others. An Imperative Need “We believe that thei’e is a tendency towards further public use of the hospital, and this tendency Is growing: and we believe that in the future there will be a greatly increased need and demand for hospital accommodation. But quite irrespective of these future

NEWS OF THE DAY (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

demands, the need at the present time for new wards is imperative. “Towards the end of last year following a visit from Dr Shore and the Department of Health’s architectural inspector, the director-general wrote recommending the present scheme. This was as a result of conference and discussion between ourselves, the acting medical superintendent and the hoard, and the departmental officers just mentioned. The board informed us of this letter, and asked our advice, which we gave at a special meeting fit the board in February last; at this meeting we gave a unanimous recommendation to proceed with the scheme as outlined by the department. Since then there has been a very great deal of discussion and consultation on the part of the board, the board’s officers, and the department as to the best possible plans and specifications. We have been kept Informed as to the progress of these discussions, and we are quite satisfied that the proposals have been carefully and searchingly studied and examined, and that the projected plans are the best possible for the purpose of extending the hospital, as is urgently required, and of bringing the hospital up to reasonable modern standards. The plans include a massage department and a new operating theatre. Both the present massage department and the operating theatre have long been inadequate and out-of-date. Safeguarding Ratepayers’ Interests

“The board’s function is to safeguard the ratepayers’ interests. This we are satisfied the board has done in the past and is doing now; but it must not be overlooked that the board is responsible for the proper care of the sick and injured, and these proposals must be gone on with if this important provision is to be met. If the public demands a reasonably high standard of hospital care, then they must be prepared to face the necessary expenditure to maintain this standard, and they can be reassured that the board’s proposals are the result of mature and prudent deliberation, designed to give patients the best and most efficient treatment. “ We are quite agreeable to this letter. being made public.—Yours faithfully. E. E, Butler, A. Smith Morton, R. S. Orbell, Lennox Douglas, E. S. Stubbs, R. S. J. Fitzgerald. “I have read the above letter, and am in entire agreement with it. R. E. Bevan Brown, Medical Superintendent.” Board’s Statement • The following is the text of the board’s statement, referred to by Mr Forrester: — “In view of the urgent necessity for a large expenditure in connection with the public hospital, it is desirable to consider the factors giving rise to this. “Section 77 (1) of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1926, casts a statutory duty on every hospital board to providfe, and at all times to maintain/ such hospitals, and to make such other provisions as the Directorgeneral of Health from time to time considers requisite in any part of the hospital district, for the reception, relief, care and treatment of persons suffering from injury or from any disease. “In 1922 the hospital had accommodation for 60 beds, of which 14 were for isolation and two for T. 8., leaving 44 beds in the hospital for ordinary medical and surgical cases, including children. * “ In 1927 there was an Increase of 10 T.B, beds, bringing the total up to 70, and in the following year an increase of 6 beds in isolation, bringing the total to 76. “In 1931. when the new Hall and Fraser Wards were in operation, the accommodation was then increased to 92 beds, isolation 20 T.B. 12 children 9, leaving 51 beds (including 13 veranda beds) for male and female general hospital purposes. In isos, owing to an increase in the number oi cases, additional beds had to be used, bringing the total number of beds to 100. Tnese additional beds were a temporary expedient. New Wards “Following the opening of the new wards the hospital figures began to increase, partly owing to the fact that a large number of patients were .coming to fhe hospital from the Waitaki Hydro works, which were in progress from approximately 1929 to 1935. During this period there wss considerable overcrowding at the hospital, but it was felt both by the board and the department that no additional capital expenditure was warranted in view of the fact that when the Waitaki Hydro works closed down it was anticipated that the figures would go back to normal. From 1933 to 1938 the following are the figures;— , . „ Number - of patients treated during last five years: 1933, 1036; 1934, 1148, 1935, 1206: 1936. 1128: 1937. 1079; 1938. 1132. Average occupied beds per day: 70.3. 76.38 75.35, 72.28. 73.31, 73.5. It will be seen that, contrar-' to expectation. the figures did not recede. “The Fraser and Hall Wards are designed for 19 beds. They are constantly overcrowded, and in order tq accommodate the patients the sunrooms and verandas have to be occupied. This is contrary to departmental regulations. The sunrooms and balconies are meant for sitting out and recreation and not to hold beds. It is most unsatisfactory to have to expose sick patients out to winter weather and south-west storms. Theatre “For a long time the medical staff has complained about the theatre. There is no adequate ventilation. The sterilising room is too cramped. There is no proper anaesthetic room. The department refuses to allow any money to be spent on reconditioning the theatre on the ground that it is obsolete. and only a very large sum could effect any satisfactory result. Four hours spent on a hot summer morning in the theatre without ventilation is a common experience, and a most trying one to all concerned. Massage "The room used for this purpose has become entirely inadequate—size 13i x 13J. It is adequate at present for dealing with one patient at a time, but frequently five patients have to be taken together. The work of this department has greatly increased in the last few years, and there is a crying need for more room. Laundry “The laundry is able to deal with only the present amount of work. With further accommodation, it will not be able to cope with the work. There is at present only one washing unit. At least one other unit will be needed. Further new boilers will be required to provide for heating. Heating “The Department of Health has recommended that the board should heat the new wards and nurses’ home in accordance with the best hospital methods, and ultimately bring the whole hospital, nurses’ home, annex

and Isolation under such a scheme. After careful consideration, the board decided to adopt this recommendation Destructor “At present there is no proper destructor. and it is obvious that there should be to deal with septic and other material which has to be burnt. Porters' Quarters "Anyone visiting these quarters would realise that they should be condemned. There is no sanitary accommodation. and the men are living in small and cramped huts. Nurses’ Home “Additional nurses will be required. They are needed now. but there is no accommodation for them. Probationer nurses are obviously required to live in. Senior nurses are allowed to live out. None of them, however, wished to do this for one reason, because this would in most cases entail getting up to the hospital at 6 a.m, in the morning. Some of the domestics live out, but they do not start so early. It must be remembered that if accommodation is not provided for nurses in the home, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to staff the hospital. Status of Hospital “If the additions are not proceeded with, we are likely to lose our A Grade hospital status. So far we have been fortunate in being able to obtain staff. Other hospitals have had great difficulty in staffing. But if this hospital was relegated to B Grade, that would mean that the nurses would be required to do a further six months of training in another A Grade hospital to complete their course. This would inevitably involve a reluctance on the part of girls to enter as trainees. If this happened there would be grave difficulty in carrying on the hospital at all. Actually, at present, the department require us to provide accommodation for a preliminary class, and this we are unable at present to do for lack of accommodation. Regarding numbers of patients in hospital and overcrowding, it must be remembered that our total accommodation includes 12 beds in the T.B. annexe and 10 beds (often many more are required) in isolation. If, as not infrequently happens,- these places are empty, overcrowding to a serious degree may be, and has been, taking place, in the hospital without the total number of occupied beds appearing to be excessive. If. for instance, each of the men’s and women’s wards have 35 patients, with 15 in the children’s ward, the total figure would be only 85—but this figure ' would indicate excessive overcrowding. Another point is that at present medical and surgical cases are nursed together in one ward, which is unsatisfactory from every point of view. Moreover, there is no satisfactory means of isolating v.d. cases, as the present isolation accommodation must be kept reserved for epidemic infectious disease. Medical Superintendent’s Residence

“It is doubtful if there is in New Zealand any hospital with a resident superintendent not provided with a house. The present quarters are quite adequate and satisfactory for a resident house surgeon who stays only a relatively short time. If a married superintendent was appointed, he could not be accommodated. It is only reasonable to supply some moderate degree of comfort and accommodation with privacy, otherwise the superintendent is likely to go elsewhere, and replacement would be very difficult without a house. Actually, there is no accommodation • available for the junior house surgeon. The present superintendent’s quarters are now needed for this purpose. The house was designed by the department’s architect, and, of course, is meant to provide accommodation for a married man with a family. The present quarters for the medical superintendent are situated immediately above the entrance to the hospital, and are quite unsuitable for such purpose. The board desires to have the medical superintendent at all times available in near proximity to the hospital in case any urgency should arise. Recently a hospital of a similar size to the Oamaru Public Hospital in advertising for a medical superintendent, offered a house allowance of £2OO in addition to salary. The board_ is of the opinion that such is not in the best interests of the hospital. Owing to the fact that the site is not a level one, and that a garage and suitable fencing have all to be provided by the board, the cost will be more than usual. Administration Premises "At present there is no satisfactory board room, the main office having to be used for such purpose, and the staff having to vacate the room during board meetings. The construction of a suitable board room will involve provision having to be made for suitable light, as the present _ window access would not then be available. Cost Not Available “In view of the urgent necessity of additional beds, and of dealing with the operating theatre, the board decided to endeavour to meet the position by providing capital expenditure for alteration to the present buildings in 1937. When the board’s estimates were approved by the department, the director-general advised that before the board proceeded, its proposals would have to be investigated by a personal inspection of the Director-general of Hospitals and the architectural inspectors. The first inspection occupied several days, and ultimately after several further visits to Oamaru, the board was furnished with a report and recommendation in regard to the lines on which the board should proceed. No indication could be given at that stage as to the probable cost, and until last month it has not been found possible to - arrive at the figure which would indicate the sum which would be required including possible contingencies.”

Ratepayers Considered Dr E. E. Butler thanked Mr Rodman for his remarks about the honorary medical staff. They did the best they could for the patients and the board, he said, and did what they could in the most economical way, and considered the ratepayers. Members, of the honorary staff took to the hospital equipment costing many hundreds of pounds, without any charge whatever, in the interests of the hospital. The proposals had been considered for some time, dating back before the erection of the S-altzman ward, which relieved some of the congestion in the adult wards. The number of patients was increasing. There was an increase in the complexity of modern treatment of various diseases, and more methods of \ treatment were being discovered all the time, and this could only be carried out in an institution under expert sunervision. Ten years ago, in certain ‘cases, nothing could be done, and the patients died, but to-day they were given expert treatment. Another reason for the increase in the hospital population was the great difficulty in getting help at home, so that people went to hospital. Overcrowding at the Oamaru Hospital was a real and definite problem. They could not allow it to go on. Dr Butler also commented on the operating theatre and medical superintendent's residence on similar lines to those contained in the board’s statement, and said that the need for carrying out the extensions was a pressing one. If they had not felt that it was, they would not have asked for it and thrown the burden on the ratepayers.

Objections Raised

Mr Familton said that, so far as the borough was concerned, there would be no objections to anything that was reasonably required for the maintenance of the health of the community. No ratepayer would object to that, because it was his duty to provide anything reasonable. Of the £40,000 required by contributing bodies, the county would pay £26,000 and the borough £14,000. In fairness to the contributing bodies, they should have been taken into the board’s confidence before the board’s demand was made. His first objection was £3300 for a medical superintendent’s residence. That was too much, and £2OOO, or £2500 at the most, was ample for that purpose. Then £I4OO was required for a board room and office alterations. The Hospital Board could easily be merged in the Borough Council or County Council and £7OO a year In administrative costs could be saved. The two councils collected the rates, and he thought amalgamation was practicable. Then there was portion of. say. six rooms of the nurses’ home to be demolished to make room for extensions, and if they spent the £BO,OOO there would be no guarantee that some of the 'extensions would not later be pulled down. He did not object to the spending of £BO,OOO if it was required, but he did object to the squandering of public money. He did not wish to be misunderstood, as ratepayers would be willing to contribute to necessary extensions. He asked Dr Butler if he would support the spending of £BO,OOO if he was looking after it? Future Requirements Dr Butler said demolition problems had to be faced throughout New Zealand in hospital construction, and in some, places the whole of the hospital buildings had to be demolished. The former policy of providing foi* immediate needs had been reversed, and now all buildings were erected so that they would not prejudice future requirements or jeopardise extensions necessary in 50 years’ time. He would say that If he was the chief ratepayer he would definitely support the expenditure, because he felt it his duty to say so. They had to face the facts. Mr Forrester said he agreed that the public should have been acquainted with the full facts, but the plans had gone to Wellington for the past two years, and it was only in December that they received the final figures. The actual cost of the medical superintendent’s residence was set down at £2300, and the balance was for excavation. Protest From Totara Cr S. M. Taylor reported that a meeting of ratepayers had been held at Totara, and they were opposed to so much money being spent. The ratepayers were in the dark. He failed to see that £3300 was necessary for a residence. Enormous Expenditure Mr W. A. Murcott said the ratepayers at the southern end of the district realised and appreciated the work carried out by the board and hospital staff. They realised a certain amount of expenditure was necessary to maintain the standard of the hospital, and they paid a tribute to the honorary medical staff. At a meeting of the Hampden Borough Council on the previous night he was authorised strenuously to oppose this enormous expenditure. The £BO,OOO, together with the present capital value of the hospital would be a huge amount, and the ratepayers had to carry the burden. In reply to Cr Taylor. Mr Rodman said that the County Council could not borrow without a poll of ratepayers. but it was different with hospital boards. He pointed out the statutory obligation imposed on hospital boards by section 77 of the Act, and said they had to realise their duty to the sick and injured, as well as to the ratepayers. At Their Wits’ End

Dr Bevan Brown stressed the need for hospital extensions. All of them were at their wits’ end to provide the accommodation required. There was a lot of serious sickness, and it was extremely difficult and trying to deal with all the cases and not be able to take in some people requiring treatment. The accommodation had been required for a long time, and there was no other way of doing it. It was a great mistake to think that anyone had rushed or forced the matter. Every step had been carefully planned, and it had been carefully considered throughout. He also dealt briefly with the operating theatre, massage room and residence, and said the plans were the product of very careful consideration, and ratepayers could rest assured that everything had been carefully studied. Costs had mounted, but if they were to maintain the standard of the hospital, and people were to be treated, then they must go on with the proposals. They could not be content to give secondclass hospital treatment; they wanted to give the best. Lavish Expenditure Cr R. B. Meek criticised the proposed expenditure on the laundry, pointing out that it was only a few years ago that a large sum had been spent on the original establishment. He asked whether the end was m sight, even with the proposed expenditure. To-day there was lavish expenditure on the part of departmental officers. It was a sad pill for county ratepayers to swallow at the present time. It was very hard for country ratepayers to face their obligations at .the present time, and they were going to provide a luxurious doctor’s residence and have to’live in hovels themselves. That was why the ratepayers objected to elaborate accommodation, but they did not ob♦ject to reasonable accommodation. He thought the department was going a little beyond the country’s requirements. Not the End Dr Butler, in reply to Cr Meek, said most emphatically this was not all. The board was asked to provide a maternity block, but the board felt this was not justified and the matter was shelved. They could not go on accommodating 36 patients in a ward for 19, and- eventually the department would take steps. The sqcial security proposals would tend to increase hqspital population rather than diminish it. That had been found everywhere. Mr Richardson explained that the laundry proposals were essential to efficiency and in the interests of the ratepayers. Mr Rodman stated that if a patient were turned away from the hospital because there was no accommodation, and he died on his way down the hill, what would happen to the members of the board. They would be hounded out of the town. They had to improve the operating theatre for the benefit of the patients themselves. The department did not approve of the present theatre. Taxation Unfair Mr Familton said that hospital taxation was unfair. A man having an equity of £SO in a house in town paid 30s taxation, but a man in the country with a small equity in a farm, paid £7. The hospital boards made the levy, but raised no objection. He considered the expenditure should be met out of the Consolidated Fund, as a man with an income of £IOOO from investments paid nothing. He moved that until the plans and specifications were placed before the contributing bodies, that they do not give thenassent to the proposals. . . Mr Forrester said the board had adhered strictly to the regulations laid down. Meetings in Committee Cr J. C. Kirkness said it would have been a fair thing if the board had taken the contributing bodies into its confidence. They had considered the proposal for two years, and it was only six weeks ago that they made their demand. No one would refuse to contribute for adequate treatment to the sick and injured, and the community had shown they would help in the relief of distress when the board was unable to do so. Mr Kirkness criticised the board for dealing with the proposals in committee instead of in open board, when the press could have given a precis of the board’s deliberations. He thought it unfortunate

! that the work should be so pressing at this moment, when building costs were so high, and he thought the programme could be tapered off for a few years, when there might be some reduction in costs. The hospital tax was one of the most iniquitous things they had to put up with. With the birth rate decreasing there was not a need for a maternity home, when there were three well-equipped homes in Oamaru. , , , , , , ; Mr Gardiner (county clerk) stated I that under .the 25 years’ term the amount payable annually by the county was £2413 18s 4d, and by the borough i £I6OO, Mr Kirkness asking the board I to press for an extension of the term 1 to 30 or 35 years. I After further discussion, the motion I was carried. Dr Bevan Brown pointed out that ! the requirements were urgent, and ' they were facing another year with 1 considerable trepidation, and lit was 1 also stated that the placing of plans and specifications before contributing I bodies had never been done before by any hospital board in New Zealand, 1 after which the meeting closed. i AMATEUR ATHLETICS OFFICIALS APPOINTED i i 1 The following officials have been appointed for the meeting to be held this evening:—Referee and superini tendent. Mr C. W. Clark (president of , Otago Centre): track judges—Messrs [ L. J. Smith, M. F. Woodward. G. Restiaux; field judges—Messrs R. Elder, ! L. Wootton, K. Stronach, H. T. Hall, W. B. Johnstone, G. Palmer; starter, Mr R. E. Dimick: timekeepers—Messrs R. Melkle, J. C. Stevenson, J. G. Barnes; marksman, Mr J. Fiddes; track stewards—Messrs W. Farr, F. Buzan, A. Clark: announcer, Mr A. McPhail; x’esults steward, Miss Z. Horton; secretary, Mr L. G. Smith. Additional Handicaps Men’s Long Jump.—A. A. Cameron scr, R. Orbell Ift 6in, H. Wilson Ift 6in, A. Holland 3ft, J. Orbell 2ft 9in, J. McFarlane 3ft. Junior Hop, Step, and Jump.—l. Finlay scr, V. Bain Ift, J, Fallon Ift, N. Cox Ift, Brook Ift, J. Ormandy Ift. SHIPPING ACTIVITIES PORT OF OAMARU High Water.—January 11; 7.47 a.m. and 8.13 p.m. Notes The Waikouaiti, from Newcastle, Port Stephens, and Sydney, for Bluff, Dunedin, Timaru, Lyttelton, and Bluff, is expected here about Wednesday, January 18. The Kaimai will load at Oamaru today for Wellington, Napier, and Gisborne, via ports; The m.v. Gale will load at Oamaru to-morrow morning for Wellington, Pieton, and Wanganui. The Waipahi will load at Oamaru about January 13 for Wellington, Nelson, and New Plymouth. ,The Waipiata, from Auckland on January 13, is due to load at Oamaru on January 21 for Wellington and Auckland, via ports. The New , Zealand Shipping Company advises that the Tongariro has been allotted to load refrigerated and general cargo at Oamaru for London about January 19. KINEMA ENTERTAINMENTS MAJESTIC THEATRE ;• “The Adventures of Marco PoIq“ Lavishly conceived and brilliantly executed, “The Adventures of Marco Polo.” which shows to-night and tomorrow, provides entertainment which should have a strong general appeal. The story of Marco Polo is, in sober fact, remarkable enough, but the adaptors have woven an exciting story, and the directors have made full use of the scope provided them in the Oriental backgrounds of several centuries ago. It only remained for a cast to be chosen .which would be worthy of the vehicle, and in this direction nothing was spared, Gary Cooper was cast for the principal role and given the support of such players as Basil Rathbone. George Barbier. Alan Hale, H. B. Warner, and Ernest Truex, and for the chief feminine role Samuel Goldwyn decided to launch his latest protegee, the much-publicised Sigrid Gurie. The result is fully worthy of the effort which has been expended upon it. The story features Gary Cooper, whose acting is excellent, but equally good are the performances of Sigrid Gurie as the princess and Basil Rathbone as the schemer. George Barbier strikes the right note in his characterisation as the Khan, and Alan Hale is excellent as the tribal chief. As Marco’s unfortunate secretary and book-keeper, Ernest Truex adds some amusing moments to the film. The supporting programme is short, but includes several interesting features, such as newsreels, topical items, and another of the series of popular scientific films. OPERA HOUSE “Bar 20 Justice” Man’s age-old battle to get gold from the groqnd brings war to the country in Paramount’s “ Bar 20 Justice," Clarence E. Mulford’s latest “ Hopalong Cassidy” story, which will have its first local showing to-day at the matinee at 2 p.m. William Boyd plays the part of Hopalong Cassidy, assisted by his two old-time saddle-mates. George Hayes as “ Windy ” Halliday and Russell Hayden as “Lucky” Jenkins. “Timothy’s Quest” “Timothy’s Quest” is the story of a sturdy youngster with the faith of a child and the courage of a man who goes in search of love and finds it In the heart of a sour spinster aunt in a remote village. It is a tenderly conceived story well off the beaten track , of screen entertainment. In the title role nine-year-old Dickie Moore gives a superb performance. He faces the world bravely, and, with a wisdom behind his years, helps further a romance that has not been going well. Beside Dickie Moore. Virginia Weidler. | Sally Martin, and Bennie Bartlett, aged seven, four, and nine respectively. | 'have featured roles. ITEMS OF INTEREST IN AND ABOUT TOWN Shark In Oamaru Harbour The announcement that a large shark had been seen in the harbour soon cleared the water of swimmers at Friendly Bay last Saturday afternoon. The shark was first sighted by fishermen off the rocks alongside Holmes’s wharf, and its length was estimated at 10 feet. It was seen to enter the harbour, swim along inside the breakwater, and circle the bay towards the beach. When first warned, some of the swimmers thought that it was a hoax, but they were soon persuaded and left the water, Oamaru Stock Agents The offices and stores of the Oamaru stock agents will remain open as usual on Saturday morning. Charge of. Drunkenness Thomas Edward Rodgers, a labourer, of Georgetown, appeared before Messrs G. J. L. Kerr. J.P., and James Gerrie, J.P., at the Oamaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning on a charge of being found drunk on the railway platform at Oamaru. Rodgers was convicted and fined £2. Power Stoppage Parts of Oamaru were plunged into darkness at about 9.30 o’clock on Monday night as the result of a transformer burning out in the power house. This was no sooner remedied than a further stoppage was discovered, this being due to a fault in a country line. As a result, the north end of the town was in darkness for some time.