OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 29

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

It was stated' under a photograph in* our issue of the 9th hist., of Ward 11, Walton-on-Thames Hospital, that the ward was in charge of Dr and Mrs Marshall Macdonald. We find this was a mistake as the ward is under the charge of Sister M. B. Beswick, A.R.R.C., and Dr. Portepus. Sister Beswick is tho daughter of Mr W. W. Beswick of Oamaru. A very sad story concerning the return of a soldier has been told to the Eltham paper. He arrived recently, and was surprised and disappointed at there being no friends or relatives to meet him. On the way up to Wanganui in the train he learned that during his absence his father and mother had both died, also a brother, and that the home had now changed hands. A serious accident recently occurred at Mr W- G. Stead's residence, Flaxmere, Hastings. Whilst engaged in pumping up tho tyro of a motor car with a patent pump, William Mahalm, of Christchurch, chauffeur for Mrs G. G. Stead, sustained severe injuries through the sudden explosion of the pump. His left eye was blown out. his loft arm fractured in two places, and one of the bones in his face fractured, While he also received several abrasions. He was at once removed to a private hospital in Hastings, where no hopes were entertained for his recovery until Mondoy, when he showed signs of improvement. Messrs G. Wise and J. O'Donnell report having discovered a reef at the Baton which assayed £7 10s a ton by the Waihi test (reports the Nelson Mail). The reef is well denned, both walls being sound, and has been traced a few chains along the line of reef. In addition to gold, there are silver, lead, and Copper in tho reef. There is plenty of water for machiney in the vicinity. It is interesting to recall that tho Baton nugget, 320 z, which was given to the Prince of Wales, was found by A. M'Kcuzie and T. Scaife below the reef. Through the generosity of Mr Kingston, manager of the West Dome Station, Mossburn, tho Southland Museum has become possessed of a fourth, and particularly fine, specimen of the shining cuckoo (states the Southland Times). This little bird, which winters in New Caledonia, arrives in New Zealand in September-October—in tho North Island first. It. breeds in'New Zealand, and leaves the southern parts of tho country during the first two weeks of January, although the young birds sometime remain considerably longer. The times of arrival and departure of the old birds in both North and South Islands are wonderfully regular. The specimen fonvardcrl by Mr" Kingston is a younc bird. Mr Charles Thomson, of Waitahuiia Guliy, ■ died in the Tuapeka Hospital on the 38th inst., from failure of tho heart and congestion of the lungs following on injvrjatM through falling from a. bicycle on D17th last. The dceeased was a lvdgm a Norway, and was 78 years of nge. a member of a Norwegian party up to quite reoently had been carry nig on mining operations in the Waltahuna Gully for the last half eentruy. He was a man of strict, probity and uprightness of character, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He is survived by hja wife, who will have the sympathy of tlv. district in her' bereavement.