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Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 36

The Minister of Defence states (says a 'Press Association telegram from Wellington) that a draft of returning soldiers will arrive *t Wellington on Wednesday. . This is ahead of the time notified. It is. understood that the " war " risks on tho Wairuna are mostly held offices, and that the ordinary " perils of tho uea." risks on tho hull and cargo are taken out in English and colonial companies. Up till now the American offices had refused fo pay out the insurances-, on the ground shat it had not been proved how the Wairuna had been lost. The American companies are not parties to the English companies' agreement, whereby the war i-isk underwriters and the " perils of the sea" underwriters each pay half the insurances on a vessel which has been lost, but in regard to actual manner of which loss rio information is available. If such information la ultimately received, and it is found that a ship has been lost through a storm, running on a reef, cr any ordinary "sea peril," the company holding this particular risk refunds the half paid by the company holding the "war" risk, and vice versa. As regards tho Wairuna some of the companies which covered the hull and cargo against the ordinary risks had" paid over the owners' claims. These companies will now recover the amounts from the American companies, as it has been proved that the Wairuna was sunk thsough an act of war. As a result of the earthquake last Wednesday (says tho Auckland Herald), part of tho road between the AYaitakanui and Hatepo Rivers, on the eastern shore of Lake Taupo, has subsided, and a large crack, expending for some hundreds of yards along and across the road, has appeared. In pursuance oft the policy previously announced, the Defence authorities have fixed March 25 as the last day upon" which cm?)loy v rs end others may lodge applications for eavo for members of the 37th. Reinforcements. After that date only urgent applications, which were unforeseen, will be considered. The final dates up to which leave *nay bo requeeed for members of" later Reinforcements have been fixed as follows: 38th Reinforcements, April 22; 39 Reinforcements, May 20; 40th Reinforcements, Juno 17. The report of the District Health Officer In Duncdin, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Publio Health, states: — *' There has been a small localised epidemic of typhoid fever in tho vicinity of Port Chalmers. The majority of the 12 cases reported from there dwelt at Sawyers' Bay and Carey's Bay, each about one mile from J*ort Chalmers. All cases gave positive Widal tests, and an attempt was made to 'discover a carrier from amongst the contacts, but Widal tests proved negative. The Other case notified was from Naseby, and a Wida! test for this case was also positive. The Port Chalmers epidemic is definitely traceable to milk-borne infection. Nine of the 12 cases reported received milk from a hlilkman whose three children subsequently developed enterio fever, and there has been Ho other notification since. The isolation j>f thcee three patients has been enforced

and other precautionary measures taken." Tho total number of cases of infectious diseases notified in tho Otago health district in January was 186. Of these, 52 were cases of scarlet fever, including 26 in tho Otago hospital district. There were 100 cases of diphtheria, including 76 from Southland, but of these only 27 were notified in the last fortnight of the month. Of 20 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 11 were from tho-Otago hospital district. "The old pioneers of New Zealand are passing away," said Sir Robert Stout, speaking at Palmerston North. " This came homo to me when I looked over tho list of members of Parliament of 1875; that is only 43 years ago. There- were then 44 members in the Legislative Council and 80 members in the House of Representatives—--124 members in all. How many, think you, of that list are alive to-day? There are only three —the Hon. Captain Baillie, Mr Donald Reid, and myself?" Sir Robert Stout has overlooked one member of the Parliament of 1875—Mr Edward Pearce, now of London, who at that time represented Wellington. A department for pre-natal maternity oases has just been opened at 602 George street in connection with St. Helens Hospital. The object of tho department is to give free advice to every expectant mother whether she intends to be a patient at St. Helens or not. Those desiring such advice may consult the doctor in charge, Dr Siedeberg, on any Wednesday afternoon between tho hours of two and three o'clock, or by special appointment. The privileges of this department are freely available to those who care to make use of them, and it js anticipated that as it becomes more widely known it will prove of great service to many.