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Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 51

Ratana has been on a visit to Hastings, and he is reported to have effected several good cure 3 (reports our Wanganui correspondent). A woman who had been blind for 10 years is stated to have been made to see. Two cases were brought from the hospital—one a boy who was not expected to live more than a few days. After an earnest prayer and an appeal by Ratana that the young l.fe should be spared, the boy got up from his sick bed, and before m-ihy hours was restored to normal health. Another case was an infantJe paralysis one, where a complete cure took place. The patient before being brought before Ratana was a complete cripple and was unable to walk. The next important cure ’as that of a Maori woman who had not ’been able to sleep for months owing to a nervous trouble. The evening after the healing she enjoyed perfect rest, and next morning was about fresh and vigorous.

Mr VV E. C. Reid, who with Sir Alexander Roberts organised the New Zealand display at the Great Wembley Exhibition in 1924 and 1925, returned to his home in Dunedin on Tuesday night after an absence of two year s and nearly three months. Chatting with our representative, Mr Reid remarked that ho was particularly glad that he had made the trip. The work, though tiresome and arduous, was very interesting. He admitted with a laugh that before he went he had scarcely recognised that he would he expected to work, but he was soon undeceived. The general rule was for Sir Alexander Roberts and him to leave their London hotel immediately after breakfast and not return again till 7orß in the evening. The work was particularly hard in 1924. and even in the winter time, while the Exhibition was not open, there was a vast amount of work to l>e done, and they were going hard all the time. After the close of the Exhibition in 1924 they removed all the exhibits and had everything dismantled when they got word to stand bv for the reopenine of the Exhibition the following year.. That proved really to be a great advantage as it enabled them to make i. clean new start and to plan in the light of experience gained. “That Sir Alexander Robert* did wonderful work there is no question,” said Mr Reid. “He lent srreat dignity to the position. l le was most popular. Ido not know anyone who could have represented New Zealand better.” Mr Reid returned on the P. and 0. l-ner Cathay, which took a new route, Gibraltar and calling nt Algiers. Port, Said, and Port Sudan. There was rough weather and some illness on board early in the voyage* but the latter part of the journey was particularly pleasant. Mr Reid is naturally looking forward to seeing the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, of which he has heard so many favourable reports.

The new wing of the nurses’ home in Cumberland street will probably be ready for use about the end of the present month. This portion will provide accommodation for about 67 nurses, and the whole home will provide for nearly 2CO.

The erection of a new hospital at Palmerston, which was put in hand by the Otago Hospital Board recently, ia now completed. and the institution will probably he opened next month Accommodation is provided for four maternity cases and one casualty case. Application* will lie invited shortly for the position of matron.

A Balclutha resident the other day had the pleasure of seeing his sister after a separation of 42 years. When he left England in 1884 his sister wa* then a girl of 20. When he met her the other day in Balclutha he recognised her at once on tho railway station, and the reunion was a happy one. During all that time she had been a resident of the West Const, as she had come out to New Zealand shortly after her brother, but her destiny had taken her to the West Coast, where she married, while her brother had been pursuing Fortune in the bush district* of Otago. Tho lady, now a widow, will go hack to the Coast cheered in the thought, that her brother, although separated *o long, had not forgotten her, and had been delighted to welcome her after so many years of absence.