LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 174, 2 November 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Whilst yarding a bull last week, Mr. Arthur Powdrell met with a peculiar mishap (reports the Pa tea Press). He placed a beam . about 20 feet long against one side of the stockyard gate to form a race, one end resting on the ground and the other against a post. The bull ran under the beam, one end of which swung round suddenly, striking Mr. Powdrell on the leg, inflicting severe bruises. New Plymouth's contribution to the self-denial fund of the Salvation Army amounted to £195, as against £l9O in 1909. Eltham gave the comparatively big sum of £220 (last year £197), Stratford £66 10s (last year £57), Hawera £9l (last year £lO7 10s), Inglewood £77 10s (last year £47). Gisborne gave £950, beating Wellington (£901), Auckland (£550), Dunedin (£050) and Christehureh (£490).

The vagaries of the stamp-vending machine installed in the Wanganui Post Office have caused no end of amusement. Drop a copper in and the silent salesman will sometimes good-naturedly hand you out two penny stamps. You go on your way rejoicing. The next would-be stamp purchaser who happens along, drops his coin in and draws—a blank! Then he curses the automatic "box of tricks,'' and finally appeals to the man behino the counter. The latter adds his curses and languidly hands over a stamp. This "side-stepping" act occurs about 327 times a day, and altogether the stamp-vendor is getting a bad name (writes an ex-New Plymouthite). At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning Mr. Fitzherbert, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiff by default in each of the following cases:—William John Neilson (Mr. A. H. Johnstone) v. Albert Jones, claim £3l 2s 3d (costs £3 Is); George J. Bridge (Mr. Quilliam) v. W. A. Limbrick, £73 7s 8d (£3 19s 6d); Nixon and Nixon (Mr. A. R. Standish) v. Joseph Grupen, £2 4s (10s); J. J. Stagpoole (Mr. A. H. Standish) v. George Bishop, costs only, ss. Tn the judgment summons case of Standish and Standish v. Richard J. Shiel, there I was no appearance of defendant, and an order was made for the payment of the debt, £7 2s 6d, within seven days, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. In the case of William {Robert; Wilson (Mr. Johnstone) v. Malcolm Loveridge, a debt of £3 18s, debtor did not appear, and an order was made for payment within seven days, or seven days' imprisonment. In the case of Max O. Butcher (Mr. Standish) v. George Edward Taylor, amount involved £2 17s Cd, Mr. Fitzherbert considered the judgment summons had been taken out too soon after the judgment, and he therefore adjourned the case for four weeks. If debtor did not pay the amount in that time an order would be made. His Worship added some adviee to Taylor to collect some of the book debts mentioned, and so pay off the amount due. Men and Womeq.— Have you tried the "RXX3LYN" Unsforbrlcalble AH-Wool Flannel, "Delta" finish? K not, touch your draper up for it today.*

A meeting was held last night of the representatives of the Egmont and Excelsior lodges of tiddfellows, to make arrangements for the local celebration of the centenary of the Order. It was decided to hold a social on Thursday, November 10. Mr. 15. Ainsworth was appointed chairman of the committee, and Mr. A. Hooker secretary. Committees were set up to make arrangements for the musical programme, supper, and so on, and it wis determined to make this the social of the season. As the result of an enquiry yesterday into certain facts connected with the admission of a patient into the Stratford Hospital, the medical superintendent (Dr. Paget) handed in his resignation to the Board. This was accepted, and the Board immediately took preliminary steps towards filling the vacancy. At times the discussion was decidedly acrimonious, and painful displays of personalities punctuated the meeting. Our report of the proceedings will be found on another page.

The Prime Minister has received the following letter, dated September fl, from the High Commissioner (Sir William Hall-Jones) regarding English crops prospects:—From a report issued last night by the Board of Agriculture here it would appear that the prospects of the crops in this country are now less encouraging than they were some time ago. In Scotland and North of England, however, there would appear to be heavier returns anticipated than on the East Coast and southern counties. Although the season has been somewhat cold and wet and the harvest consequently is later than usual, the crops, if favorable weather is experienced for harvesting, ought to give satisfactory yields of grain. "Doctors are funny fellows!" was a remark of the chairman of the Stratford Hospital Board at yesterday's meeting. It was made in the course of a discussion which fallowed a question asked by Mr. Ward, a fellow member: "Can a patient hi the hospital decide what other medical man shall assist the medical superintendent at an operation?" The questioner said the reason he asked was that Dr. Paget had refused to allow Dr. Walker to assist at an operation at the request of one of his own patients. The difficulty was overcome by Dr. Walker taking charge of the case himself at the New Plymouth Hospital, it being argued that as the patient had not resided six months in the Stratford hospital district, having only left New Plymouth about three months, she was a fair charge upon the Tarauaki district. Mr. Ward considered that if patients had no right to have their own medical man assisting, the position should be made perfectly clear by the Board. Mr. Maxwell seized the opportunity to discharge this shot: "Metlical etiquette! It should be brushed on one side on every possible occasion. Nothing but the health and happiness of the individual himself should be considered. And when the patient's health and the doctor's ideas conflicted, if it were in my case, I would sweep it on one side just like I would do to a cobweb!" Mr. Ward's question still remains unanswered.