LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7921, 21 August 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ballot for the 34th and 35th Reinforcements was commenced in Wellington to-day. C. Donghi has been appointed by the Borough Council to the vacancy on the gasworks staff. A great sale of pianos and organs at Don’s, Hastings, is announced in our advertising columns.

The annual examinations at the Waipawa District High School have been fixed for September 12th, 13th and 14th.

The natives of the district propose holding a dance in the Municipal Theatre on Wednesday, August ’29th, in aid of the Maori Wounded Soldiers’ Fund.

The Auckland Savings Bank trustees have decided to invest £250,000 of their funds in the Liberty Loan. The bank subscribed £IOO,OOO to the first War Loan.

At Wellington last week the Union Co. was fined £3O and costs for employing on one of its steamers a reservist who had not enrolled in the terms of the Military Service Act. The County Engineer notifies that the Clinton-Takapau road between Love’s corner and Black’s road corner will bo closed to all traffic on Thursday, Friday and Saturday next.

“I don’t believe in the bachelor tax. Any man who is fool enough to remain a bachelor deserves all the misery that’s coming to him.”—Mr Payne on taxation. A writ has been issued from the Supreme Court in Masterton, claiming £2OOO for alleged seduction. The plaintiff is well known in Masterton and the defendant is a settler in the Eketahuna district.

The Thirty-third Reinforcements are under orders to go into camp on Thursday next. The men from this district will entrain by the express, and the citizens of Waipawa are requested to assemble at the station to bid them farewell.

When the Hastings branch of tlie Second Division League was being formed, and after it had been constituted, a large amount of correspondence was published. Five of these letters Mr George Spencer Clapham, a stationer of Hastings, alleges contained libels against himself, and he has now, through his solicitors, served a writ on the “Tribune,” Ltd., claiming £3OO damages on” each alleged libellous letter, or £ISOO in all, asserting that his character has been damaged to that amount. Mr Skerrett, K.C., of Wellington, has been retained as counsel for the defendant company.

“Restaurants, hotels, and similar places should be compelled to kill off the flies on their premises, and if theywould not do so the municipality should act, and charge the people neglecting their duties. It should be made a criminal offence for citizens to allow flies on their premises.” This statement was made by Professor Kirk in an address at Canterbury College.

The following letter, forwarded on June 12th by the matron of the Dannevirke Hospital to the Hospital Board, has just been given publicity by the Board:—To the chairman.— Dear Sir, —I desire to take this opportunity of expressing to the Board my deep regret that any action of mine —however inadvertent—should have placed them in the unfortunate position in which they at present find themselves over the “Hill case.” I can only assure them that the accident did not occur through either culpable

negligence or any carelessness on my j part. Ignorance of the cumulative powers of X-Rays I certainly must ] confess to, but according to evidence I by no means stood alone in that; matter. It is impossible for me now , to defend my actions. The case is closed, and I must apparently, take the onus on my shoulders, but I can absolutely state that all my actions towards Hill were done in what I be-' lieved to be for his welfare and in the best interests of the hospital. As the ; only inference which can be drawn by , the public from the statement in the newspaper is that the Board are paying hush money on my account, 1 and as this is very far from the truth, I should be grateful 'to the Board if, without falling foul of any Army Acts, Government officials, or to the detriment of the hospital, they could see their way to clear me from ' this imputation. I fully realise that ' the accident was due to some action 1 of mine, and I much regret that I am not in a position to hand to the Board the full amount of damages which ! they have practically been coerced into paying. I can only do this by ! instalments, which I shall be only too 1 ready to do and so relieve them and the ratepayers from any liability. I It only remains for me to add that | should the Board consider that under j the circumstances the best interests of the hospital will be served by my re- ’ signation—much, as I should regret I the step—l should not hesitate in complying with their wishes.—l re- j main, yours faithfully, G. Hopper, I Matron.

Have you invested in th c i Loan ? If not do so to-d„ v , with 6mall means who desire. 1 of interest half-yearly can ?’• investing in 5 per cent. p os . Bonds. The more you lend tli. the war will end.

Arrangements have been mu I the Auckland Chamber of o« j to guarantee a fund of which advances will be mad, ,1 servists called up to enable thl meet their financial obligation 1 which, there is no provision!*’ Government- scheme. 11