General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 274, 19 November 1943, Page 4

General News

Biscuits to Order. The female employees at a Wanganui establishment yesterday sought to obtain biscuits to serve with afternoon tea for the managerial and office staff. Failure to obtain supplies at several shops visited resulted in the girls deciding to secure a variety familiarly known as “dog” biscuits. The efforts of the manager to make even the slightest indentation in the biscuit with his teeth provided entertainment of a subdued order for the remainder of the afternoon. Waimarino Ambulance.

The firm responsible for building the body for the new Waimarino district ambulance had promised to have the vehicle ready for delivery in a month’s time, said the engineer, Mr. F. M. Smith, at a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday. It was necessary. Mr. Smith added, that the board should make arrangements for the housing of the new machine when delivered. The board decided that the ambulance, which will serve Ohakune as well, will be accommodated at the Raetihi Hospital. Hospital Buildings. At the request of the Department of Health, the Wanganui Hospital Board’s engineer, Mr. F. M. Smith, visited Wellington recently for consultations regarding the proposed new boiler house, laundry, and workshops for the Wanganui Hospital. These additions are part of the extensive building scheme authorised at the start of the present financial year, and in his report to the board, received at a meeting yesterday, Mr. Smith states that arrangements had been made to place orders for the boilers, boiler pumps and ft 4 ngs as soon as the loan money was granted.

Ambulance Mileages. Since the beginning of the present year the St. John Free Ambulance service in Wanganui has covered a total of 12,361 miles, the mileage for last month being 1420, stated the transport officer and secretary, Mr. W. B. McNaught, in his monthly report to the Wanganui Hospital Board. The number of cases attended last month was 107, of which 10 were due to accidents. Of the total cases 86 came from the city area. Others were from rural districts, including Bulls, Ohingaiti, Hunterville, Rata, Marton, Ratana, Raetihi, Aberfeldie, and Waitotara. In addition, an ambulance made a trip to Otaki.

Collegiate School. Several end-of-term athletic fixtures are listed by the Wanganui Collegiate School. The annual fouroar boat races with Christ’s College. Christchurch, will be rowed over the Aramoho course on Monday, finishing at the Aramoho wharf. The first fours’ race is timed to begin at 10 a.m. Next Wednesday the school eleven will play a match against Nomads on the school ground. On Saturday, December 11, the eleven will play its engagement with Palmerston North Boys High School, in Palmerston North, and will travel to Christchurch to play Christ’s College on December 16 and 17. Hospital Statistics.

The average number of occupied beds at the Wanganui Hospital last month was 170.6 a day, stated the medical superintendent, Dr; H. L. Widdowson, in his report to the Wanganui Hospital Board, received at the meeting yesterday. At the beginning of October 176 patients were in hospital, 196 were subsequently admitted, 196 were discharged, and 14 deaths occurred. At the end of the month 162 patients remained in the institution. The radiologist, Dr. B. T. Hooper, reported that last month there were 769 evases for X-ray diagnosis, of which 661 were out-patients. In addition 257 treatments were given, including 215 for outpatients. Marton’s Contribution.

Marton’s contribution to the Armed Forces was referred to by the chairman of the Zone M Patriotic Committee, Mr. F. Purnell, at the annual meeting recently. During the past year, he said, the committee had farewelled 120 men before they went overseas on active service. Since the start of the committee’s activities, no fewer than 396 men and women had been farewelled. It was estimated that this represented eight per cent, of the 5000 people living in the district controlled by the committee, the 5000 including m*en, women and children. If the men and women serving in New Zealand were included the figure would be more than 10 per cent.

Hospital for Marton. An intimation that the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, would visit Marton to discuss the question of a hospital being established there was given at a meeting yesterday of the Wanganui Hospital Board. Mr. T. C. Kinsaid (Taihape) said more progress would be maie if the board had some definite scheme to put before the Minister when he visited Marton. For this reason, Mr. Kincaid added, he would suggest lhat representatives of the Marton Borough Council and the Rangitikei County Council meet the committee appointed by the board for the purpose of formulating a scheme. It was also suggested that this conference should coincide with the Minister’s visit, which, according to the Hon. W. J. Rogers, will be made as soon as possible. The board agreed to the conference being held. Express Delayed.

Because ol trouble which occurred on the electrified section between Wellington and Palmerston North, the first express to Auckland was almost two hours late reaching Marton Junction last night. The delay was caused by one of the overhead lines which supplies power to the electric locomotives coming down on the track near Porirua. All services were suspended while the line was being repaired, but the Limited express, scheduled to leave Wellington at 7.15 p.m. for Auckland, was only 20 minutes late. Subsequent services were normal. For the convenience of passengers travelling from Wellington to Wanganui, a freight train with cars attached was held at Marton Junction till the arrival of the express. The Palmerston North-Wanganui mixed train, which normally connects with the express, ran to time.