LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15531, 19 June 1918, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister for Education, left Wanganui to-day for Wellington. At the Hospital Board meeting to-day it was decided to increase the salaries of nurses £o per year. The scale will now be; First year .£23, second .£3O, and third X 35 per annum. The Wanganui-Waitotara Patriotic Association has arranged with Mr A. G. Bignell for the lease of his house ou Heads Road Gonviile, as a convalescent home for soldiers. Possession will be taken in August.

Mr Edmund Arsoombc, architect ot the Sarjeant Art Gallery, who was in town to-day, informed ub that, considering the nature of the work, the contractors of the building arc making satisfactory progress. During a discussion on granting a rise to nurses a lady member mentioned that it cost a month’s salary to buy a pair of boots. Some of the boots one sees in the shops were called footwear, but they won’t wear at all. She considered it trashy and extravagant to buy such boots. ID porting to the Hospital Board today, the architect, Mr T. H. James, stated that the diphtheria and isolation hospital work at Wanganui was progress ng in a satisfactory manner. The work at the administration block was practically finished. The Taihape diphtheria and fever wards were completed, and the buildings may now be occupied. A Gonville resident writes inquiring whether anyone is supposed to act as ranger in that suburb, and, if so, how it is that he docs not carry out his duty. It is asserted that every night cows ate allowed to wander about the streets, and quite a number of gardens have been visited by stray cattle, with the result that considerable damage has been done. One sufferer declares that he intends to take the matter into his own hands, and if he finds a oow straying on his place again it will go hard both with the oow and its owner. Last night a oow was straying about Gonville Avenue, and just missed being run into both by a tram-car and a motor-car. Had either car struck the aumial a serious, if not fatal, accident would probably have had to le recorded. This is only one of many such narrow escapes which have occurred lately from the criminal carelessness of tliose who allow stock to wander about the streets at night,

“It seems to me to be a scandalous case,’’ remarked a member cf the Hospital Board at its meeting to-day, after hearing a recital of the conditions of a widow at Castleeliff who applied for financial assistance. Mrs Gomyns said the widow, who had six little children, was living in an asbestos one-roomed cottage, for which she was paying lla per week. The fireplace was patched up with newspapers to keep it from smoking. There were four little bunks ou£ side in a porch, where the widow and her children sleep. Three of the children were of school age, and the mother was fined a few weeks ago for not being able to send her children to school. Mrs Comyns visited the place, and, finding out the condition of the children, provided them with warm clothing. The woman, who had to go out working, had completely broken down. Her pension amounted in all to ,£3 odd per month, and she had to pay £2 per month for rent. Mr Fletcher considered that if. under the conditions stated by Mrs Comyns, the widow had to pay 11s per week rent, it was a disgrace. Mr Hine suggested finding a comfortable cottage and guaranteeing the rent. It was decided to pay the rent for the time being while the Charitable Aid Committee investigated the case.