DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1909, 18 November 1913, Page 5

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. '(■From Our BppetaJ Correspondents.) PALMERSTON. Palme-rston Hospital is the subject of an interesting summary by the medical superintendent, Dr. Martin, which summary is included in the-board's animal report. He says that 821 patients were admitted during the year, and the mortality rate was 6.3-3 per cent. '"This," ho adds, "is a highly satisfactory report, when the nature of the diseases and the ages of so many patients aro considered. For instance, several of thc-so patients died within twentyfour hours of admission, showing that they were in a moribund state at the tin®. Several died within .forty-eight hours of admission, and were also in a. moribund state. It will give the board some idea of the type of cases met with by the following exarnp-ks of iu twenty-four hours of admission: — Qno man of eighty died of pneumonia and failing heart; another, sixty-five years of age, of alcoholic poisoning, and another of seventy-five years, was admitted in a dying state. All that we can, do in such cases is to makd the patients as comfortable as possible. Operations numbering 871 were performed during the year, and the surgical deathrate was thirteen. Four of these died within forty-eight hours of admission. One was a case of ifrgent tracheotomy, in a child suffering from diphtheria, and others were also from causes of a very aoute nature. The surgical deathrate of roughly 3.5 per cent, speaks for itself. Of infections diseases there were ten cases of enteric fever and two deaths in two days after admission. Diphtheria, twenty-one cases, one death; scarlet fever, twenty-three cases, one death. It 'is with great regret (con* tinites the report) that we record the death of one of our nurses, Miss Bardley. She contracted typhoid fever while on duty in the Hospital, a.nd rapidly developed complications which terminated fatally. The work at the Hospital is of a very exacting and arduous natureThe Hospital is always full, and there is a- constant demand for beds. When it is considered that one member .of the staff—Dr. Peach —has given over three hundred and fifty anaesthetics during the i year it will show the public that tho demands of the Hospital are not small. Tho nationality of tho in the' Hospital is shown in the following statistics:—New Zealand, 535; English, 135; Irish, 38; Scotch, 46; Australian, 40; Danish, G; German, 5; 1; Anglo-Indian, 1; French, 2; American, 1'; Welsh, 8; Swedish, 1; South African, 1; unknown, 1; Norwegian, 2; South American, 1, Swiss, 1; Egyptian, 1; total, 821. Dr. Martin also makes reference to appendicitis which wus the cause of .81 operations during the year. Appendicitis, lie says, still looms largely as on© of the most dangerous of maladies, and nothing but prompt surgical interference will save these cases. The surgical staff is so afraid of the rapidly progressive danger of these cases that the majority of patients are operated on almost immediately after arrival. In cases of severe abdominal pain tho" public- would do well to remember these rules: (1) Do not give tho patient any food; (2) do not purge them excopt under competent advice; (3) find, out actually what is the matter before proceeding to treatment. It is the dangerous interference by fussy and incompetent friends that put many of the patients into a position, of imminent danger. The animal meeting of shareholders of the United Fanners' Co-operative Association was held .yesterday, when Mr, J- 1 , i), Nuthiin. and Jvir. I). flu'leUi the ro» tiring directors, were re-elected.

A man was charged at the Police Court yesterday with forging and jittering cheques, lie asked for'an adjournment as he was waiting for a doctor from W-anganni to certify that he was not responsible for his actions. Tho. Magistrate remarked that he would have ample time while awaiting trial and proceeded with tho case. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial,

MASTERTON. The directors of tiia Wairafapa Caledonian Society met <iti Saturday last. It was decided that a deposit of £-10 bo made With the Amateur Athletic Society to secure a visit from the American athletes cm the occasion' of the . New Year's Day shorts.. Coinmittcemen H'oi'o set up to control sports galling, and judges were appointed for the various events. Trout aro fairly plentiful in tho streams of this district, and are cellent condition., Gi'.o local angler has caught 330 fish since tho opening of tho season.

Boring operations at the Jlaugaone oilwoll-s have been suspended. for some weeks, bat it is anticipated that they will be resumed at. an <;arly .date, The Masterton- Homing _ Club flew « raco from Frail kton Junction on Saturday last, au airline distance of 219 miles.' The first bird to reach liomc was Drake Bros.' Jack. . c An exhibition of the _ work' of pupils at the Masterton Tcclinieal School is to ! 'bo made this week.

A considerable number of swaggers aro at present on the roads'.in tho Wai* rar-apa. Thero are at present. twenty-six . patients in the Mastei'tpn Hospital, eight of whom aro in the fever wardOperations at tile Waiugawa freezing works are becoming very active. Largo dra.to of sheep will be arriving this week. There wore eighteen butc&TS ofi the board yesterday. The monthly meeting of the Waira* rapa branch of the New Zealand Athletic Cycling Union was held on Saturday evening,' when a quantity of routine business was transacted.

Mr. E. L. Holm wood, who has just returned from a visit to tho Old Country, arrived here on Saturday,

OTAKI, The fuiiesra) of tho late Mr. W, Webber took placo on Sunday, Bering buried in tho Native cemetery, Tho cortege was one of the most lengthy iuid representative seen in this district, lhe procession was headed by the Maori Band, playing tho "Dead March." A short service was held in tho church, and afterwards at the graveside, the Bevs. G. 0. Blathwayt -and TemUera Tokoaitua, assisted by Mr. Eamiri, officiating. Some beautiful floral emblems wero placed on the coffin. The Sunday train brought a large number of visitors to Otaki. At the Police Court yesterday, morning a man named Daniel Fitzpatriek was charged with using obsceno language to a Native woman whilo on tho railway platform. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months' imprison* mc-nt, the Bench remarking that ho was probably one of those who threatened to abuse tho wives and daughters of country settlers anxious to quell the strike disturbance. < TAIHAPE. In connection with tlto recent Methodist bazaar, tho receipts wore £105, aiid tho expenditure £52. leaving a net profit of £113. Mr. J. Mortland met with a severe accident while cycling homo from his work on Friday, lie was picked up unconscious near the roadside, and attended to by Dr. Whitlow. His injuries comprised some severe cuts above and below the left eye, and an ugly wound !>)> thu Iw, The cilffot'pr ia urosfes-sins i favourably..

An essay for boj's and girls attending the.district -schools, has Sean included in the Kangitikei A. and i'. Association's schedule for 1014. At a meeting on 'Friday evening Mr. J. G-. Oldham presiding, it was decided to reorganise the Taihape Chamber of; Commerce. The following oflice-bearcrs We/o elected: President, Mi - - J. G. Oldham; vi.ce-p.resid.ents, Messrs. A,-. ■ T.. Yickers and A. L. Arrowsmitli; atidito.r, 'Mr. L. E, |)eacon; secretary olid treasurer, Mr. H. J. Doherty.; com.iiiitteij. ■ Messrs. H. Berteiishaw, J. I'. Aldrids'ej. E. B. Jennings, U. 11. Scott, G. Sntli- | erland., A- M'Ooli, and w. J. Munro. The waterside workers' strike has not. aif'oetcd the prices of stock ill this di.si ■ triu't, and at t'lie Taihape sale last week , all lines met with very spirited competition, and sold at a slight advance , on previous rates. An elderly man named Cliilds, who , was lost in the bush on Friday, Was found near Oliijtu on Sunday morning , at three o'clock 1 . Ho was greatly exj hsu-sted. i CARTE RTON, 7 J the movement oil to proviilo a pipe band of four sets of instrument's., for the local company of territorials has 1 resulted in £68 being subscribed so far. | Tho lists have not yet been, dosed, and it is hoped shortly to be able to aii'o liouncß that tho amount required for the four sets of pipes and kite has been J secured. Tho sum now collected is sufficient for thteo sots. Tho local territorials li.id a good mus- . tor on Friday evening. During the early part of the season the company ga'vo,a trophy to be awarded to the first mein- .. ber who proved most successful in hitting the mining-man target. This has , been won by Corporal Osborne a.iid Serl geant Dudsoii, who each had five shots i and five hits. A trophy will bo award* t ed to each. On Saturday a practice Was held for marksmen's badges, and in ad- . . ditjon to the badge for those who have ; obtained over 75 points, a trophy of a set of military hairbrushes will bo 3 given. A similar trophy will also bo given to tho marksman who secures "the t highest aggregate, and a further trophy - j will bo presented to the recruit Who secures the highest aggregate for tho tyro class. , .

The annual meeting of tho Carterton Amateur Shimming Club was hold 011 Friday opening, Mr. J. A. Diidso.u presiding. The report imd halniio6-_shcot disclosed a satisfactory seHsoii, frith a credit of £10 15s. 9d. Officers wofo elected as undor: —Tatron, Sir W. C, Buchanan, M.P. i president, Mr. V. Howard Booth'; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. 13. Tyler, . J. A. J)wlsou,' W. J. O'Meara,* F* Feist, and T. H, Hughes; £ ]«b oaptiiin, Mr. J. B. Lawrence; vieocaptain, Mr. E. V. Ellis: secretary and treasurer, Mr. V. flis-gins; niaita-ge-menfc committee, Messrs. A\. J. O'Meara, F. A. Duller, H. M'Kiiinon, and C. Dmvnard; auditor., Mr. N. Armstrong;* It was deeiilw!' to o.rcct- jrtvl p-reseftt a diving stand io the bathscommittee, the date of opening the season was left to the management committee to arrange, with tho suggestion that it bo opened with a i'lub race. A rote -of thanks was accorded tho reth--ing officers. WANCAMII. WkHiganui's newest theatfe, His Majesty's, was opened lasit niglit. It is .a fine theatre, iipd besides beins perfectly unpointed, is said W be the largest'in f?ew Zealand, with tho. exception of Wellington His Majesty's. The work of extending the gas, watot. and 8 owe rage reticulations of Oonvilloj it loan for which was autliorise'd a foiV years ago, is now in band. TljO extensions will serve a large atoa., a:iid add considet'ahJy to tho advantages of this fast-growing suburb. < Quo matter which Would appear worthy, of the 'attsmtion. qf tha cduca-

Hon authorities is the necessity of sending notifications to parents wljfeij tlioir children are playing" truant from the compulsory continuation classes.; Several .parents who appeared before 5.1 r. Kerr, 8.M., yesterday morning, charged with having failed to send their children to tho classes pleaded that the first they know of the lion-atfendanco was when prosecuted. Ono put forward tho suggestion above referred to, which the Magistrate approved, but the truant : inspector remarked that, at present, there was jio obligation on the school authorities to do so. >. '

A new departure ill school examination methods has been decided upon by ■ th.* Wanganui Education . Board by which ihe head teachers of all schools above Grade Three* will, in future, cor-. roct and mark all papers, These will then, be sent on to the inspectors, who scrutinise them, and, where _ thought > necessary, reassess them. It is cipfectr ed that ""I ho new method/'will not only ' lighten tho inspectors' work, and ensure more expedition, but that teachers will be able to gain a better idea of tho pupils' strength or weakness*'whilo it is also hoped that tho system will lead to aj'i. approximation :o'f a, common.; standard of assessment throughout tha ' . district.