NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 15 November 1939, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Incendiarism Suspected Incendiarism is suspected by the headmaster, Mr. W. T. Foster, as the cause of the burning of the technical block of the Napier Boys’ High School on the night of October 24.

Hospital X-ra.v Plant

Tenders for a large quantity of diagnostic X-ray plant which it is proposed to buy for the Auckland Hospital were reviewed in a report laid before the Auckland Hospital Board. One tender, at £7295, has been accepted for recommendation to the Health Department, whose approval is required. Father of Seven Difficulties encountered by seasonal workers, who have'to work in several occupations, in paying their union dues, were remarked on at a meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, when the council dismissed at the request of a union the father of seven children.

YVainui Boacli Water Supply The proposal to establish a water supply for WainuL township was mentioned in the report of the county engineer, Mr. K. F. Jones, at to-day’s meeting of the Cook County Council.

“A fair amount of data has been collected in connection with this proposal," Mr. Jones reported, ‘‘but it will be some time yet before sufficient information will be available to discuss proposals at a public meeting.”

'Flu Epidemic Now Waning Although men are still being admitted to the Waikato Hospital from the Hopuhopu military camp, the influenza epidemic which reached its peak a little over a week ago is definitely waning, according to Dr. R'. S. A. Graham, acting-superintendent of the Waikato Hospital. Dr. Graham said that the situation was now much easier, and he had been informed by the camp authorities that there was less influenza in the camp than during last week.

Bridge Reconstruction A further delay has occurred in the re-erection of Willan’s bridge, which was washed away in last year’s floods. The necessity of extending the length of the piles has retarded progress, according to a report submitted to the Cook Council Council to-day by the county engineer, Mr. K. F. Jones, who said that the bridge, on the highway near the Memorial Home, should be completed early next year.

Improvements to Street At the Gisborne Borough Council meeting last night, a letter was received from Mr. J. H. Watson, 155 Harris street, asking the council to effect improvements to Harris street and Tukura road. He added that if the council would carry out the necessary work*he would keep the footpath and roadside grass in order. The matter was referred to the engineer for attention, with the exception of a request for bitumen sealing.

Wairoa Hospital Patients In all. 144 patients were treated in the. Wairoa Hospital during October. The number of patients remaining in hospital on September 30 was 50, while the number admitted during October was 88. A total of 77 patients was discharged last month, and two died, while the number remaining in hospital on October 31 was 05. The average number of occupied beds was 57.6 and the number of operations performed during October was 30. Special. Need For Territorials It is emphasised by the military authorities that active recruiting for the Second New Zealand Division has not lessened the need for a constant enlistment of men for the territorial forces, the minimum age of which is now 21 years. In recent weeks there has been a reduction in numbers on parade, mainly because many officers, non-commissioned officers and men have joined up with the special force, and to fill these gaps and keep the territorials up to the highest possible establishment other recruits are urgently needed.

Tributes to the Late G. C. Ormond Reference to the recent death of Mr. G. C. Ormond, a former member of the board, was made by the chairman, Mr. J. M. Taylor, at the monthly meeting of the Wairoa Hospital Board yesterday. The chairman staled that the district had suffered a serious loss in the death of Mr. Ormond, who had always interested himself in hospital work, especially among the Maoris. A motion of sympathy expressing the board’s deep regret was passed to the relatives of the late Mr. Ormond and members stood in. silence as a mark of respect. Tributes to Mr. Ormond’s work were also paid at the monthly meeting of the Wairoa Harbour Board yesterday, and a motion of sympathy was carried. —Special. Kaiti School Affairs Notification was received by the Kaiti School Committee at its monthly meeting last evening that the Education Department could not carry out any further ground improvements for the time being. In a discussion the question was raised as to whether improvement work already authorised would be affected by the department’s decision. One authorised work at the school was the raising of a corridor floor, and the committee decided to write to the department on the subject. The visiting committee reported that the school grounds were in excellent order, and reference also was made to the extension of the school’s plantation area. It was reported that a large area had been sown in potatoes, and later trees would be planted in this ground. The committee agreed to make arrangements for the annual school picnic to be held at a suitable date before the end of the term.