DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. MENTAL HOSPITALS. BIG BUILDING PROGRAMME. WELLINGTON, March 22. From time to time reference is made to the congestion in certain of the mental hospitals of the Dominion, but it is hoped that at an early date the position will be improved very considerably.

“We have a big building ]M.rnM ahead,” stated the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare (Alinister in Charge of the Mental Hospitals Department) to a “Pest” reporter to-day. The Minister stated that new buildings bad been added to the Avondale institution at Auckland, and additions luul also been carried out at Sunnyside. It was intended also to relieve the congestion at some of the institutions by transferring certain classes of cases to the hospital at Tokaanui, in the middle of the North Island when that new place was ready. By carrying out this policy of transfers the pressure on other institution's would be relieved, and existing hospitals would not have to he enlarged unduly. More accommodation was also going to be provided at Nelson, where juvenile patients were sent.

The Alinister stated that Cabinet had approved the expenditure of over £40.000 in carrying out extensions at H limner Springs for the treatment of neurasthenic and nervous cases. It was hoped to commence the work authorised at Haunter very shortly.

NEW ZEALAND HOSPITALS. AVELLINGTON, Alarch 22. Pleasure was expressed by the Minister of Health (the Hon. Sir Maui Foinai’c) to-day, at the high eeoiniunis passed by the distinguished American medical visitors this week on the administration of the hospitals in the Dominion. “It shows that we are not so far belli ml the times when these noted men speak so glowingly on the management of our public* institutions,” stated the A 1 inis ter. RAILWAY SIGNALS. SPRINGFIELD-ARTHUR’S PASS SECTION IN OPERATION. CHRISTCHURCH, Alarch 24 The work of installing the new electrical automatic signalling system • of railway signals between Addington and Stillwater Junction is making good progress, and to-day the section between Springfield and Arthur's Pass will be in operation. On Saturday Mr 11. J. Wynne, Signal Engineer, N.Z.R., and Air G. W. Wylcs, Assistant-Signal and Electrical Engineer. N.Z.R., arrived in Christchurch, and in the afternoon left for Springfield to make an inspection of the installation. With the installation of the electric automatic signals between Springfield and Arthur’s Pass the section between Rolleston and Arthur’s Pass will he completed. Tho work of installing the new system on the Otira-Slillwater section is well in hand, as is also the work on the Ad-diugloii-llollostoii section: it is expected that both these sections will be completed and the signals ready lor operation in a month or two.

i he operation of the new signals on Ihe section completed some time ago Inis been quite satisfactory. The Alidland lino is the first portion of the railways in the South Island on which the new signalling system lias been installed. It is in operation In the North Island oil tho line between Lower Mutt and Upper llutl, and is icing installed at present on the Auck-and-Penrose section.

0110NG0E ONG 0 TUXNEL. WELLINGTON. Alarch 25 At Orongorongo to-day, the Alayor •Mr .AYright) performed the ceremony if turning on the water from the Ormgorongo stream into the W ainui dream, thus providing an assured and imple water supply for tho city and he suburbs for many years to come, ’daily congratulatory speeches were nude. Mi- Hubert Semple, who was the head .1’ the party who carried out the work imlcr the co-operative principle, the it-ice being .I*6 Is per loot, said that Australian and New Zealand records old been broken in the matter of ;peed, and possibly a world's record vas made. He stated the cost was ;i 50,000, while the payments to the mi'tv amounted to £70,000.

DRUNKEN DRIVER. DUNEDIN, March 23 At the Police Court to-day, belore Mr 11. M. Bundle S.M., James Cunningham ideaded guilty to being drunk while in charge of a motor car, and also to procuring liquor while prohibited. Accused, on Saturday afternoon had two passengers in his car. and ran into the back part of a tram. The car then shot across into a hedge. ’1 he tiamcar was damaged to the extent ol £ICO, while the- motor ear was also considerably damaged.

The Magistrate said that the defendint had been previously convicted for driving at a speed dangerous to the public. A man who drove a motor car while drunk was extremely fortunate not to be charged with manslaughter. He was a menace to everybody. He was not satisfied that the two young men passengers were entirely innocent iu the matter. They should have known the driver’s condition. It was not a case for Hue. The defendant would have to suffer some punishment. He would he sentenced to seven days imprisonment. On the charge of procuring liquor he would he convicted and discharged.

NATIVE DUCKS. INVERCARGILL, Alarch 24. Air Aloorehouse, Conservator of Fish and Game, ha?, been visiting the backblocks country between Christchurch and Invercargill, as the result oi representations made to the Department in connection with the protection of Paradise ducks and pukeko. In conversation with a reporter, Mr Aloorehouse said the grey duck are as numerous a.s ever in the back country, but the Paradise duck arc scree. Air Aloorehouse mentioned that, during his journey through Canterbury, he found that it "as a common thing to find runholder.s making artificial ponds on their properties, by running watei from a nearby lake or river, into a bed about a quarter of a mile long, by half a chain in width, ’the ducks wore then attracted to this artificial lake by constant feeding, ehieily on barley, which was spread in little heads round the edge of the water. This feeding continued daily till the opening day ol the season. On one propelty he visited no less than 48 bags of Barley had been used. On the last day before the season opens, the food is all placed at the end of the lake offering the most protection to shootists. In this way, he was told, as many as 1700 birds were bagged on the first day. When lie asked his informant whether he didn’t think that that was rathe; excessive destruction of ducks, the man replied that his neighbour had made enough out of such practice to buy an expensive motor car, and that he himself had been offered £350 tor the shooting rights on his property. “I can assure you,” said Air Aloorehouse, “that my report on the matter was telegraphed straight to Wellington.” RINGING-IN SCANDALS. another SEN SA TIOX. CHRISTCHURCH, Alarch 24. Further developments are likely in connection with the Kingsdale trotting case. It is now understood that Kingsdale is none other than the well-known performer The Dingo who lias won races on the Aletropolitan tracks in good time.