DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOSPITAL FEES. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 20. Tho Taranaki Hospital Board decided to-day not to increase its levy on the contributing local bodies, but to leave the rate as it was last year, namely 2s Id in every £IOO capital value. Proposals were made that the levy be increased by twopence in every £IOO. and, alternately, by one penny in every £IOO, but these wero not adopted. To compensate for the non-increase in revenue, due to this decision, the Board decided to raise the fees paid by patients in the hospital from 9s Gd to 10s per day, and to charge amounts varying from £2 2s to £lO 10s for operations performed in the hospital, a practice which had not been in vogue up to the present. The operation fees will he according to a scale to be fixed after consultation with the medical superintendent.

The Taranaki Board, which led the Dominion in increasing the hospital fees to nine shillings a day, is also tho first to increase them to ten shillings. RAILWAY ENQUIRY. PALMERSTON N. April 20. The Board set, up to enquire into the eireitmst inces which caused the Limited Express, bound for Auckland. to over-run the signals last Wednesday evening, has adjourned sine die without hearing .my evidence. Objection to the board was taken by the locomotive men. who asked that their section should be represented. The signalmen, through their representative, have asked that similar consideration he extended to their department, if the loeonmticemen's request is granted. RAILWAY board. WELLINGTON. April 20. The fact that Mr Jones, chairman of the Railway Board, is indisposed, and is going on a health-seeking holiday. gpve rise to rumours that he was about to retire, and also that the near future would see a reversion front the present Board to tile General Manager system. Inquiries made in official circles reveal that there is no truth in these statements. DAIRY CONTROL. WELLINGTON, April 20. The "New Zealand Times” says:—• It is stated that, in the event of the proposed compulsory marketing scheme for dairy produce being brought into force in the coming season, all the agents have agreed to work for two per cent. commission. Some now charge two and a half per cent. The Dairy Board has engaged a. large New Zealand staff to attend to advances, bills of lading and draffs, Lilt th.t saving effected should cover more than the extra expense. JUBILEE INSTITUTE FOR BLIND. AUCKLAND, April 20. The Governor-General to-day opened a new brick building providing living rooms for adult male inmates at the Jubilee Institute for the Blind. A building campaign was inaugurated after a visit by their Excellencies a. year ago, and the sum now in hand is £IO,OOO and it is hoped to obtain £15.000 in all. His Excellency said there was no finality about the building scheme. It must go oil. The burden. so far. bad fallen mostly upon the people of Auckland: and there remained a large source of money still to be tapped if this Dominion institution wero brought properly under the notice of the New Zealand people. "Workshops alone would not complete the, scheme, and lie hoped that its claims would be pressed iis was their due. FIRE IN BUSH. WELLINGTON. April 21. About live acrose of young trees and scrub were burned in Days’ Bay reserve but after a stiff fight n. band of workers prevented the fire reaching a more valuable part of the native hush. The park belongs to the city. A FIRE. DUNEDIN. April 21. Aroused from sleep by knocking on the kitchen door of his residence, at St. Leonards, yesterday afternoon, Charles Lockhart, a nightwatcluunn at tlie Exhibition, found his house was on fire. He had only sufficient time to remove his three young children who were also asleep, before tlie fire swept the building. The house and contents were destroyed, only one chair being saved. BROADCASTING. WELLINGTON. April 21. It is announced the broadcasting stations at Auckland and Christchurch will be completed by June 30th. All the material is on the way or to he shipped at once. A proportion of the license fees paid to the company lias been expended entirely on preparing programmes so that further delays on this account will he avoided.

SUSPICIOUS FIRE. TIMARU, April 21. A fire destroyed the Drill Hall at Geraldine early this morning. It was originally used as a 'Town Hall and was later handed over to the Defence Department. It was valued at approximately £3OOO. The origin of the outbreak is a mystery. Incendiarism is suspected. EMPLOYERS DECISION. CHRISTCHURCH. April 21. Following yesterday’s decision the employers 'at Lyttelton this morning engaged men for the Maori and then made’ a call for the Canopus and Coolana. There was no response. When work on tlio other boats is finished tho employers will not engage Inborn until the Canopus and Coolana are worked. ■TUBTLEE PR ESENT ATI ON. BLENHEIM, April 21. In connection with the diamond jubilee of the Marlborough “Express,” to-day the combined staffs presented Mr R. P. Furness, proprietor, with a silver salver and a service of cut glass ware j also an illuminated address expressing the staff’s appreciation of the superannuation .scheme recently initiated in the office. In the course of his reply. .Mr Furness handed each member of the staff a handsome diamond jubilee bonus.