DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY I'ELEGKAPn--PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

PLUNJvET SOCIETY. WELLINGTON. June 22.

At the annual meeting of the Plunket Society, the lion J. A. Young, -Miniter of Health, said that the Prime Minister had agreed to give the society £15,000 immediately ho was asked, and later a. vote of £256,000 was to be considered. They bad a very good friend in Mr Coates.

Fie congratulated Wellington V>n building the first Knritanc Hospital. All others had been converted from existing buildings, and were not always suitable. Dunedin had the lowest infant mortality in the world, and the society could claim the credit.

Mr Kirkcaldie, president of the Citizens’ Committee, said that he was bitterly disappointed with the result of the appeal for £25,000 for a hospital. Only £15,000 was raised, and he felt like approaching the Government for help.

Sir Ti'iibv King said that the commifctee luitl (lane a grout service in collecting funds in Wellington. Since November, 1921. of the Mil. children treated not a single one bad died. This was a great record for the nurses, hut the strain on them "'as too great. Ho laid stress on the need for more ante-natal work among mothers. ITe expected before long to mo the infantile death rate reduced to and then to 2 per cent. 'WANGANUI PATIOS. WANGANUI. June 33 An extraordinary request is to ho made to the Wanganui City Council as the. result of a public meeting tonight. Tim meeting was called to discuss the Council’s rcconl decision to increase (be rates by £114,700 for the present year. This decision was subject to hostile comment at to-night’s meeting, the ratepayers describing it as an attempt to discredit the newly-introduced system of rating on unimproved values. A motion was carried asking the Council to withdraw its decision, mul also to conduct its next discussion on the question on the Opera I louse stage, with the ratepayers as the audience. Ratepayers expressed the intention of smarming into the Council Chambers on the meeting night if the request was not acoeeded to. FARMERS SUDDEN DEATH. DUNEDIN, Juno 21.

Alexander Kirkland, aged 51. a retired farmer died suddenly. Evidence at the inquest showed lie had been working in bis garden and saw bis noighliour, Miss Swallow fall from her

cycle and on going to licr assistance he found she had broken her leg. Mr Kirkland assisted her to her home where he collapsed and died before assistance could he summoned. Ho had served in the war A verdict- of heart failure "as given. MOTOR BUS SCORCHED. WELLINGTON. June 22. A 22-senter bus belonging to 'Wellington Motor Bus Coy. caught fire late last night near the Basin Reserve. No passengers wore aboard at the time. The driver. Gibson, was investigating engine trouble that developed on the run in from Island Ray, and loaned over to lift Hie bonnet cover, when (lames burst out from the engine. The Brigade were quickly on thv. l spot and quenched the fire which scorched the engine considerably, but. did not damage Hie body of tlio lias. The driver attributed tbo (rouble to someone putting water iti (lie carburettor, causing it to back-lire, a practice which be states, lias bee.n prevalent lately. UKAMAN GORED BY BULLOCK. WANGANUI. June 23. A middle-aged man, named Lancaster, a seaman, on the steamer Gale, was badly gored by a bullock, while cattle were being loaded on to the ship to-night. The animals were being penned in the steamer’s bold when a bullock rushed three seamen. Lancaster endeavoured to help his mates, and he was tossed into the adjoining pen. The other men escaped. Lancaster was. hoisted from the hole in a sling and was sent to the hospital. He was gored in the thigh and arm losing a lot of blood and was generally knocked about. Ho is not in immediate danger. BUI? (A I. OF LYE LL PIONEERS. WESTPORT. June 2# The mortal rompins of two old Lyell residents, Mr Christen Rasmussen. aged 80 years, formerly proprietor of the- Empire Hotel at Lyell and Mr George Welsh, aged 711 years, late proprietor of the Welcome Inn Hotel, at Lyell, were laid to rest today in the Orotvaitc Cemetery. DULLER COUNTY RATES. WESTPORT, Juno 23. Duller County Council lias struck rates simitar V* those, cf last year, namely 6fd in the £ unimproved value. FATAL FALL. AUCKLAND, June 23. Severe liea.l injuries and abrasions were sustained by E. S. Postlewaiglit, an employee of the Chelsea sugar works, yesterday afternoon, when he slipped from -a, stack of sugar and fell a distance of 12ft. A launch was. tequisitioned and the injured man was brought to Auckland. An operation was performed, hut ho succumbed at l o’clock this morning in the hospital.