DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1927, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph—run press association.] -MAORI STABBED. ARREST OF A CHINESE. AUCKLAND, February 17. A .Maori was stabbed twice in the groin in the Star Dining Rooms this evening. The weapon used was a twopronged fork, but the injuries were not considered serious when he was removed to the hospital, from which lie was later discharged. A Chinese has been arrested in connexion with the incident. A 1 ILFORD SOUND INCIDENT. REPLY TO .MINISTER. WELLINGTON. February 17. The Union Steam Ship Company, replying to-day to the statement by the Minister of the Tourist Department regarding the Milford Sound mishap on January 31. denies that any blame is attachable to it. The captain of the Moeraki made every effort to have the programme carried out. He steamed up to the vicinity of Bowen Falls and blew the whistle, sounded detonators and fired rockets for three hours, until Captain Hamilton, who came from Sutherland’s in a rowing boat, reported that the accommodation huts at Saniltly Point were burnt. AA'et weather and the strong tide running at the. head of the sound made the question of effecting a landing by the ship’s boats problematical, and at best a lengthy process and not without risk. Even Tt‘ the passengers were landed there was no accommodation except at Quinton huts, thirteen miles distant. It was not considered prudent to attempt landing under such conditions. The company shares the disappointment, but does not accept responsibility.

EE AIA LE TEACHERS. NAPIER. February IS

It was remarked at the Hawkes Bay Education Board’s meeting to-day that quite a number of female teachers would get married to-morrow if released from their bond, and so make way for the teachers that were at present not able to secure positions.

There are at present thirteen teachers in the district without employment and there are fifteen in relieving positions.

The Board decided to request the Department to relax the conditions of the Training College bond for a period of twelve months, in order to allow those teachers who so desire to he married without incurring any penalty under the bond.

N.Z. HOSPITALS. 1I AMT! lIA. February IS

The biggest public work undertaken in South Taranaki, the erection of a public hospital here, has been completed, and the opening ceremony was performed this afternoon by the Minister of Health, before a large gathering. The hospital, providing accommodation for 80 beds, is up to date in every respect. It cost £90,000, and should provide for the requirements of the district for many years.

Hon. Afr Young stated the hospital expenditure throughout' the Dominion was steadily increasing. Seventy-three per cent of all the Hospital Board’s revenue was derived from the public funds, levies on local authorities, and subsidies contributed by the Government. The cost of hospital treatment averaged about 13s 3d daily. Ihe charges made by the hoards averaged 9s per day. Only 3s (id per day was collected in contributions. The public funds, levies, and subsidies had risen from £413.000 sterling in 1914-15 to £1,238.000 for 1923-20. and the expenditure per head oi tile population had risen from 7s 9d to 20s 3d to-day. The number of available beds per thousand of the population was five point four, as against three point four in 1914-13. Since that year forty new hospitals had been opened. The majority of these institutions were intended for maternity cases only.

Dr YaTintine. Direetor-eGneral of Health, remarked that the standard of the hospitals in New Zealand was high, and more than favourably compared with the same European institutions. Provision was made in this country for five hods per thousand of the population. while the United Kingdom provided one per thousand. No other part of Europe, with the probable exception of Denmark, could reach the latter standard. The Director sounded a note of warning regarding further expenditure. Tie said that during the next few years, this would need to be as light as possible. There was no further need for new hospitals in the Dominion.

During the afternoon a memorial tablet to the late W. A. Parkinson was unveiled by Miss H. M. Page, granddaughter of the donor, under whose bequest the entrance columns were provided.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. AUCKLAND. Feb. 18. Recognition of the School of Engineering at Auckland Lniversity College. which for many years lias been the subject of -keen debate, was to-day-agreed to by the l niversity Council, th e , following resolution being carried by thirteen votes to seven: ‘’That, in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission of University Education in New Zealand, 19‘25. the School of Engineering at Auckland University College he recognised as providing training for the first and second professional examinations for the B.E. Degree in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. T here were some warm passages in the debate. Mr F. A. Delamere (of Hamilton) saying the people of Canterbury and Otago were crusaders in the matter at issue, and had formed a holy alliance to defeat the ends of the A tick In nders.

Mr TV. J. Morrel (Otago) said the statement was entirely groundless, and should he withdrawn. Mr Delamere aceordinglv withdrew it.

N.Z. LABOUR. WELLINGTON, Fell. 18. The Wellington Trades and Labour Council last night received correspondence from the Alliance of Labour, that arrangements had been finalised for welding the two bodies into one federation, and future meetings of the Trades and Labour Council will be held as District Council meetings of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour. It is anticipated that the next district meeting will he attended by organisations which at present are only affiliated with the Alliance of Labour.

INQUEST ON MOTOR YICTIM. ' CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 18

An inquest was opened to-day on the death of Edwin John Leathan, aged 53. wlio was killed hv being struck and run over hv a motor car on Riccnrton road on the night of February sth. Mr Young S.M. sat as Coroner. John Richard Hines said he witnessed the accident. Leathan was crossing the road, carrying one bicycle on his shoulder and wheeling another, when a car driven by Robert Patrick Grant approached. Leathan stopped on seeing tile car coming, hut the ear swerved and struck him. Wii ness did not hoar the horn sounded. When the ear pulled on. the body of deceased was under it. Witness thought the driver

could have avoided the accident by stopping or keeping further to the left. The speed was from 15 to 20 miles per hour. It appeared that Grant was not keeping a proper look out. George Reed, a passenger in Grant’s car, said that Grant sounded his horn and pulled up in a very short distance after the impast. Llewellyn Thomas, also a passenger in Grant’s car, coirohrated this evidence. He said there were dazzling headlights on a car coining in the opposite direction. The inquest was ndojurned sine die. MOTOR CYCLIST’S ACCIDENT. PAIHATCA, February 18. A motor cycle skidded on the Alanga-tainoka-Pahiatua road, and Richard Geange, a young married man, w(is thrown heavily. He suffered a broken... nose and severe abrasions to the face; and head, suffering also very badly from shock. He was taken to the hospital. WOOL SALES. WELLINGTON, February 18. The wool sales closed at noon. The opinion is that prices showed a rise from ]d to Ul per lb on 44’s to 48’s; 3d to ltd on lambs ; Jj to id on bellies. Pieces were about par. There was a slight advance on superfine wools. SWIMMER FAILS. lIAAIILTON, February IS. C. V. Dayus, a Hamilton swimmer, who attempted to break the world’s fresh water record by swimming from Cambridge to Taupiri, a distance of 30 miles, gave up at Ngaruayahia, owing to the effects of cold water. He was responsible for a fine performance, swimming 30 miles in the Waikato ltivor in about S 3 hours.