DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

'By 'Telegraph—Per Press Association.) . DOCTOR ACHIEVES FAME. IMPROMPTU OPERATION. AUCKLAND, Jan. 10. An Auckland doctor who was cruising in a yacht in the far north during the holidays performed an impromptu operation on a native who was suffering from a blood-poisoned arm, and the Maori is now thankful that adaptability to circumstances is one ot the essential qualifications of the medical profession. The boat was anchored peacefully in a little bay when a. member of a party from another yacht on going ashore to borrow a net discovered the suffering Maori and called in the medical man. Implements of various kinds were gathered, and when the little settlement had quietened down after the evening meal the doctor opeiatcd. The "Maori was highly disturbed by the formidable display of instruments and beads of perspiration appeared on his brow as a. half moon incision was made in the injured arm. “ Hold him, he’s going off,” said the doctor as the patient swooned. The assistant doctor who was holding an electric torch grasped the fainting Native by the hair and held him till lint was applied, and after five tablets were swallowed by the frightened man Nature was left to finish the job. In the morning the patient was quite chirpj and well.

As soon as the news of the feat spread the halt and lame of the village turned up in force. A bushfeller suffered much pain from a nasty axe wound and toes and fingers in different stages of damage were freely exhibited. So struck was one Native by the change that had overcome her relative that she pleaded for an incision in her toe which, she said, was suffering great agony. She was quietly informed that too much “waipiro” and too many oyster patties wore the fundamental cause of her ailment, and it was with a had grace that she submitted to treatment with a bottle of iodine and a brush for gout.

STUDYING THE NATIVE. \<)UNG AUCKLANDER’S MISSION AUCKLAND, Jan. 10. A lonely vigil on a Pacific isle, a voluntary exile from civilisation for a whole year, is the prospect ahead of Dr Raymond Firth, a young Auckland anthropologist, who now is visiting lus parents alter carrying off the Ph.D degree in anthropology at the London University. Dr Firth has set himself the task of a year’s field work on the island of Tikopin. an islet lying south-wset of the Solomons, where the only visitor is the Melanesian mission steamer Southern Cross, and she put in an appearance only once a year. 1 lie Aucklander will be the only white man on tlio island, which is only six square miles in area and carries a population of five hundred Polynesians.

Dr Firth is anxious to make this stay at Tikopia because, from an anthropological point of view, it is particularly interesting, and, what is even more important, untouched by scientific research. He will he surrounded by gigantic, scantily-clad islanders —■ few of tlio men arc less than six feet in stature —and bis initial task will be to acquire the language. Not that this is likely to cause him a great deal of trouble, lor r I ikopian is something akin to Maori. Though Hr Firth has not done a great deal of field work among the Maoris, he is sufficiently acquainted with their mother tongue to make contact with the inhabitants of Tikopia.

“ Though I dare say f shall hate it the first fortnight, when I realise that the steamer lias gone,” he confessed to-day. “ once I commence -o study in real earnest and make myself thoroughly at home in ’Tikopia 1 shall bo very busy and the time will pass quickly enough.” To the Tikopians the prospect of a white man settling in their undisturbed midst for no other reason than thahe wants to discover all he can about, them will he somewhat strange. 'These natives, however, are quiet and peaceful, and, as Dr Firth pointed out, there is no possibility of him suffering the late of certain Europeans in the neighbouring Solonms. Tikopians and the inhabitants of tbe Solomons are different in race, colour, physique an 1 in every other way.

Commenting upon the study of anthropology in New Zealand, D: Firth declared that the loss of Dr Peter Ruck was one that the Dominion could ill afford. His own studies in the London University had been in the directions of research in Maori economics, a field practically unexplored. Australia, lie said, bad set an example to New Zealand by equipping a number of anthropologists in the Western Pacific.

Dr Firth’s sojourn at Tikopia will be under the auspices of the Australian National Research Council.

PLUMBER’S DEATH. WELLINGTON, January 10. Leslie Bognuda, a plumber, aged 28 residing at 13S Daniel street, died at the hospital at 3.50 p.m. to-day as a result of injuries received through falling off the roof of the 2YA Broadcasting Company’s studio, Feathcrston street. Bognudo was working on t!ie building when the accident happened He was taken to the hospital by the ambulance, and on )>eing admitted at 11.55 a.m. was ■found to be suffering from internal injuries. An inquest will be held. DROWNED IN TUB. HAMILTON, January 10. Robert Seymour, aged 21 months, son of Mr. N. Seymour, a taxi-driver Galloway street, Hamilton East, wandered away from home, yesterday and later was found drowned in a tub of water, which had been left lor stock iu a neighbouring paddock.

BISHOP OF WAIKATO’S MARRIAGE. AUCKLAND, January 10. The Right Rev. C. A. Cherrington Bishop of Waikato, was quietly married at Bishopseourt Chapel, Hamilton. this morning, to Miss B. D. P. Price, of Auckland, the ceremony being carried out so quietly that none But a few intimate friends were aware of it. Dean Barnett conducted the marriage ceremony. THE MISSING CAPTAIN. OAMAR.II, Jan. 11. Captain Cant reported by cable as missing at Home, formerly in the Union Company service, was for a time in charge of the Oamaru dredge. He was married to a daughter of Captain Dick liis predecessor. Cant was sent north and entered the Government service and was finally placed in command of the Hinemoa.