DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—P?r Press Association.). TRAPPED IN MANURE AVHIRLER. AVOItKER BEATEN INTO .INSENSIBILITY. WANGANUI, Aug. 15. To lie caught oil a manure-whirler and spun around for some minutes and then to he alive, though beaten into insensibility, was the experience of a man named Janies Nicholas, employed at the Imlay freezing works. Yesterday, it appears, some of tho machinery used for mixing and crushing tho manure required cleaning and with this end in view Nicholas climbed into the bucket-like whirler, the machinery being stopped for the purpns. AVhile Nicholas was engaged in this operation it seems that the machinery was set in motion, the man responsible apparently thinking that the mixer was unoccupied. The horror of the luckless workman may he 'lmagined, and ho cried out to his mates below at tho first rotation, but some minutes elapsed before his cries were head and the men below were acquainted with what had happened. AVhen the machine was stopped niul the man was removed he was m a state of collapse, the special construction of tho machine having pounded him into insensibility. The sufferer was admitted to hospital, where he is said to he progressing favourably.

NEAV BISHOPS. TAVO APPOINTMENTS. AYELLT.NGTON, Aug. 15. The Rev. Frederick Augustus Bennett Alaori missioncr in Hawke’s Bay, has been appointed suffragan bishop to the Bishop of AVaiapu, with the title of Bishop of Aotea Ron. Assistant-Bishop F. AT. Molvneux lias been appointed' to succeed Bishop Steward as Bishop of Melanesia. EXPORT OF FRUIT. WELLINGTON, Aug. 15. The total orders for imported fruit cases for the 1929 season will reach fully 1,000,000. The New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation has orders for 890,000, of which 600,000 are being taken by Nelson. Practically all the imported cases are used tor the export trade, but of the total fruit produced in New Zealand, two-thirds are packed in locally-made cases, and one-third in imported cases. Air H. E. Stephens, who went to England last September to act us representative of New Zealand in London, has been ollered the appointment for a further period of two years. In tho opinion of the Board lie has grasped the market conditions in Great Britain. He has been asked to visit the Continental centres for the purpose of -investigating market conditions for Dominion fruit, and he expects to complete his work, and leave for New Zealand about tbe end of September. friendly societies. REGISTRAR’S ANNUAL REPORT. AVELLINGTON. Aug. 15. 'Die annual report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies for the year ended December 31st. presented to Parliament to-day, says the membership of Friendly Societies showed an increase c-f 28-68 during the year, equal to 3.01 per cent., the number of members at December being 98.251. The total accumulated funds of the societies increased fVom £3,337,083 to £3.520.717, a gain of £189.034 and the average capital per member from £35 0s 8d to £35 3 7s lid. The total not interest credited to the sick and funeral funds was £168,417, equal to a rate of £5 10s 7d per cent, as compared with £5 16s 3d per cent, during the previous year. The average contributions and interest per member credited to the sick and funeral funds increased from. £3 11s 4d to £3 11s Bd. The cost of sickness and funeral benefits per member was the

same as in 1926, £1 12s 9d, while the total net gain in these funds for the year amounted to £l. 6s 4d per member. The number of members who died during the year was 776, equal to 7.98 per 1000 members at a risk as against 8.02 per 1000 in 1926.