NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4490, 12 August 1930, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES

The number of persons under care and treatment in the mental hospitals of the Dominion at the end of 1929 totalled (1348, of whom (>(193 had been committed under a magistrate's order, and 255 had been received upon their own application as voluntary boarders. The repori on the mental hospitals of the Dominion, which was-presented to Parliament, stated that the committals during 1929 numbered 95(1,or the same as the previous year, but the applications for voluntary admission were 258, or 32 less.

An instance of I lie unemployment prevailing' in the Dominion bus rein tied to a Mail representative by the Mayor of Nelson (Mr. W. J. Moffatt) the other morning. Keccnlly two men called on him, and stated that they had walked from Wanganui to 'Wellington, then on to 'Christchurch by boat, and then by foot to*the railway works on the east, coast. They wore informed that there were fiOO men on the list ahead of them, and they came on to Nelson. After they had placed their case before the Mayor their immediate needs were seen to, and ultimately the Hospital Board paid their passage across to Wellington.

Few people are aware of the beautiful home in Nelson which was left by the late Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick for the use of orphan daughters of members of the Masonic body. • They left their own home, which will accommodate a limit fourteen girls, with an endowment for upkeep and all expenses. These girls have a good eduea t ion given t hem, with regard to their particular talents, and later they are taken over by other Masons, who see that they are placed in suitable employment and given the opportunity of earning (heir living. There is a matron and staff provided for the home.

A few small shoals of whitebait, have been noticed recently making along the shores of Paterson’s Inlet, Stewart Island. They seem to come more freely in August, which no doubt corresponds to the lime they make up the rivers on the mainland. Their presence in the rivers on the island is soon demonstrated by the Hocks of shags which enler the rivers and wax fat on the small lish. Owing to the waters of Stewart Island rivers being dark coloured no one has as yet tried to make a livelihood out of procuring whitebait, says the correspondent of the Southland News, but there should be some means of getting over the difficulty, as apparently they are numerous.