NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 216, 29 May 1915, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

GAS POISONING CASES. THE JURY'S VERDICT. WELLINGTON, Friday. As a result of th e inquest on five victims of gas poisoning last month, the following verdict was returned: "That the deceased died from coal gas poisoning, due to an accidental escape of gas from th e service mains, caused by abnormal gas pressure being exerted from Miramar, the manufacturing station.after 10 p.m., on the 29th April, which the governor at Onepu Road failed to regulate. EXPEDITIONARY FORCES. THE OTAGO QUOTA. DUNEDIN, This Day. Th e position of Ootago regarding recruits for the new unit is completely satisfactory. Latest returns show that 490 men accepted for service, leaving a deficiency of only about 60. There is a further medical examination to-night and possibly the full quota will leave for Trentham to-morrow. It is estimated that ever 2000 men have gone from the Dunedin -group alone since mobilisation of expeditionary forces commenced.

CONCERNING OUR WOUNDED. ARRANGEMENT FOR PROMPT INFORMATION. WELLINGTON, May 27. At the present time, when casualty lists are coming through so frequently, there is a good deal of anxiety felt by relatives friends regarding the wounded, and the Minister for Defence (the Hon. Jas. lien) has taken steps towards alleviating the suspence. The Minister told a reporter to-day that he was in communication with Malta regarding th e wounded New Zealanders there —five officers and 29G noncommissioned officers and men. He had telegraphed to the authorities to cable him the names of the wounded in the Malta hospitals, at the present time, and to report from time to time the men who had recovered and gone back to the front; men whose condition had become more serious; and additional wounded who had gone into the hospitals. He further intimated to the authoriities that unless they reported that a wounded soldier was getting worse it would be presumed that he was progressing favourably. This would save a great deal of time and

unnecessary cabling. Advic e had been received that full written particulars regarding the wounded at Malta were being sent, but to save unnecessary delay and anxiety, he (the Minister) had given instructions for the information to be cabled. The Minister added that he was adopting th e same course with regard to wounded New Zealanders in Egypt, who wer e receiving attention in ,tjhe jfollowing AJlexiaivdria N.o 15 General Hospital, No. 17 General i Hospital, Egyptian Government Hospital, Raseltin Military Hospital, No. 5 Indian General Hospital, Bombay Presidency Hospital, and P. and D. Nos. 1 and 2 Hospitals. As far as the wounded New Zealanders in the English hospitals were concerned, said Mr Allen, the High Commissioner was from time to time forwarding particulars regarding them. With a view to dispelling th e confusion and anxiety which sometimes

arise when the casualty lists are received, the Minister for Defence to-day issued the following definition of the expression used in connection with wounds: (1) 'Slightly-Wounded": Able to resume duty immediately after being attended to. (2) "Wounded": Not badly hurt, but requiring treatment. Not able to resume duty for a short period. (3) "Seriously Wounded": Any wound that might become complicated, such as a bullet wound through the abdomen, trunk or ehest. ( 4) "Dangerously Wounded": Wounds likely to end In death. •It is to be noted, that there is not a marked distinction. Orcups often overlap, bat tfce sSzrz Is iis-iisuai] classification.