NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 22, 27 January 1916, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

TAKAPUNA RACES.,. '.'-",' POSTPONED TILL SATURDAY. AUCKLAND, this day. The Takaprma Races have been further postponed till Saturday, owing to steady rain still falling. PATRIOTIC FUNDS. CONFERENCE CONVENED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 2(5. The Minister for Internal Affairslias convened a conference of representatives of. patriotic societies administering war funds to be held in. Wellington on February 17th. '. LIABILITY OF CHEMISTS. IN NO-LICENSE DISTRICTS. CANNOT SELL WINE TONICS-'. OAMARU, Jan. 2(5. Mr. Batholomew, S.M., gave his decision to-day in the case of the chemist charged with keeping liquor, towit, Mole'ndo wine, for sale within a no-license district. The magistrate said that the sale of this tonic for medicinal purposes was lawful. Tire prosecution had, however, raised an important point as to the position of chemists in - no-license districts —a point which had not previously been tested. For the defence, it was claimed that a chemist w in a no-license district had the same right as one in a district where licenses existed, but the Chief *justice had decided against that view, a,nd the magistrate convicted. As it was a test case, the defendantwas merely ordered.to pay court costs, V. Notice of appeal was given. YOUNG WOMAN'S DEATH. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. AUCKLAND, Jan. 2(5. An inquest into the- circumstances of the death of a young woman named Ethel Wright, 23 years of age, emplored as a cook at a girls' boarding school, who died after an operation for peritonitis at the Auckland- Hospital oh Monday, was conducted at the mortuary yesterday afternoon, by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., Coroner. Dr. John McGhie, senior ■ resident medical officer at the Auckland Hospital, stated that the deceased was admitted on January 21, obviously- suffering from an incomplete abortion. On January 24 sh e was operated upon for general peritonitis following upon pelvic peritonitis. This was not conistent with the history given by deceased of an attack of illness two days previously. Th e condition found at the operation was such that sepsis must have been introduced prior to that date. The cause of death, in tire doctor's opinion, was general peritonitis consequent upon pelvic peritonitis. There were no signs of perforation, but, in view of the septic condition, it was extremely probable that the abortion was induced by some form of local interference. The doctor did not think it at all likely that abortion was induced by natural means. Deceased, when questioned, had denied any interference, but refused to any history of her case. - The Coroner returned a verdict -in accordance with the medical testis m0ny...... ' ■ -----