WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1918, Page 3

WAITARA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Dec. sth. The unseasonable weather we are experiencing is having a. very bad effect on garden crops, which are at least a month later than they were last year. Owing to the unfavorable season, there are very few fat lambs offering for sale, and the prevailing epidemic is ssriously delaying shearing, so that there is not much wool coming forward as vet.

It is going to be rather difficult to get stevedores for the boat expected here on Monday. Several of the old gang have succumbed to influenza., while others are still too -weak through it to bo able to take their usual places. It is rumored that a crew of pakehas will be procured to load the boat, if possible.

The epidemic seems to be losing its grip on the town to a certain extent, only three fresh cases being reported this morning. Block visiting will be continued until the end of the present week, when, if the reports still continue favorably, it will be discontinued.

Four Maori patients were removed from Wnitara hospital to New Plymouth to-day to lessen the strain on the local staff, which is being depleted through sickness and overwork to such an extent that something had to be done to enable the hospital to continue running until the present patients are convalescent.

From now on all fresh cases which cannot be treated u.t home are to go to New Plymouth, so> that in a fortnight the hospitals here should be empty. The 'application for nominations to fill the vacancies on the Borough Council resulted in (inly one nomination being received, that of Mr W. R.i Procter, and he waa duly declared elected. Applications are again ibeing called to fill the remaining vacancy, and- it is to be hoped that some one will have public spirit enough to allow himself to be nominated, Mr and Mrs C. A. Tanner's little boy, who died in the New Plymouth Hospital from influenza, was buried here to-day. Deep sympathy .is felt for its parents in their sad bereavement.