An upright English gentleman

Before the business was proceeded with at last night’s meeting of the Otago Hospital Board the chairman (Mr W.E.S. Knight) said he regretted that he had a rather painful duty to perform in regard to the late Mr Talboys. Of course, they were aware he had carried on the work of the Benevolent Committee and the distribution of relief, and they knew how intensely interested he had been in the welfare and management of the institution. It had been to Mr Talboys a labour of love. A great many people in the community would recognise his good work, and the members of the board, who had worked with Mr Talboys for so many years, know the great work he had performed. His death was a very great loss to the community and a great loss to the board. A letter of sympathy had been sent to Mrs Talboys and family. Mr Scurr said he felt that they had lost a friend. In Mr Talboys they had had an upright English gentleman who did his duty firmly, but was at the same time a man with a very sympathetic nature. His death was not only a loss to the board, but to the whole community. Mr Morgan said he had had a great deal of respect for Mr Talboys, and the men and women in the institution had always been on the look-out for his visits. The Chairman’s action in sending the letter to Mr Talboys’s relatives was confirmed, and members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the deceased.

Earth for best radio reception

"Earths" are very important. A number of radio fans think the nearest and quickest way is good enough, but if they got a spade and dug in several good "earths" in damp places they would be surprised at the results obtained. Another method is to use the roof under the aerial. — by ‘Magna Vox’

Stone-throw leads to tragedy

An inquest was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon concerning the death of a boy named Alfred Joseph Heller, who died at the Hospital early yesterday morning. Mr J.R. Bartholomew SM acted as coroner, and Sergeant Shanahan represented the police. Alfred Joseph Heller, aged six years and five months was brought into the house by his brother Walter, aged 12 years. The boy was bleeding from the left side of the head. The wound was bathed by deceased’s mother, and Dr Scrymgeour put a stitch in the wound. Walter said the two boys were playing. The deceased was hiding behind a tree, and Walter threw a stone at the tree just as deceased showed his head from behind it.

The Coroner said the evidence showed that the boy unfortunately received a blow from a stone thrown by his brother. The blow was not a serious one in itself, but infection set in and resulted in the boy’s death. Everything possible was done for him at the Hospital by Dr Scrymgeour and others. The verdict would be that death was due to heart failure following septicemia, which resulted from an injury to the scalp by a stone.

Tweaks to suburban trains

A deputation from the Otago Expansion League waited upon the District Traffic Manager (Mr Williams) yesterday morning with several suggestions for the improvement of the suburban railway service. The subjects discussed were: an independent exit from the north dock, the possibility of the reinstatement of the 11.15pm train, and the alteration of the timetable for the Sunday trains from Port Chalmers to enable suburban residents to visit the Hospital on Sunday afternoons, getting the 5.20pm Mosgiel train away on time when the express is running late, the possibility of running the 4.50pm train every night and making it available for suburban passengers, and the unfairness of holding up the workers’ train in favour of race trains for Wingatui on Saturday. A plea was also entered for the late train on this line also, and it was pointed out that several large blocks of land were being cut up at Mosgiel, and that an improved service would facilitate housebuilding and increase revenue. The Traffic Manager thanked the deputation for the reasonable manner in which it advocated its proposals. Representations were also made as to the advisability of altering the 6.15pm train to 5.45pm for the benefit of the employees in shops closing at 5.30pm. The manager undertook to ascertain the wishes of the train users on the subject. If a sufficient majority is secured the alteration will be made. — ODT, 24.8.1923

Compiled by Peter Dowden