WELLINGTON: "The standard of fitness in the Dominion is a high one," states Colonel J.R. Purdy, Director of Medical Services, in an appendix attached to the defence report. "It would, however, be very much higher if there were not such a widespread neglect of the ordinary hygiene of the mouth. The percentage of bad teeth and unclean mouths was a very large one in ultimate rejection of the recruits. Quite one-half were rejected because their teeth were in such a bad state, thus causing impairment of the constitution. The rejections in the British Army for loss or decay of teeth equal 55 per 1000; here they total 120 per 1000."
The report states that during the year 1911 25,085 Territorial recruits were medically examined. Of these 657 were classified as unfit to serve during the current year, and 1350 were rejected as medically unfit.
For the service of cadets 26,782 were examined, and 366 were classified as unfit for one year and 889 rejected as medically unfit. The recruits were rejected for the following causes:- Physically disabled, 25 per cent; diseases of lungs, 8 per cent; heart, 16 per cent; kidneys, 1 per cent; nervous system, 7 per cent; digestive system, 4 per cent; ears, 2 per cent; eyes, 7 per cent; defective vision, 15 per cent; deafness, 3 per cent; mentally deficient, 1 per cent; varicose veins, 7 per cent; very bad teeth and gums, 2 per cent.
• Seldom (says the New Zealand Times) has there been seen on the football field in New Zealand forward rushes as fine as were witnessed in Victoria street, Wellington, and the vicinity on Monday morning, when a bull which had taken French leave from the Ngahauranga slaughteryards perturbed the equanimity of many people and upset the equilibrium of a cyclist.
After causing the route he followed to be deserted of everything human, canine, feline, or equestrian, the bull turned his attention to the wayfarers in Victoria street. Spectators were scattered like the Philistines before the Israelites, and several young ladies headed in much haste for the doors of warehouses.
A passing cyclist was not successful in dodging a charge, and his machine was altered in appearance and his apparel damaged. Fortunately, he escaped injury. At length a blue-coated mounted man came to quell the disturbance with his little revolver, but the bull's body arrested the bullets instead of the latter arresting him. However, another member of the force, with a rifle, terminated the wanderer's career.
• The services in Knox Church to-morrow will assume a special character, owing to the fact that the total debt on the church property has been finally paid off, the last 200 having been contributed during the week.
Between 1400 and 1500 was required altogether, and a big effort was made to raise the amount before the end of the church financial year, June 30, with the above satisfactory result. It may be of interest to state that during the last 36 years the congregation of Knox Church has raised, exclusive of interest charges, more than 24,700 for land and buildings, a fact which reflects very great credit on the members of the congregation.
• Fruit-growing areas for testing have been instituted by the Department of Agriculture at Mr Batt's place, Southbridge, at Mr E.
Parson's, Kaikoura, Mr E. Bloxam's, Reefton, and Mr W. Grant's, Willowbridge.- ODT, 6.12.1912
