St John Ambulance Association.

» FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. DISTRIBUTION OF DIPLOMAS. Last night the Provincial Council Chamber was crowded in all parts, principally by ladies, for the first annual meeting of the St John Ambulance Association. On the platform were His Excellency the Governor, Major Jervois, His Worship the Mayor, the Very Rev the Dean, the Rev T. flavell, Mr T. S. Weston, Colonel Lean, the Mayor of Kaiapoi, Drs Hacon, Thomas, Frankish and Irving, and others. A guard of honour, from the City Guards, under the command of Captain Bishop, received His Excellency. Sir William Jervois, who presided, opened the proceedings by calling upon the Rev T. Flavell, the Hon Secretary, to read the following FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. The Committee of the Canterbury (N.Z.) centre of the St John Ambulance Association beg to present their first report, which covers a period of about eight months' operations. Though not started till May 6 last, the Association has now five branches, namely, Christchurch, Merivale, Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, and Rangiora. In these branches twelve classes have received instruction in the work of rendering preliminary aid to tbe injured. There have been thirteen examinations held, and out of over 300 who came up to the examination, 19G have successfully passed the ordeal, and are entitled to receive their first certificate. Owing to the very liberal way in which the citizens of the district supported the fancy dress ball, the Committee have been able to accomplish the two following objects :— l. To provide free CQiirse*- d lectures to some of tiie railway workmen, tramway men, Fire Brigade men, and the police. 2. To supply the city and suburbs with proper ambulance stretchers and litters for the use of the public in cases of emergency. This material is now found at the following places :— (1) Police Station, (2) Railway Station, (3) Fire Brigade Station, (4) Merivale schoolroom. It is gratifying to the Committee to know that there are men now at each of these stations who can give efficient-aid as necessity arises. The Committee desire to add that the moment there are suflicient funds for the purpose, similar appliances will be supplied to all the branches of the Association. The want of adequate material for teaching purposes has been one drawback to the full carrying out of the Association's aims, and the successful examinees are to be congratulated on having thoroughly satisfied the hon examiners, notwithstanding the disadvantages under which their studies have been prosecuted. Ample material of every kind is now to hand for future classes. The Committee have been sorry that they could not see their way to make a beginning with the nursing classes during the past year, but having respect to the arduous services already rendered to the members by the hon lecturers and examiners, and to the further fact that the proper materials were not forthcoming, the committee decided to leave the starting of this important part of the Association's work till early in the new year. Immediately after Easter these classes will begin, as also fresh classes for the instruction in rendering first aid to the injured. In connection with this subject, the Committee desire to say that they have been most j anxious to be of service to the community, by providing thoroughly trustworthy and competent nurses, and by way of beginning they have enrolled such nurses who have come from England, with (1) either the Association's certificate or with (2) one from the well-known hospitals. Thus the nucleus is formed of a most important branch of the Association's work. By means of the lectures on nursing, together with facilities for hospital experience, it is hoped that many young women will be enabled to make nursing their vocation in life, so that during the year some new names — and theso our own trainees — will bo placed on the Association's list. Besides thus becoming a medium for securing certificated nurses, the Association trusts it can also be of service in enrolling a number of duly qualified monthly nurses. To secure this object a Board of Advice has been appointed, consisting of members of our hon medical staff, on whoso recommendation alone tho names of nurses will bo received. Already nine suoh nurses have placed their names on the Association's books. The Committee tender their heartiest thanks to the hon lecturers and hon examiners for the willing, generous, and effective assistance they have rendered to tho Association during the past year— services which, it is hoped, will be again given during tho year on'which we have now entered. (Applause.) Mr H. S. E. Hobday, the Hon Treasurer, then read his balance-sheet, showing receipts £278 63 3d, and expenditure £249 15a lid, leaving a credit balance of £28 10s 4d. His Excellency had tho pleasing duty of moving the adoption of the report. At starting he would like to say that he thought all would concur in attributing to the Rev T. Flavell in a great measure tho success of the Canterbury Branch of St John Ambulance Association. He had looked through the books of the Association, and had found that Mr Flavell had

been indefatigable in ad~ocating the claims of the Association throughout Canterbury. The medical men of Christchurch and the neighbourhood, by their lectures and the trouble they had taken as examiners, had done a service impossible to be over-rated. Referring to the balance-sheet, he thought it must be considered a credit to the Hon Treasurer that there was a balance in favour of the Association, especially at this time when people spoke so much, of general depression. With regard to the Association generally, it was difficult to over-rate the merits of those ladies and ' gentlemen who had qualified themselves for the certificates. Of 300 candidates, no fewer than 196 had passed, and heads of families and persons in responsible , positions would fully understand the ad- ] vantages these would confer on the com___nity. The diplomas of these successful competitors he had had the pleasurable trouble of signing that day. All that seemed to be wanted now was a good crop of accidents. (Applause and laughter.) He was reminded of a circumstance that had occurred some years ago when he was at the Cape of Good Hope with the Enniskilleners, the surgeon of which regiment was an Irishman very fond of sport. The heat of the sun on one occasion so affected this surgeon when out shooting that he had to put up at a Dutch Boer's house for some days. When about to leave his host, he addressed him in a rich brogue as follows : — " Moy dear I Sir, oi don't know how sufficiently to thank ! you for all your kindness, or how to repay I you. Oi just wish that all your family moight fall sick, so that I moight attend j them." (Laughter.) So it was here ; all that was wanted was a crop of accidents. j Such, however, he did not believe was the wish of those who had passed this examination. They had no desire to compete j with the medical men, but merely wished to be able to practise their art when an accident occurred, for dealing wjlth which their knowledge might be of use. Before sitting down, he would like to refer to the accident to the poor young girl, Miss Morrison, who was carried to the Hospital in one of the Ambulance litters kept ready at the Tramway Station. With these remarks, he would move the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Dr Frankish had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. After the exhaustive address of His Excellency, he would not detain the meeting. He was all the better satisfied at having to remain there a short time, on this account, that he feared the platform would give way under the weight of so many, and an accident might occur which would enable them to test the knowledge of the recipients of certificates. The President of the Association had not said a word too much in praise of the successful candidates. That two-thirds of those who had attended the lectures had passed, was very creditable to them, especially when the insufficiency of the appliances was considered. With the one case [already referred to by His Excellency, staring them in the face, there was no need to say more in favour of the Association. The ancient Mrs Gamp, so graphically described by Charles Dickens, was, he was happy to say, fast disappearing, to be replaced by an educated and trained nurse. (Applause.) New Zealanders boasted of their civilisation, freedom, and education, but not so much consideration was given to the indigent poor as should be given. He could imagine nothing more gratifying to any one than to be able to administer to the wants of the suffering indigent. A course "Oh nursing" would ere long be given, and then people of both sexes would have the knowledge necessary for administering fitly to the. afflicted. He hoped all who had passed would qualify themselves to become such nurses. (Applause.) The motion was carried unanimously. His Excellency called upon Mr Hulbert to move the next resolution. (Applause.) Mr Hulbert was sure the resolution he had to propose would be accepted without a dissentient voice. It was — " That a cordial vote of thanks be given to the lecturers and examiners for the efficient aid they had given to the Association throughout the year." (Applause.) The services those gentlemen had given were priceless. He did not like to mention names, but must say that Drs Hacon and Chapman deserved great credit for the hearty way in which they had acted for the benefit of the Association. Mr Whitefoord had great pleasure in seconding the motion. As a resident in i the country, he thought that the country | medical gentlemen deserved especial thanks for the interest they had taken in the work. In the country prompt measures to succour the wounded were specially needed from others before the medical man could arrive. It was desirable that persons should be trained not to be shocked at the sight of wound**, and to know what course should be adopted. He was sure that the resolution would be carried by acclamation. (Applause.) Colonel Lean was there, ho took it, in virtue of the position he held as head of the Volunteers in this Province. He was glad to know that those who took a promi- | nent part in the Association were, or had been, Volunteer officers. At one time, no organisation of the sort existed, though it was much wanted, for the providing of "first aid to the injured" in the Volunteer Corps. Dr Chapman had, at his own cost, provided an equipage for the Ambulance at the Volunteer encampments, and when a first one had been destroyed, had provided a second. For this he had had no adequate compensation, and he (Colonel Lean) would be wanting in his duty were ho not to take this opportunity of thanking him. When he had first heard of this Association, it was mentioned in connection with the Volunteers, and he had pointed out that it could not be recognised unless brought under the regulations. Since then Dr Chapman had constituted a department of hi_ own. (Applause.) Dr Chapman thought that Dr Hacon should have preceded him in returning thanks, as he had taken the first steps towards the formation of the Association. Another reason was that the lecturers came before the examiners. The Association owed a great deal to Mr Flavell and Mr Hulbert, to whom a vote of thanks should be given. (Applause.) He was glad to find that nursing was attracting the attention it deserved, for nursing was often of more use than medical treatment. No medical treatment could be of any use without good nursing. He would like to say that the work of the examiners had been a labour of love, and the answers were such as to show that in cases of emergency those who had passed would be most useful members of society. The members of the Association would, in the course of a few years, he felt sure, be instrumental in saving a number of lives. (Applause.) Dr Hacon presented His Excellency with a report of the Canterbury Branch, which had been sent Home, been published there, and had been sent out. (Applause.) He could assure the meeting that the medical men had worked heartily together for the Association. He hoped their work would not be thrown away. He meant that those who had passed must come up again in another 12 months and show that they had kept up their work. He thanked the meeting for their vote of thanks. His Ex.ellency was here reminded that the motion had not been put. Ho put it, j and it was carried unanimously. } Mr Weston had great pleasure in moving j a vote of thanks to the outgoing ComI mittee, and the nomination of the incoming | •ne. The value of the Association must }bo undeniable, and the services of the Committee had been instrumental in : bringing it to its present efficiency, for i which they were entitled to the thanks of j the wholo community. There was one i thing which previous speakers had forj gotten, and that was that in conjunction I with the classes there should be some i instruction given to ladies as to the preparation of food for invalids. How few could make beef tea of such a quality that a sick person could enjoy it ? Little deliea- . ties were the nourishment that enabled invalids to recover their strength, and he : trusted that the ladies would bear this in mind. He had great pleasure in moving — j " That the thanks of the meeting be j tendered to the outgoing Committee for their services rendered during the ' year, and that the following be the , Committee for the ensuing year : — j Mesdames Peacock, Hulbert, Webb, Gibbs, Flavell, Nashelski, Carter, Caro, and Miss

Pheney, the Mayor of Christchurch (._ officio), the Very Rev the Dean, and Messrs Hulbert, Wolfe, Shaw, Evans, Weston, R. C. Bishop, H. S. Hobday (hon Treasurer), and Rev T. Flavell (hon Secretary)." Major Tosswill seconded the resolution. He hoped that the in-coming Committee might see their way to extending the Association to the country, where its services must be of greater moment than in town, where medical men wore so easily available. Only that day he had heard that the text- book used in the classes was one that had been written by his friend and brother officer, Dr Shepherd. Only a few days before leaving for Zululand, where he lost his life, he had given him (Major Tosswill) a copy of the work, at the same time expressing the hope that it would be found useful in New Zealand, the country he (Major Tosswill) was going to. He was glad to know that the Association intended to extend it 3 operations to the country districts. His Excellency put the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The Rev T. Flavell, on behalf of the outgoing Committee, acknowledged the vote of thanks. His Excellency then distributed the certificates, at the same time impressing upon the recipients the necessity of keeping up the work, and qualifying themselves for the next examination. The recipients of the certificates were classified as under : —

Christchttech. Ladies. — Mrs Ashley, Misses Adams, Bedeley, Mrs Bridge, Misses Gertrude Bowen, Bowen, Baker, Brittin, Mesdames Corfe, Cook, Miss Alma Dale, Mesdames Flavell, Gibbs, Miss Griffin, Mesdames Hulbert, O'Brien Hoare, Hughes, Henderson, Misses Hartley, Hobden, Mesdames Izard, Inglis, Jacobs, Misses Kitchingman, Emma Jane Kenner, Sarah Lewis, Mesdames Merton, Maude, Nashelski, O'Neal, Misses Lillie Peter, Emily Peter, Purdy, Roscoe, Mesdames Stanford, Scrivener, Stiingelman, Misses Seager, Spensley, Scrivener, Mrß Thomas, Misses Twentyman, Thompson, Tanner, Taylor, Mesdames Wethey, E. Wilcox, Weston, Misses M. Wilson, J. Wilson. Gentlemen. — Messrs Ashley, Francis, Gardiner, Hill, Hammond, Hoddinott, Jekyll, Miller, Kaye, O'Neal, H. W. Smith, Wethey, Wykes. Merivale Class. Misses Aldridge, Buchanan, Butcher, A. Boys, Brett, Colborne-Veel, G. ColborneVeel, Davie, M. Davie, E. Dobson, Mrs Guthrie, Misses Galway, M. Greenstreet, J. Gresham, Mesdames Henwood, Irving, Kaye, Martin, Meares, ne'e Garrick, Norris, Misses Pheney, E. Purchase, Ridley, Rogers, Mrs F. Smith, Misses Smith, E. Smith, Small, A. Turner, E. Turner, Temple, Wieneke, Webb, Williams, Wolfe. Kaiapoi. Ladies. — Mesdames P. A. Brooke, Blackwell, H. L. Baker, J. M. Claik, M. Glass, Misses E. G. Hornby, L. Morris, M. A. Moore, M. Lynskey, A. Roll, Mesdames C. Shaw, A. Swift, E. L. Smith, A. M. Wood, R. Whitefoord, Misses S. L.Wilson, T. E. Wilmot, E. L. Wilmot. Gentleman, — Mr T. Lang. Rangiora. Ladies. — Mrs Buckham, Misses Charlotte Brown, Fuller, Good, Gresson, and Clarissa Gresson, Mr 3 Howarth, Miss Howarth, Mrs Jones, Miss Emma Jane Kenner, Mrs Mannering, Miss Manneriag, Mrs Kicholls, Misses Maude Rouse, Jenny Stevenson, Mrs Torlesse, Miss Mary Torlesse, Mrs luckey, Misses Tnckey and Todd. Gentlemen. — Messrs Andrew Blackett, Ball, Buckham, Mannering, and Tribe. Lyttelton. Ladies. — Mesdames Laura A. Ronalds, Florence Ackford, and Mary Owen. Police. Police Constable J. Bennetts, Sergeant J. Briggs, Police Constable A. Colborne, Sergeant P. Carlyon, Police Constable J. Crockett, Police Constable J. Dougan, Police Constable J. Flaherty, Police Constable S. Flewellyn, Police Constable T. Gaffney, Police Constable P. Kenney, Police Constable M. Leahy, Police Constable R. M'Clelland, Detective M. O'Connor, Inspector P. Pender, Police Constable T. Stevenson, Police Constable J. Skirving, Sergeant W. Willis. Firemen. Messrs W. L. Dickenson, G. Fuller, S. Forsyth, R. E. Green, W. B. Hobbs, C. Hoskina, W. Hoddinott, W. A. Hewitt, T. Stevenson, J. Skinear, E. Smith, P. Smith; A. Watts, L. Watts, G. Woodham. Tramway. Messrs J. Redmond, J. Stanley, H. Whitfield. Addington Workshops. Messrs J. Efford, J. L. Edwards, D. Fraser, G. Gillman, D. Handysides, L. H. Jones, L. Norman, C. Rides, T. Riordan, G. Rugg, D. Round, G. Smart, C. Turvey, R. Winter. His Worship the Mayor moved a vote of thanks to his Excellency the Governor. (Applause.) The motion wa. carried by acclamation, and duly acknowledged by His Excellency, who expressed a fervent wish for the continued success of the St John Ambulance Association. This brought the proceedings to a close.

Ladies. Gentlemen. Christchurch ... 49 13 Merivaie ... 35 0 Kaiapoi 18 1 Rangiora ... 20 5 Lyttelton ... 3 0 Police 0 17 Firemen '. 0 15 Tramway ... 0 3 Addington Workshops 0 14 Hon Secretary ... 0 1 Total ... 194