HOSPITAL AUXILIARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 252, 24 October 1932, Page 9

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY.

The monthly council meeting of the Auckland Hospital Auxiliary was held last week, Mrs. E. A. Kidd presiding. Mrs. T. J. G.- Neill reported that the Onehunga branch .had spent the time during the last two months mending clothes and distributing sweets and reading matter at the intirmary. They were starting their outings with a motor drive, but are finding it difficult to get enough cars. They were replenishing the infirmary library with new books. Mrs. A. E. Upton reported that the Mount Eden branch had held their first meeting of the new year. Mrs. Dufiin was appointed district visitor in place of Mrs. Hooton. Sister Mulcock reported having visited 11 cases, and orders amounting to £8 had been given. A fsofa and cushion for a patient were presented by Misses Somerville, Otahuhu. The most important event during the month was the forming of a junior branch, which consists of 10 members, who will undertake sewing, visiting and social work generally. During the month the ladies of the Balmoral district arranged for'a picture evening, and held s. musical afternoon in the Penwomen's Club rooms, which was a great success. Six parcels of clothing, linen, towels, etc., have been distributed, and new and second-hand' goods sent to the depot. They reported 12 new members. Mrs. Carr-Smith said that the city sewing circle was showing great interest in the work and interesting outsiders as well. She has given demonstrations of the work at' the Ellerslie Friendship Club, Clevedon women's branch of the Farmers' Union, Kohimarama and Mission Bay Women's Progressive League, Girls' Club at St.. George's Chqroh, and to the unemployed girls, East Street, Epsom.' Their secretary, Mrs. Allan Evans, had gone to live in Hawera. Mrs. J. P. Howden had been appointed in her place. St. Helens Hospital had been grateful for the number of garments sent to them, and a letter had been received from the metropolitan relief depot acknowledging a parcel'of coats the circle had repaired. Many parcels of scraps and patterns have been received, among others, some from Gratia and Northcote Progressive League. The circle were also able to outfit three children for the Sunshine camp. During the months of August and September 309 garments were sent to St. Helens Hospital, and eight to the depot. Mrs. J. R. Whitaker, the new convener'of the purchasing and distributing committee in place of Mrs. Allan Evans, reported that parcels of finished garments had been received from Te Atatu, New Lynn and Henderson Women's Institutes and Awhitu Central Circle, and parcels of cut-out garments had been sent to Te Atatu, Glen Eden, Silverdale and New Lynn Women's Institutes and to the depot for outside Workers.. Mrs. M. Dreaver reported that in response to appeals over the air the wireless committee had received 107 gramophone records for the hospital wards, 24 large story books for girls, 50 boys' books, GO pairs of bead phones from "Skipper," and three crystal sets. These are to be distributed throughout the hospital, and thanks are due to these generous donors. Mesdames Bolitho and Magulre reported that they had' collected the hotel boxes and it was found they contained £2 1/7 J. Thanks Were given to the various hotels in •which they were placed. The depot reported having distributed 454 garments in. August and 455 in September, and received miscellaneous donations of 274 garments in August and 196 in September. Donations from the Mount Eden branch amounted to 53 garments for August, and 40 for September. The nurses' branch,,sent in 37 garments and outside workers 36 garments. Eleven patients were taken to their homes in August and six in September. Orders for food were given to nine people in August and to six in September, two pairs of boots or shoes were bought for ■patients in August, and four in September. Forty-eight families were helped with clothing in August and 34 in September. The Epsom League of Mothers bent a wonderful donation of 70 garments and a lot of scraps for the sewing circle. Another parcel of scrap books was sent from St. Cutlibert's College, and these were greatly enjoyed by the children. The Victoria League and private friends sent donations of literature from time to time. Mrs. Crawley, of Dominion Rodd, gave the children in the hospital a finished and coloured model of "Sunnytown," cut from the Children's Supplement of the "Star." This was to be placed in the hospital schoolroom and would be much enjoyed by the children. Much pleasure was expressed by the council at the legacy of £500 from the estate of the late Miss A. J. Wilson, and also at the grant of £50 from the Bank of New Zealand for relief among women and children. These gifts liad come at a most opportune time.