NEW HOSPITAL OPENED.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLII, Issue 6021, 6 March 1914, Page 5

NEW HOSPITAL OPENED.

IX VUESEXCE OF LARGE

G iTIIEKiXG-

A GO3D WORK CDMPLErKU

It is p'eiain? t?> he able occi-i >n illy to record the fact that the go-jj that sDfuo mea (iv bears fruit when Time's elideing influence is already busy with our memories.

The function that tock.pl see- at the now hospital yesterday, when the huilding was formerly op?ne-l by Mr Gfto. Wsoy Stewart, in the unavoidable absence oi! Mr Peebles, i'ne Chairman or' the. }>ay of Plenty Hospital ana Charitable Aid Board, recalls to many minds the fact that the lato Gaum Jordan, who was a v.. ember of the Board for mmy years, was in a measure responsible for the eounnenoomeut of the building. Lt was he whu t>ok the loading1 put in culling a meeting of the loca' -lectors to eor.sider tlie matter, with t.!i.s nvilt tint thowork was plitrm^!. :.• . i ye^erd.iy marked theconipltu-"! ; ;in institution. that it ia now geuer.i.iy ». c-jguised was highly necessary.

About 20U people had assembled when Mr G. V. Stewart stepind forward on the verandah of the building. It was, he said, with very sincere feelings of pleasure th.it h* had to thank the people of Taurauga o\i behalt" of the Hospital ami Charitable Aid Board for their presence at the upauiug of the institution. Some twenty years ago he urged the erection fit" a cottage hospital in Tauranga. lie met with no support from the Board or the press at the time, but he now had to confess that he was mistaken in his original ideas. The tow a had progressed ar.il tli3 extra cost of maintaining the larger building that had been provided would be borne by so many that ratepayers would not feel it to any appreciable extent. It was pleasing to state that the building with its furnishings and equipment would bo opened practically free of debt. This had been made possible by the sale of theßoard's properties in Tauranga. He felt sure the Matron, Mifcs Mason, would give every satisfaction. Mr Stewart- concluded hy reminding his hearers that the early application of relief often rneaut the saving of iiiV, and if only one life could be savt-d taey would have gained much by the erection of the hospital.

Mr M. Sponce said lint the regulations for il:c conduct of the hospital had not yet been t'r-me.lj but would he completed as early as pixssil/o. The appointment of the staff had been entirely in the handd of !):■ Valentine, and lie thought they bad been ve.-y fortunate indeed in securing tho ser vbes cf the Matron, Miss Mason, and they could look forward to tho hospital being managed economic illy and well. A local committee would hi appointed as sooa as convenient to attend to the details connected with the working of the hospital. It was hoped later to have a. verandah added to the ingMr 11. Sou they, Chairman of the County Council, &aid thit with the advantage we possessed in the way of climate, and with tho skill cf the matron and doctors a funeral from the institution should be rare.

Mi* C. E. Macmillan, Deputy Mayor, thanked members of the Board for having had the hospital built, and he sincerely hoped that the staff would not be kept too busy, but that the dis trict would still retain its reputation as a healthy locality, He appreciated the fact that we had in our midst an up-to-date building, with all the necessary scientific apparatus. He would do his best as a representative of the people of Tauranga to assist the hospital in every way possible, and suggested that if the borough could not supply water and electric light free that it bo supplied as cheap as possible. He hoped the people would respond liberally to the appeal for donations. The Rev E. D. Rice expressed his pleasure at being preseut. Hospitals were one of the benefits of Christianity, and we had now a very great benefit in this hospital.

Dr Bewes said tiiat those who thought the building would be useless were mistaken. If there wore no work to do the Matron would not remain. Patients arc waiting to be admitted as soon as that day's function was over. He thought that tho be3t thanks of the community was due to Mr T. Stuart for the time and labour he had given to the work of providing the hospital and the intense interest he had taken in the work generally.

Mr G. V. Stewart then declared the building" open and handed the key to the Matron, Miss Mason. After the gathering had been photographed by Mr McMahon refreshments were partaken of, and the visitors were permitted to inspect the building, a description of which has already appeared in our columns. During the afternoon the Municipal Band, under Bandmaster Shaw, played several selections, and the Matron desires to specially thank the members for having kindly consented to go out. The collection taken up during the afternoon realised the substantial sum of £37 16s 4d, which, with the Government subsidy, will bring the amount to £85. The members of the Board desire to thank the public for their very liberal response, and are confident that with other amounts still to come ia the sum of £ 100 will be realised.