A CHRISTCHURCH SANATO RIUM.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7871, 23 May 1891, Page 5

A CHRISTCHURCH SANATO RIUM.

THB RHODES CONVALESCENT HOME.

(BY Oim SPIECIAI. -U-POBX-U-.) If there is one building more than another within sight of Christchurch that ia made the subject of eager enquiries by visitors to the town it fe the Rhodes Convalescent Home. " What is that large building oa the slope of tho hills?" fa generally the first question pat by the observant stranger as soon as he obtains a dear view of the Port ranges, and the people who reply, " Oh, it's the Convalescent Home," generally supply all tha information they have on the subject. At least, this opinion was tho result of my investigations a short time ago. It ia a pity if the history and advantage* ol the place are not perfectly familiar io everybody in Canterbury, for besides being the outcome of noble generosity, it supplies a want that ia often keenly felt in these colonies—a place where an Invalid can get proper attention without much expense and without any bother to friends. It supplies that keener Want often felt by the peopio WliO, after rising from a bed of sickness in the Hospital, have neither friends nor relatives in the country to give them that care and attention necessary to complete their recovery, for the Convalescent Home will receive them, and there they will iiad skilled nurses, suitable diet, fresh air, aud a complete change frota the air of the plains. Surely no better memorial could be erected to one of the pioneers of colonisation in New Zealand than that quiet, peaceful refuge for the tired invalid, high up above the btisy city, on the breezy, sunny slope of the Port Hills.

The Rhodes who bailt the Convalescent Home in memory ol their father, devoted iJIO,QOO to the purpose. , They erected the buildings, furnished it throughout, acquired the land surrounding it, and provided the thousand and one things requisite for so large an undertaking. Stranga to say, there was a certain amount of awk-ward-ieas displayed in receiving and utilising this gift. One would naturally think that when a people had bo useful an institution given freely Into their hands they would make good use of it at Ones, bnt the difference of opinion that arose as to it* system of organisation prevented tha benefits of the Institution being fully recognised lot some tin*. Even now there is a Considerable number of people who believe that the Convalescent Home is either a purely aba-rft-able institution br an expensive kind oi hospital The Home was given to tibia publio in 1887, but the first patient wis received on May 3rd, 1138 a It waff the _&• tention of t_ie .Rhodes family to make __«fi_» munificent gift an auxiliary to the Hospital. Patients who had suffered through weeks hi sickness in the wards were to have the bettbfit of a complete change, and enjoy t__i oonvalescenoeonthebraoLngslopesof the PoM Sills, where, besides receiving all the attention they would be likely to get at the hospital they would have the advantago of a purer air, a change of scene, and completely different surroundings. Owing to some extraordinary reason, no patients offered during tho first few months of tho Home's existenoe.. One of the trustees was in England, and it was not until September, 1887, that active steps were taken to open tho institution. However, during the first* week in October in that year, six gentlemen met a. Mr I*. Harper's office to take decided steps in the matter. A Provisional Committee oi seventeen persona waa organised. Ml Fredk. Strouts was asked to accept the position et Han. S-cre_vry, and although he knew the onerous duties that would devolve on him he oonsantcd. One of his first duties was to send out circulars askingforsubscriptions for the carrying on of the institution, and at the next meeting he was able to announce that £168 had been received, and before .the year was out this sum had been Increased to J572 13s 6d. At a meeting i_ January, 1888, it was resolved to take the necessary steps to bring the Homo under the Hospital ana Charitable Aid ____t, but for some reason or other the local Hospital Board bb| -acted to this anangaijient. The Homo is, therefore, a separate institution, and stands by itself, worked by its own Committee. This governing body eooaißt. of Messra L. Harper (Chairman), P.Xhmningham, W. R. Mitchell, T. Aeland, W. G. Rhind, A. E. G. Rhodes, R. H. Rhodes and Frederick Strouts (Hon. Secre* taryl. ' The ruloa of the establishment and the formula of admittance are very simple. An invalid has to obtain a certificate from a doctor stating that he is fit for admission. The application form has to be signed by the hon. secretary, Mr Strouts, whose omoe I is in Cathedral square, and countersigned by a ihetaber of the Committee,

There are two styles of residence in tha one by whioh the patient becomes what is known as a dormitory patient, when for the small sum of 15s per week he re* ceives excellent board, attention, and has a bed in a large room, where there are eove_ other beds. The other style of residence gives, for the sum of 35s per week, a hand* some private bedroom, board and attendance. As "the patients are not supposed i. require medical attendance, no doctor is kept in the institution, but any patient can have his own doctor attend him just ths Sathe aa at hia private hbiise. The rules merely state that patients __u_ conduct them-eiv-B with propriety and submit to the Various regulations providing for their own coiwort and the coauor. of others. Having given this short outline of th* origin and purpose of tho institution, it may be well to give a description of the Home itself, for it is without doubt on© of the most complete and kit.reating publio places in Canterbury. It is situated about two and a half miles from the centre of Chriatchurch. Thebuildingisa. out 200 ft above the plain ai|d Is -.pproached by a gcii-le" sloping read, not so steep as soino of the main atreeis pl other Jjew Zealand towns, but apparently .deemed a formidable incline by 0. rafceh ur_h oap-rri-h, Who aire used to dead level streets, for they make an exorbitant, barge for the drive there. Almost as soon as one begins to asgend the slope one r gets into a brighter and mere" hradng atmosphere. The d_rap elamiuy feeling which f_*<_»ently characterises our City air, tho narrow vistas of the City streets -forgotten, and one "climba toWtii'da health aud' a hearty appetite. ; Half way up there & _, fcplehdid' plantation of tall gum tress, slighter and- more symmetrical .haa any in their native country. Th.ir ,f|e__ arofttltic perfume U in itself healtli-giviuf, but the scene that lies beyond themßogHMH The liills sfoga uf„ to, heights tha. would be con* in sotne p_s-_ of the world, and they have a wild, open beauty about them th^t , eeetm to. &ta_-unt for the High' laj.-fer'a passion for __■ us. ye hotue. Jsa* at the saiorWhich leads iato the grounds of df the institution, one can behold & seea*. thathxtght be deemed tinobtaiaable in to short efTfokmef from flat Ciu_s__ure|-. .Thet'S. Ifes ;1 the city, almost buried in trees, ; a_d *b_y<__l It and around it, the great Canterbury plain, end beyond the nlaia a in-iiestic'ratig® of mountains, Mt. Kutt.Big 84a,, Mt. . 1. rlesse, snow-covfred through nfeurly every month in the year, and always "#a_MJ- One looks down on the haze <jf aiooi. f that hangs over the city, and of ten os the" daflip, cold log that hides city and Mbol-e as well; but even at that small altftttde o_ -SDOft, one is breathing a sweet, pore ait.'' the contrast i. worth noticing and en* joying by othfeh* b. aides invalids on theft way to the lusiitutior. lliebuUdihg itself is a noble one—two Starteebi|-J_,_n&-4ve, strongand picturesque. It was deigned by Mr Strouts, the ____• known" Christchurch architect, and was erected in a manner worthy of its desig. and purpose, It occupies a jse_i-cireuia_" plateau, commanding the wide view oi plains, mountains, and sea. The insidt arraugemeat-i, of tho building are on ac equal scale with its outward appearance. >_>.h_E|i-. Ms beeja 6rp__red that could giv« The two dorraifor female residents, and thi othis-'.fdr large and lofty apart--Hfiht§, e_ch containing eughfc beds. Adjoining each is a well-fitted lavatory and bathroom. Attached to this part of the building &je the general sitting-room and dini_sg-room for the dormitory patients. The be-_rooni_*for' |_s private patients are nnußua_ly*h-fge Mtt lofty. "They are well lightedjp well' Ventilated; each contains a ;|uepaaf. a&jt. &<) view P* ______ am, or hill Mop*, ia obtainable f_«aa_ -50» tmmom wid* and long, ..__._." '_» • -:• '•■■' -V ■.*•■■ ■■■ • • ■ ■ ," ;

form splendid promenades for the inmates m wet weather. The sitting rooms and lining rooms for the private patients are vs .handsome and well furnished, ajs anyone »i_ld desire, and the kitchen, where all the _*oking is done, is worthy of a modern English mansion. It would be tedious to give the details of the interior of the building, but the reader can rest assured that its Arrangements are as nearly perfect as possible. The patients can mix with one mother freely. They can have music and ■"arious amusements, so no one going there seed fear to find himself cut.off from social enjoyments. They can receive visitors almost %t any time, and these visitors can, by obtaining permission and paying a small lee, take meals with their friends. There is an ample water supply—pure artesian brought from a well down on the plain, and lifted up to a large tank on the hill above the house by a pump driven by a breast wheel, which derives its motive power from the river Heathcote, 200 ft below. This simple and inexpensive system of water supply was designed by Mr Strouts, and shows that he has a genius for engineering as well as for architecture.

Two other advantages are obtained in the Institution—a Turkish bath and the Mas■age treatment. The Massage tr eatmant floes not require the patronage of the Queen, which it possesses, to vouch for its value as % curative power. Its reputation rests on its effectiveness. There is a young man in the institution trained in the use of Massage, who uses the system on those male patients who desire it. Mrs Macpherson, the well known matron of the Home, is ■killed in its use, having gone through a course of study on the subject, and obtained certificates of competency from high authorities, so taking all things together the people of Canterbury can congratulate themselves on possessing an institution of almost incalculable value in the Rhodes Memorial Convalescent Home, and should support it liberally, even if only on the chance of one -jay maJdng use of it themselves.