ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13377, 19 March 1909, Page 9

ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

UNIQUE GATHERING OF MOTHERS AND INFANTS. They came from north, south, east and west, and St. Helens Hospital ivas their Mecca. Some pushed perambulators and go-carts, and some did not, bur each and all had a small atom or humanity dressed in its Sunday best frills and furbelows. In the grounds the scene was a memorable one. There were more than two hundred proud and happy mothers, and every one of the number was thoroughly and firmly convinced that her representative was the pick of the basket, laken ail round the infants were a promising and sturdy lot, exceptionally well behaved little ladies and gentlemen for the most part, although in several places a pair of diminutive lungs was raising a double forte of discord. Occasionally an enterprising mi to would make a dash tor freedom, but would soon be held in check by a pair of maternal arms. This unique gathering was the result of the following; invitations issued to the mothers who- had been patients in the St. Helens Home or had been attended by the nurses connected with the institution :—"The znatron of St. Helens Hospital requests the pleasure of your company with your baby to afternoon tea on 18th March at the Hospital; or, if weather unfavourable, in the Salvation Army Hall next door." Luckily the weather, although ugly and threatening, did not necessitate the fete being hold under cover, and afternoon tea was partaken of by the mothers in the grounds attached to the Hospital. The young idea was also not to be denied its afternoon "tea." and here and there a rubber tube could be seen with a feeding bottle at one end and a baby at the other. The matron (Miss liiglis) and the staff had a very strenuous time in dispensing refreshments, but carried out their task iv a most exemplary and praiseworthy manner.

Dr. Valintino, Inspector-General of Hospitals, who was present, stated, during the course of a few remarks, that it was probably seldom that Now Zealand had witnessed such a concourse before. On behalf of tho staff, ho thanked those present for their attendance, especially those mothers who, at great personal inconvenience, had brought their children from lons distances. The gathering was an object lesson of the splendid work the institution was doing. These 'hospitals had been founded for making things better for tho mothers, and to give them experience in nursing. Whether in disagreement with tho doctor's remarks, or merely on general principle, some of the juvenile audience about this stage made their presence acutely felt through t.h«» medium of their vocal chords, and the doctor facetiously referred to fhe fact that some of his audience evidently differed from him. Concluding, he expressed tho hope that tho infants would remain as healthy throi:gh life as they were at present, and that the mothers present would always take an interest in the institution and its welfare. (Applause.)

Seen by a "Press" representative, the matron (Miss Inglis) said she thought the display of infant life- was simply splendid. During tho two years tho hospital had been established only five short of 500 young married women had been patients in the institution, and had been attended by the nurses, and only one maternal death had occurred.

Among the. visitors at the function were Miss McLean. Assistant Inspector of Hospitals, Dr. Jessie MaddLson, Dr. Eleanor Baker. Mesdames Geo. Rhodes, Boyle, Irvine, Leicester, Pratt, T. L. Crooke, Cracroft-Wilson, Ell, and Misses Cook (2), Washbourne, Hood and McLean.