Methodists Buy House

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31341, 11 April 1967, Page 18

Methodists Buy House

The Christchurch Methodist Central Mission has bought the house property (above) formerly owned by the late Miss G. M. Fleming at 146 Park terrace to extend its work for the aged infirm. The price was £lB,OOO.

The mission trustees have been negotiating with the Government since the property was advertised for public auction in February. However, before the auction date, the Government declined a subsidy and the mission could not bid for the property at auction. The property was passed in at the auction, but the mission trustees secured an option for the purchase of the property at £lB,OOO.

The trustees of the mission requested the Government to reconsider its application for a subsidy in the light of the lower purchase price, and new plans for the use of the property which would make

possible 13 additional hospital beds.

Earlier this week the hospital works committee of the Health Department recommended the payment of a subsidy of up to £26,000. This was approved by the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) and yesterday the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) gave his approval. According to a city valuer, the house is as sound as the day it was built. It was erected in 1921. The architect was Mr Cecil Wood, who was the architect for the Anglican Cathedral in Wellington until the time of his death. The construction is double

cavity brick which makes the house largely sound-proof, and it retains the heat from its automatic central heating. The area is 59 perches. The house originally cost £9OOO and it is estimated that a similar construction today would cost nearly £30,000. The house, set in attractive gardens, is bounded by Park terrace, Bealey avenue, and Dublin street The northerly aspect faces Bealey avenue and its southern boundary faces Wesley Lodge and hospital. The property, at its nearest point, is 10 feet from Wesley Hospital. A covered way will be constructed to provide its servicing from the mission’s home and hospital. Two four-bed wards for the aged infirm will be established on the ground floor. Additional bathrooms, toilets, a sterilising room and sluice room will be provided. A 20ft by 16ft sitting room for patients will command a view of Hagley Park and the river by the Carlton Mill bridge. The second storey will be converted into staff quarters, and the matron (Miss I. E. Macadam), now living in a flat in Wesley Hospital, will have a flat in this area. Her present flat and two staff rooms in the . existing hospital will be converted into a two-bed ward and three single rooms for patients. The cost of alterations to the properties, including beds and equipment and a sprinkler system, is estimated at £lO,OOO. The cost for the establishment of 13 beds is approximately £28,000. This gives a bed establishment cost of £2145, compared with the average cost of £3OOO to £4OOO for this category of hospital patient “We are most grateful for the subsidy decision, not only because it makes available 13 additional hospital beds for the aged infirm of the city, but because it makes possible future developments of the mission’s work for the aged,” said the Rev. W. E. Falkingham, superintendent of the mission.

“In 1958, the mission architects, Messrs Lawry and Sellars, prepared a plan to extend Wesley Hospital in an Lshaped wing extending into this property. This scheme, providing an additional 22 beds, was approved by the then Minister of Health ( Mr Mason). This scheme was deferred because it was not then possible to purchase the property. Now that the property has been purchased some such scheme for further

provision of accommodation can be envisaged. “There is no doubt about the need. The mission has about 100 on its waiting lists and many of these urgently require the skilled nursing and care which our staff provide,” said Mr Falkingham. The Fleming house would give the mission 39 hospital beds and 61 “eventide” places he said.