LEFT AT THE HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 13

LEFT AT THE HOSPITAL.

AN INTERESTING STORY. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) ChriStchurch, May 5. Quite an interesting little story connected with the- Christchurch Hospital was related to a "Press" representative by Mr. W. W. Tanner, chairman of tlio Hospital Committee. "Some six months ago," said Mr. Taunor, "an infant fiva weeks old was taken to the- Hospital suffering from malnutrition, and so wasted was it then that it .only weighed five pounds. Those who brought the child to the Hospital withdrew , hastily, leaving only the meagre information that the mother of the child had died in .giving it birth, and that they knew nothing about the father. -'The consoquenco is .that the child has remained an inmate of the Hospital to tiiis day, and is now :» splendid and healthy little boy, and one of the most attractive of'the juvenile patients. As the child can hardly bo allowed to grow up as a Hospital protege, or foundling, inquiries wore recently made with a. vieiv to its beinp; adopted into some decent family. A suitable family was found, and arrangements were in hand, for tho adoption to be carried out, when a letter arrived from Australia from a.man claiming to ho the husband of the child's mother. For the time being, therefore, all the adoption proceedings are suspended, and developments as to tho ownership nf tho infant arc anxiously waited for. Tho Ladies' Committee at tho Hospital have taken a great interest in the child, and wero engaged in providing it with a proper outfit of clothes preparatory to its adoption, when the unexpected claim arrived." Mr. Tanner added that steps were being taken to test the validity of the claim mado.