OPENING OF THE CONVALESCENT HOME.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 141, 13 December 1894, Page 4

OPENING OF THE CONVALESCENT HOME.

♦ Owing to indisposition Lady Glasgow was nimble to open the Convalescont Homo in Oriontal Bay yesterday afternoon, and the cci-omony was performed in her absence by tho Govornor, in the prosonco of a largo number of laJios aud gentlemen, including tho Mayor and tho Mayo -elect. Tho Homo, which occupies a commanding Bito jirosontcd by Mr. Douglas Ml.pan, r>f HawKOB Hay. was orooted by Messrs I'at teflon At Martin in ticcordnnce with pUiia and specifications propared by Mr. F. Ponty It U on>i story li^h, and contains six bedrooms f"r pitierits, soino of tlio rooms having two bo Js each. "I ho Homo is lit by eloctri ity, ami tho sanitary arraneements --re perfect. Mrs. Kuiter has been appointed Matron. Hie Excellency, who was accompanied py Ladieß Dorothy and Alice Boyle and Major Elliot (Private Secretary), was received by tho Trustees— viz., Mesdames A. K. Newman, Jacob Joseph, E. B. Bristowe, T. C Williams, J. Myerß, J. P. Maxwell (Secretary), Miss E. Izard (Treasurer), and alt o by the Mayor and Mr. J. P. Maxwell. Mr. J. P. Maxwell opened the proceeding* by saying that ho had been asked by the Trustees to make a short statement regarding the affairs of the building which Hie Excellency had been so kind as to come and opon. Ho had in tho first place to express Jeep regret at tho absonce of Lady Glasgow and at the oause of it, more especially as ii had boon largely owing to her active cooperation that the work had been brought tc its present position. Tho firßt attempt to raise funds for the purpose of assisting convalescents was made in 1881, when Mrs ■Newman, Mra. William FitzGerald, tht late Mrs. Bobertson, the late Mrs. J. E Nathan, Dr. Gillon, and others raised a con aiderable sum of money by a ball. Latei on an art union was hold by Mr. Sheriff and a further sum was raised. In 1895 anothor ball was held, _ Mrs. _ Newmai buing chiefly instrumental in getting.it up and tho funds were again largely increased In tho following year Lady Glasgow pro Bidod at a meeting in connection with th< movoment, and tho reßult was a gift anctioi and a bazaar, by which a further sum wai (rot together. It was then considered thai there was sufficient money in hand to make a start to pnt up a'building-, and those inter ested looked round for a suitable site. Tw< aores of land in Oriontal Bay were gratuitously • ously prosented by Mr. Douglas M'Lean, o Hawkos Bay, and he (Mr. Maxwell) though it would be admitted that the site was ai admirable one. The land was given ii August, 1893, and in January last thi City Council gave permission to the Trus tees to form an approaoh throngh tb< Town Belt. The Trustees were then in i position to proaeed with the erection of thi Home, .so that 10 months only bad beei occupied in getting it roady for the patients Tho Trustees hud purchased a small pieci of land at the main ontranoo for the purposi of an approaoh. Fending the ereotion of tdi Home tho Trustees took a small building a Wadestown, and during the time they wen in occupation of it they were able to accom modate 30 convalescent patients. He trustee the Council would be able before long to givi thorn a better approach and out down the Btreet oloso by. From the balanoo-sheo furnished him by the Treasnier, he notioec that tho fund from the ball held in 189; amounted to .£216, that the receipts fron tho bazaar totalled £540, and that Mr Sheriff's art union realised .£SO. Thi land given by Mr. M'Lean was valued a .£BOO, and various subscriptions and dona tions amounted to .£440, the total sum fron private souroeß being thus .£2046, in additioi to which there was a Government subsidy o JBI3BO, making a total of j63426. He wishec to draw particular attention to the ainonn raised privately, exceeding considerably thi Government contribution, because i showed that individual oharity had no been entirely blotted out— that it was i long way from being blotted out. The ex penditure up to the present time had beoi .£2208, the house aud excavation represent ing .£llßl, and the land and approach J6270 The Home would provide accommodatioi for eight (vdulta and a child, and he be lieved that Lady Glasgow had beei good enough to present a cot. Afto furnishing the Home and paying oi various liabilities there remained a fair sun with which to establish an endowment wind -would probably realise .£3O or .£4O pc: annum. The Trustees were very thankfu for the largo amount of personal service whioh had been rendered. Messrs. Geo Thomas & Co. had been a tower of 9tTongth having given the use of their rooms free o charge and in other ways done all in thei power to assist the Trustees. Professiona ' sorvioes had also been given gratuituousl; by various gentlemen in the city ; in foot from all parts of the district the Trusteei had received most generous aid. They wen also very thankful for tho help whioh thei had received from the Press of the pity ii carrying out their work. In conclusion hi asked His Exoellenoy to declare the Homi open. (Applause.) His Exoellenoy said he need hardly sai that it gave him great pleasure to be present but at the same time he oould not forge that he had taken the place of one whi would havo performed tho opening ceremon; much more gracefully than himself— om who had taken a great interest in the insti tution from tho time of her arrival in Nev Zealand. 'He was oharged by Lady Glasgov to say that there was nothing which shi regretted to much as her inability to bi present. Convalescent Homes were of i comparatively recent date as institutions They were institutions the want of whioh wa more and more felt as people got used to thi comforts of life. Twenty-five yearß ago the; were hardly known at Home, bnt now the; were everywhere springing- up, and wen being made full use of. He though that Wellington was to be congratulated oi having the Home. It was indeed a grea pleasure to see such a beautiful building upon Buoh a fine site, and he thought thi ladies wbo had laboured so earnestly nvns feel greatly gratified ti find their nobli efforts rewarded with success. He trustee that now the building was completed thi institution would be even better enpportec than before. He considered that the Trus tees were fortunate- in securing Buoh i healthy site. Mr. J. E. FitzGerald, whe had been living close by for many yoars -was a proof that the climate -was ai exceedingly healthy one, and he (thi Governor) thought that in such a bracing atmosphere patients from the Hospital must Boon recover. It was an important thing that patienta in the Hospital should b< made aware of the existence of the Home and he was ablo to atato that young ladies now present had taken steps to place on the walls of the Hospital suitable notices, be that the siok people might know where the; oould go to after being disobarged. He thought all present had oauso to congratu late themselves on the figures plaoed before them by Mr. Maxwell. As to the entrance to the road, he onite agreed that it might be improved with advantage, and he hoped the City Council would be persuaded to make an improvement. Mr. Maxwell, in his address, did not mention that there were a number of subscriptions guaranteed for some years towards the maintenance of the Home, and no doubt other donations would be made. He felt sure that the success of the institution had been assured. He had much pleasure in declaring the Home open, and he wished it from the bottom of his heart every su% cess. (Applause.) On th» motion of the Mayor, a vote of thanks waß passed to his Excellenoy for his attendance, and Lord Glasgow acknowledged the compliment. Dr. Newman, M.H.R., moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Maxwell, and spoke in the warmest terms of the services which that gentleman had Tendered tho Trustees. The proposition was seconded by Mrs. T. C. Williams, and carried by acclamation. Mr. Maxwell expressed his thanks for the honour done him, and the proceedings then terminated. Afternoon tea was served to the visitors.