AMBULANCE WORK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 53, 3 March 1908, Page 4

AMBULANCE WORK.

THE ST. JOHN BRIGADE. The report of the St. John Ambulance Brigade for last year shows that the year has been the most nuecessful yet expeiionced by the brigade in New Zealand, fifteen new divisions having been formed, with a membership of 363. There ava now forty-one corps and divisions on tho roll, and the membership has increased from 652 to 1039. Divisions have bean formed at Napier, Masterton, Wanganui, and Hawern, while a nursing division has also been organised at tho latter place. It is hoped that during the current year units irill be formed at.Marton, Feilding, Upper Hutt, Otaki, aud other places. During the past yesr existing divisions have well maintained their strength and improved their eflicicncy. The ambulance brigade members have taken a prominent part in connection with ambulance street collections in tho various centres. In MasteTton and Oamaru ambulance broughams have been obtained. The Petone division is now tailing steps to erect an ambulance station in the town. Special reference is unide 'to the excellent work which is being carried out by the Wellington Nursing Guild by means of its district n,urs.ing scheme. A considerable- amount- of transport work has beon undertaken by members, while the number of first-aid cases attended to continues to increase. Considerable progress has been made in the. matter of the 'attendance of members at sports and race- meetings, football matches, etc., but it is hoped to still further extend this work. Ambulance competitions have bsen held at various places, and teams fiojn the brigade have given good exhibitions ..of work. As a. further incentive to competitive practice the institution of a banner or other challenge trophy for each centre will be considered during the current year. Great assistance has been rendered by the members of the medical staff of the brigade, and altogether the prospects of a considerable expansion .xjf brigade work daring the present year are very good. Mr. H. H. Seed is the'Distriot Chief Superintendent of tho brigade at Wellington, while Mr. H. Hcpworth discharges similar duties, at Palmsrston North.