WANTED-TENANTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1912, Page 3

WANTED-TENANTS.

NEW MATERNITY HOME, COROMANDELSTREET. It is set just where such a place should be set — up on a hill, not too high. The morning sun (if it so ordered) will warm ite eastern aspect ; at noonday (if it so minded) that same sun will glow in the many windows ; and at eventide (this is known for a certainty) it will send the drowsiheads to the little and the loving people who are hidden away ineside the walk. Looking from the eastern windows across the Town Belt, one may note restfully a patch of ehrysoprase (according to the day), which is the headwaters of Evans Bay. Northward theie are soothing horizons, and towards the south-west the green front of hills, on the cre6t of which Brooklyn lives. On ?11 sides but one, in the immediate proximity are stately treetops, some of which are tall enough to look in at the windows, others that are aspiring bravely. It is, then, a quiet house in a green setting — a prose building with a wonderfully poetic purpose. It is the new St. Helen's Ala-ternity Home in Coromandel-street. Now that the contractors havo completed their work, there will be a striving amongst the Maeterlinckian babies who are preparing a flight earthward. Nurses are indispensable in such institutions, and ample provision has been made for these attendants. The nurses' quarters measure 50 x 50, containing 18 bedrooms (average size, 13 x 8), dining room (30 x 15), sitting room (20 x 15), and hall (36 x 8), and conveniences. The upstairs landing (24 x 12) is spacious enough, while the laundry department includes scullery, ironing, and drying rooms, coal and coke rooms, and boilers for the hot water service. Thence leads the way to the main hospital building, which ie 168 ft long by an average width of ijft, to the kitchen floor, with such places as accommodation for servants' dining room, offices, stores, and dispensary, while a dinner lift will run to the first floor of the hospital. A corridor, 144 ft in length, traverse® the greater portion of the main building. On either side are the bright, cool, white-walled wards ; one two-bed, one four-bed, and one single bed. Adjoining is a. patients' cheerful day room (26 x 16) and nurses' day room. Not far away are the labour ward, sterilising room, and sink room. Here are massive brass two-cylinder boilers, fully equipped, two bathrooms, a-nd conveniences. On the second floor are a four-bed ward, two five-bed wards, one two-bed ward, and one single ward, with nurses' day room, and patients' clothes lockers, bathrooms, sink rooms, and conveniences. The main features of this floor are a lovely balcony, with a northern aspect, and a, compact nursery (26 x 17), with doors leading to the balcony. There are two balconies (48 x 8), and the same on the ground floor. Detached is -the isolation ward, which comprises patients' ward, nurses' bathroom, kitchen, and conveniences. A German antiseptic composition, Linotol, resilent to the tread, and close-fitting, is used pretty generally as floor covering. The hospital bathrooms are equipped with the latest idea in revolving bathe — massjive receptacles;, whose foot runs moveable on a wheel and from a swivel at the head. These are said to cost £27 at Home, and are designed to allow, if need be, a nurse on each side of the bath to lift the patient out or in. Another interesting feature in connection with these baths is that with the same k<jy one may turn on cold, hot, or tepid water. Splendid fire escapes are also provided. The Home is now ready for occupation. There is accommodation for twenty-eight patients. The building, which has taken just on twelve months to complete, is of reinforced concrete 4 and, it is estimated, will cost between £10,000 and £11,000. It stands on a site 264 x 160 ft, and will be opened probably about the middle of May. A similar Home is to be' erected in SyJenham, Chrifltchurch. The contractors are Messrs. Murdoch and Wallis, of Little Buller-street, and Mr. Potter is clerk of works. Messrs. Foleys carried out the plastering, while Messrs. Judd and Bandell are respon : siblc for the sanitary work and plumbing. The sink and bathroom fittings are of Doulton ware, imported from Home. Mr. T. A. Wells did the painting and decorating, and Mr. J. D. Louch (engineer Public Works Department) supervised the undertaking.