"THE PALM TO WELLINGTON"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 155, 29 December 1925, Page 6

"THE PALM TO WELLINGTON"

TRIBUTE TO PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

A patient in the Wellington Hospital, Mr. James Courtayne, writes to the Editor of "The Post," on behalf of the occupants of Ward 7, describing tho Christmas celebrations in the ward. The festivities commenced on Christmas Eve with carols sung by a party of sisters and nurses, headed by the matron, a treat which the patients fully appreciated. "It did. one's heart good," says the writer, "to hear them, and it was much better than a dose of medieitie." Mr. Courtayne pays a tribute to the nurses for the beautiful decorations in the war.l. ''The Christmas dinner was in keep- 1 ing with everything else," he continues, "all of the best —roast lamb, fish, Christmas pudding, jellies and cream, and custards. Then there w^is dessert for those who could partake of it. I am on special diet, but wss tempted to have a go at some of the good things, but, unfortunately, I w.as like the sailor who came out from th-j Old Country with a good character; I lost it overboard." Mr. Courtayne describes the Christmas arrangements in some detail, and concludes with a tribute to the institution. "Sir," l.c writes, "I have been in the Thames, Hamilton, Auckland, Waihi, and Perth (Western Australia) Hospitals, but I must give the palm to Wellington. Anyone who says the patients are not well treated in the Wellington Hospital is suffering from a derange.l mind." '