A HOSPITAL RETROSPECT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 1 September 1925, Page 6

A HOSPITAL RETROSPECT.

OPENING OF PRESENT BUILDING. THIRTY-ONE.YEARS AGO. A brief description of tlie opening ceremony of the original portion of the present Haivera Hospital is specially fitting for two reasons: first, that it shows the remarkable development in hospital matters in the years that have intervened; and, secondly,, that the laying of the foundation stone yesterday took place within a day or so of the thirty-first anniversary of the opening of t-iie building, which has. done duty, with some, additions, since erected, during all that space of time.. This article, too., will.serve to give credit to some men of that, day who were responsible for the conception and carrying through of a. sclieiiie which, in those days, was a very big undertaking, just as the present vastly more ambitious scheme is a huge undertaking even for the prosperous times of the present day, when the wealth of tli district has increased so largely. The recalling of the .work of thirty years ago brings out the energy, enterprise and enthusiasm of the men of that day and their faith in the. future. Amongst those may be mentioned Messrs. C. E. Major (the Mayor), A. G. Brett (Town Clerk), J. R. Lysaght, H. W. Sutton, J. Bellringer, .1. Davidson, R. Tait, W. G. White, J. Brunette', E. Barton,, F. P. Corkill, B. C. Robbins, L. Milmoe, A. A. Fnntliam, W. A. Parkinson, G. McLean. H. W. Climite, E. B. Hood, E. Fake, C. W. Babbage, M. G. Wallich, 11. Caplen., R. D. Welsh and F. Lysaght. A COTTAGE HOSPITAL. The report of the function in 1594 recalls that, after making shift with a small two-roomed building which, till then, had done duty for the hospital needes of the district’, it was felt that this building had become quite inadequate and that the day had come, for a completely equipped though small cottage hospital, and ways and means were discussed. This had been the conclusion of a committee) set up. consisting of Messrs. J. Bellringer, F. P. Corkill and Jas. Davidson. It was considered that- between £3OO and £4OO would be required, a modest sum as compared with what has been, spent; but to that report of the committee attaches all the interest and the credit, be it said, of he first distinct move towards a. definite end.

An unexpected donation of £2OO from r. lady, Mrs. Stephenson, -who inherited a considerable fortune from a South Taranaki resident, gavei new impetus to the scheme, and not long after the late Mr. J. Brunette, then a member of the Borough Council, got a committee appointed, and an organised effort was made to get further local subscriptions. Mr. L. Milmoe gave £100; Mr. A. A. Fantham offered a site, and when another l was chosen gave £25; and other sums quickly folloAved.

Another incident connected with the movement is related by Mr. H. A. Brunette. He says that in those days accident cases fr'm the district round, ‘ whdre much bushfelling- was being done and where naturally accidents frequently occurred 1 , had to be taken by train to New Plymouth. Mr. Brun,ette relates that he had occasion to know a man who had a broken leg and was in the cottage hospital established, looked after by “Granny” Hughes. Mr Brunette was struck with the need for better accommodation, and told his father of the incident. He urged him to make a special effort, and, as a result 1 , an exhibition was arranged, every person taking part giving services for nothing. The result surpassed all expectations. Over £SOO Was raised, and 1 this, with the £2OO bequeathed, gave a good start when to it Avas added the Government subsidy of 24s in the £. A good deal of opposition 1 , said Mr. Brunette, was shown towards giving' the money raised to New Plymouth to expend, but. eventually tins was done: When the hospital was completed about £IOO was left, and this was expended in- the magnificent gates, which have done, and still do.

yeoman service there. The wisdom of such massive gates was questioned at the time, but the passing years have proved the far-sightedness of the promoters of the hospital scheme. AN EXHIBTION ODE. In that connection it will be of interest to recall that, as one. of the opening attractions of the exhibition, an ode was written' by Mr. Charles Johnson and set to music by Mr. Joseph Higliam) both still resident in Hawera. The words of the ode are as follow: —- Chorus. Sweet as the balmy breath of dewy dawn, And bright as sunrise be our song to-day; Be every selfish motive far withdrawn, And only hope, and joy inspire our lay. nope that the cause for which We work will be A “horn of plenty” brimming with success: Joy that man’s heart is touched to charity By the appeals of sickness, and distress. And well might clear-eyed hope, thrill every heart, For. lo! our Royal Exhibition teems With noble works of industry and art— The walls reveal the artist’s happiest dreams. Artist and artisan, have done their part, Ho, lovers of humanity,- on you we call To be co-workers with us, hand and heart; From town and farm coihe help us one and all. Solo. Our sick and suffering Avant a home Where health may cool the fevered brow, u And gather back the thoughts that roam, And chase away the fiends of pain, And touch them into life again. Ho! Ploughmen, leave afield the plough: Ho! Bushmen, leave the solitude Of syl\ r an stream and Avindy Av'ood; artisan the. bench, and all Come help us build the sheltering Avail. Chorus. To Hint, in whom takes rise a work sublime, To all Avho aid that Avork our praise is due: Brunette, Milmoe, aiid Fantham are the feAv Who most deserve the tribute of our Rhyme. All honour be to these, and unto all Who aid our cause, or any cause Avhich tends To take from out life’s cup the Avoe and gall, And for humanity work golden ends,

The total amount raised reached, with donations and Government subsidy, over £2ooo—and it was resolved to erect what was described as “a good substantial building fitted with all modern conveniences.”,

The site was* provided by the borough, the purpose of one of its reserves being changed and the fee simple of the land vested in the Hospital Board by special Act of Parliament. DIMENSIONS OF BUILDING. It may not. be Avithout interest, as a matter of comparison, to quote the folloAving details of the building: Verandah 9ft Avide, main building 54ft x 22ft, hall Bft Wide, four rooms in front each 12ft x 12ft, two Avings at each end of the corridor 50ft x 50ft, divided into lavo wards, dispensary 12ft x 12ft, kitchen 17ft x 16ft, scullery 16ft x 10ft, and 1 pantry 6ft x 10ft: Tavo cisterns Avere built OA r er the kitchen capable of containing 2000 gallons and a complete hot Avater system. The system of drainage Avas laid on from all parts of the building to a cesspit on the boundaries of the hospital grounds. The grounds Avere laid out t)y Mr. R. Adams to a design draAvri out bv Mr. L. S. .Fairliall. At- the time of the opening the staff consisted of a surgeon (Dr. Buckby), matron (Miss Tyers),' a probationer nurse, a wardsmam and a cook.

OPENING CEREMONY. The opening ceremony, says the report, was a very simple function, there being present only “a number of members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board', members of the County Council, the Mayor and members of the Borough Council, together Avith a, representatiye gathering of the public. ’ ’ ' So was sent forAAmrd on its mission of ministering to the sick and suffering an institution which has., during all the years that have intervened until the present day, done a Avonderful service to the community of South Taranaki. While thinking of the magnificent- pile of buildings with all their modern equipment', it is good to turn back the pages of the past and, seeing Avhat Avas then accomplished, pay a well-deSeiwed tribute to those men of former years, most of Avliom parted this life. It is right ting that this, tribute should be paid, for, in comparison, the scheme of the early nineties perhaps looked to the pioneers.as great a hurdle as the great scheme of 1925. Tlie thoughts no doubt of many taking part in yesterday’s ceremony Avould go back over the intervening years and niake them realise that the great men of those days builded AA-ell, and Avould have been glad to liaA r e been spared to take part in laying the foundation stone of the fine ucav hospital buildings Avliich soon AA'ill be ready for the service of the people of the present day.