OPUNAKE COTTAGE HOSPITAL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 28 January 1922, Page 4

OPUNAKE COTTAGE HOSPITAL

FOUNDATION STONE LAID

NEARIXG COMPLETION

YESTERDAY'S FUNCTION

j For a number of years the residents of the Egmont County have been bat-. : tling for a cottage hospital, and yes- { terday marked the day on which their i hopes were realised. The building, ' which is -nearing completion, is a dis- '• trict maternity home and cottage hos-' pital, and judging by the remarks made by some of the speakers there was ' urgent need for such an installation. jMr M. Fraser, the chairman of the ; Taranaki Hospital Board, performed : the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone. i !Mr Fraser was accompanied by Mrs1 Gray (in the absence of Mrs Fraser), the matron of the New Plymouth Hospital (Miss Campbell), Messsrs E. Holden and V. Griffiths, respectively secretary and architect to the board,, and the following members: Messrs J. Sutherland, A. H. Halcombe, S. Vickers, and G. Capper, and G. Young (a former member). The visitors were welcomed to Opunake by the Rev. Mr Stent, who spoke on behalf of the Egmont County Nursing Association, and later they were met by Mr G. W. Rogers' (chairman of the Nursing Association),1 Messrs M. O'Brien and Jas. Young (the Egmont representatives on the Hospital Board), Mr S. Campbell (chairman of the Egmont County Council), and Mr C. A. Trotter (chairman of the Opunake Town "Board). Lunch was served at the Club Hotel, and the party subsequently adjourned to the hospital site. Mr G. W. Rogers, in introducing the first speaker, said they were gathered together for the purpose of asking Mr Fraser to lay the foundation stone of their hospital. He had intended giving a long history of the growth of the movement which had resulted in the erection of the building, but time was limited by a special meeting of the Egmont County Council. Mr Rogers briefly referred to the formation of the County Nursing Association and the good work done by the various nurses who had been stationed, at Opunake from time to time. They would agree , that the association had been a great •| boon to the inhabitants, but they were all sure that now they should go"a step further than having' a district nurse. Mr Rogers referred to the great work done by Mr M. J. Macßeynolds, and he spoke appreciativolv of the efforts of , the Minister of Health (the Hon. C. J. i Parr), ihe chairman and members of the Taranaki Hospital Board, and last, but not least, the people of the district, wno had subscribed sufficient funds for the building now in the course of erection. The hospital would be a benefit to the district and a great adjunct to , it, and he fully believed that" it would fulfil its mission. Thanks were also due to the Government for granting the subsidy. Mr Rogers apologised for the absence of Mr O. Hawken, M.P., who was absent on Parliameiffary duties in Wellington, Mr J. S. S. Medley (an old member of the Taranaki Hospital Board), and Dr E. A. > Walker (superintendent of the New Plymouth Hospital). Mr S. Campbell (chairman of the Egmont County Council) was then called upon to speak. He said that he was very pleased to see the hospital so far advanced in its course of erection. He eulogised the work done by those who were responsible for it, and he made special mention of Messrs A H Halcombe's and M. O'Brien's efforts Mr M. O'Brien said that he was pleased to know that Mr Fraser was the man who was going to lay the foundation stone. He thought that the Hospital Board had been very good to the residents^ of the district in so much as they had provided the grandest institution ever created. He paid a tribute to the co-operation of the Minister of Public Health and the Hospital Board. "The people of the district are splendid," said Mr O'Brien, "and should the board ever decide to enlarge the building they will find that the peßj?le of Opunake will assist them wonderfully. Mr J. Yoivng. a member of the Hospital Board, referred to the great work done by Mr Fraser. Mr Young said that he had known the district for the past 38 years, and he had also known people to die and be buried there simply because a doctor was not available. The people of the district, he said, would not appreciate the value of the hospital until it was urgently needed for someone who was sick. Good nursing attention was the chief thinw" in sickness. Referring to the hospital site, the speaker said there was not a better in Taranaki, and the best facilities for drainage offered themselves. Mr Young concluded by thanking Mr Eraser and the members of the Hospital Board. • | Mr C. A. Trotter (chairman of the Opunake Town Board) said that as far as Opunake itself was concerned they had put up a good fight for the hos- • pital ror the last three years, but he wished to thank the people of the district for subscribing so freely to the funds. Mr Trotter was sure'that the oottage hospital would be a great benefit as well as a credit to all concerned. Mr M. Fraser (chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board) was received with applause. He said that he was in a very awkward position as. regards his speech, for the simple reason that he had not got one. (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr Fraser said that the board had been thinking of such a cottage hospital as they now had in the course of erection for the last four years, and during the whole of the time the prospect of anything definite had seemed hopeless. When tenders were called the amount was so very high that it looked impossible, but there was always the spirit of the people of Opunake to be considered. By a spirit of splendid independence and self-reliance the residents had managed to raise the sum of nearly £1100 for the building, and their effort had been en example to all the health districts in New Zealand, i They had really raised the sum of £21,2. for with the Government subsidy that is what the amount came to. The building would cost close upon £5000. Lying behind the action of the people must have been a great goodness ;it must have been a deep feeling for the good of humanity that had caused the residents to put their hands in their pockets in the manner they had done. They knew that much pain and suffering had been the result of having to send patients to New Plymouth, but there was more than that in the minds of the residents. Right throughout this Dominion there had been a scare that many deaths had occurred which should have been avoided, but the Department of Health had assured them that the cry of the poor people would not be heard in vain. It was a fact' that because of insufficient accommo-: dation young women had lost their lives. Mr Fraser said that highly as he valued the honour that had been conferred upon him, it was not bis place +o lay the foundation stone. They should have had the Minister of Health

or their member of Parliament to perform the ceremony, s:o that they mightget publicity and so that the news of what Opunake had done might travel throughout the land. He understood I that some of the rooms in the hospital I were in a very sincere sense a me- j morial. Continuing, Mr Fraser said i that they must not forget that while they had such a building New Ply. ! mouth was still their hospital. People j of Opunake must remember that for i all serious cases they would have to go j to New Plymouth. They must know , that the Department was determined to make New Plymouth a base hospital for ' , Taranaki, where they would have all ! , the most modern appliances and equip- ( ment necessary for the treatment of i the different diseases; and it would be ' then- hospital. They must not imagine that the building was the beginning of what would become a separate hospital, , and that later Opunake would have a j board of its own. Their representatives on the Taranaki Board would be fully aware of the expense in running a hospital. They must not run away with the idea that all diseases could be treated at Opunake. because finances . would never permit of such a thing. Mr Fraser then proceeded to mention the good work done by the Revs C Palmer and C. Strand' and Mr M O'Brien. With these gentlemen he had many times been to Wellington to put their case before those in authority. As a result of one of these visits a sub- , sidy of 24s in the £ had replaced that of 20s in the £. Mr Fraser humourously referred to the eloquence displayed by Mr O'Brien on that occasion. Mr O'Brien's picture of the awful tragedies happening in his district had reduced the Minister to a wreck, and had been responsible for the collapse of the girl who was taking a shorthand note- of the proceedings. Mr Fraser referred to the wealthy district of Ashburton, which district, he said, had recently erected a -similar hospital at a cost of £3300 Ashburton, with all its wealth and land, was the only other district which had built a cottage hospital. The foundation stone was then "well an<3 truly laid" by Mr Fraser. , Mr. A. H. Hajcombe addressed those Pl' e!, erjtV T aild. said that > bein S a member of the Hospital Board who had a close knowledge of the backblocks he also had some idea of the suffering of the people who lived in those districts At Uruti 14 years ago the first little cottage hospital in the Taranaki district nad been built m something the same way as the Opunake cottage hospital had been erected. Continuing, he said that he was sure the people of Opunake would never regret the time they had put then- hands :n their pockets and found the* necessary money for the good work, and he congratulated those .responsible on the building they had planned. Mr. Halcombe said that he ' was not in favour of ever building a larger hospital in Opunake. What they had now would serve their purposes tor many years to come, as they would always have the New Plymouth hospital to fall back on. Mr. S. Vickers, also a member of the board, thaaiked all present for being able to share in their joy in the event whicn was being celebrated that day ihe great difficulty had been that of finance, but he hoped that in future finance would not bear heavily upon them. Referring to the great work which the hospital was -to do, Mr "\ ickers said he hoped that few of the children would ever need to he brought back to it. There was an old saying ' that a race well begun was half won and he sincerely hoped that this would apply m the case of the little ones He wanted to draw the attention of those present to the fact that, according to their experiences in the New Plymouth hospital the children in the country, districts were not as healthy as those in the town. He said that it was the duty of members of local bodies to discover the cause of this. Mr. M. J. Mcßeynolds, a former mem- ! ber of the board, presented Mr. Fraser j with a silver trowel in memory of the | occasion. He assured those present that ' a square deal would always be given! by Mr. Fraser and the board as Ion" i as that gentleman was connected with it. Referring to his 40 years' experi- | ence of the district, he said that he had ' never known any association with which ; he had been connected to be short of i money. | Mr. Fraser, in accepting the ' memento, feelingly, replied, and thanked : the donors for their gift. He felt that what little he had done for the future i of the hospital had been more than re-! warded. The party was entertained at afternoon tea at the beach pavilion prior to the return journey to New Plymouth ' being commenced, and before the fathering dispersed Mr. Fraser thanked the Nursing Association for the splendid way i n which they had received the ! visitors. j THE BUILDING. j The maternity home and cottage hos- i pital has been in course of erection for '■ the past three months, and the build- ! ing is partly roofed. The site is about i an acre in area, and is situated close to the township. The hospital will I contain one three-bed ward and three single-bed wards, a nurse's sitting room, i bedroom und maid's room, kitchen and laundry Vock, and general cdtaveni- ■ enees. I The building is entered from a veran- ! dah Bft. by 30ft., looking north. The whole of the walls, including the partitions, are of solid concrete, and the exterior will be finished in roughcast with a pale buff tint, while the roofing is to be of Motueka terra cotta tiles, i This should give the building a very ' attractive appearance. The interior will be finished in white plaster, with woodwork of picked heart of riniu, and furniture throughout of the same ' material. Provision is being made in the wards for heating by fireplaces fin- _ ished with tiles, and arrangements will allow of an electric installation being made when the district power scheme is ready. Water will be supplied from a ' well pumped to concrete storage tanks by windmill. A hot and cold water service will be provided throughout, and the kitchen block will have all modern I equipment. The buiding completed will cost in the vicing of £5000. Its I completion will take about another two • months.