CHALMERS WARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17100, 24 February 1916, Page 4

CHALMERS WARDS.

NEW BUILDING'S AT HOSPITAL. FOUNDATION STONE LAID. The ceremony of laying the foundation. stone of the Chalmers Wards at the Christchurch Hospital was performed yesterday afternoon before a very large gathering, which included the Hon G. W".. Russell (Minister of Hos-* pitals), Bishop Julius, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Holland). Mr F. Horroll (cl'.airman of the Hospital Board), members of the Hospital Board and representatives of local public bodies. The old entrance to the Hospital, near which the new Chalmers Ward is situated, was bedecked with bunting and the ceremony took place on a raised platform, upon which seating accommodation was provided for the large attendance of guests and visitl>Miss Chalmers gave a donation of r-scon. which carried the Govern ment subsidy. Tbo cost of the building and equipment will be up to £IB,OOO, all of which Miss Chalmers is prepared to defray. The woids will he dedicated to the use of chronic and long-standing cases of illness. For a long time the need of such wards has been urgently felt, and in 1912 the Hospital Lady Visitors’ -Association took the matter up. During the following year a subscription list was instituted, with a view to providing funds to have the work put in.hand. Various subscriptions t*;iino in, and tho association wns liiak\n<, valiant ‘offo'rts to raise the money, ,vhen Miss Chalmers, of Ashburton, came forward with the magnificent offer of building and equipping the wards at her own personal cost, The money in hand by the Hospital Lady Visitors’ Association will bo used to form the nucleus of a fund for building a special women's ward, another addition for which it is telt that there is.a pressing need. The block will contain three wards of eighteen hods each, and there will also be smaller rooms for special eases. There will also be sitting-rooms on each floor, and beautiful wide verandahs. The wards will occupy throe storeys. HOSPITAL BOARD’S APPRECIATION. Mr F Horroll, chairman of. the board, said that the occasion was unique. They had met to lay the foundation stone of what would bo ft magnificent pile of buildings donated bv Miss Chalmers.. Some time ago Miss Chalmers, through her .solicitors, had approached the Hospital Board in regard to establishing a memorial in honour of her respected uncles, the lato Messrs John and Peter Chalmers, ot Ashburton. The hoard had suggested that a chronic ward would he the most desirable memorial, and to that suggestion Miss Chalmers had readily agreed. The plans were drawn up by Messrs Collins and Harman, and were approved Ip- Miss Chalmers, the hoard and the Minister of Hospitals, and tho contract, was let to Messrs AY. Greig and Sons. The first cost of the building was £12,000, but when finally equipped and completed it would costbetween £17,000 and £IB,OOO. The whole cost was being defrayed by Miss Chalmers. Tho gift was a lasting memorial to the Chalmers family. The building would be of three storeys, in brick and terra cotta (local stone) facings. It would contain three wards, with side rooms, appurtenances and everything that was required for an up-to-date hospital. Every detail of the new ward had been considered in providing for the comfort of patients. There would be a largo balcony, which had been designed on up-to-date lines for hospital requirements. The object of the ward, as, its name implied, continued Mr Horroll, was to provide a home for incurables'. ~1 here were a number of incurable patients in the hospital at present, hut the provision was inadequate. Chronic cases must be considered. They could not be turned away. Special atteution was necessary, which, could be obtained only in the hospital. The new ward would relieve the general hospital, where bods were required for more urgent cases. Owing to the war many of the Dominion's brave soldiers belonging to this district required special treatment, and they Mould have to be treated in tho Christchurch Hospital. The new ward would prove a great boon in that respect. The hoard recognised the urgent- necessity of erecting a chronic ward. In providing rooms for pathological and dental, departments much outlie board's funds had been expended. Tt was a severe drain on the funds of local bodies to keep up with building requirements. The hoard had been uiiable to erect a chronic ward. LADIES’ COMMITTEE’S FUNDS. Tho enthusiastic Ladies’ Committee, said Mr Horrell, which worked in the interests of the Hospital, had set to work to raise funds for the purpose, and had obtained £2OOO at about tho time war broke out. Other calls were tli on more imperative, and the col leetions on behalf of the chronic ward ceased. Later the ladies had approached the. board, which had agreed to spend £BOOO on the work. I lien (rood fortune lmd been experienced in the offer of Miss Chalmers, and the problem was solved. The money raised by the Ladies’ Committee would be devoted later to replacing one of the old wooden wards, which now were out of date and quite inadequate for requirements. There were three old buildings which must come down. It was hoped that this work would soon be put in hand. The public could not be anproached at present owing to the war,' but later opportunity would be given to the people to come forward and assist in making the whole scheme of Hospital accommodation' complete. It was also hoped that other benevolent persons having means would follow the lead giveirbv Miss Chalmers. When neace was declared a memorial would be required-. 'What more suitable memorial could be imagined than one which would provide the replacing of the old wards by new ones. Mr Horrell thanked Miss Chalmers, on behalf of the people of North Canterbury, for her noble gift. Ho hoped that she would live long to witness the good which her inestimable gift would confer on suffering humanity. EVOLUTION IN HOSPITAL WORK. The Hon G. W. Russell expressed appreciation of the. generosity of Miss Chalmers. The gift was a noble one. He had been thinking of the many lingo estates in Canterbury which during the last ton years had thrived so Weil and yet were not taxed for charitable purposes. There was scope for acts of benevolence., It had remained for n lady to come forward to share her wealth with the people for the benefit of humanity. It was pleasing to him to find that tho gift was for dealing with chronic and incurable cases. The present was an age of evolutionary science in hospital work. The. growth and development of hospital science on behalf of patients was . somethinig marvellous. Fresh methods were continually being introduced and knowledge being gained. Hospital buildings required lo be bigger as n result of the evolution of scientific medical treatment. He did not think.the Hospital buildings would ever be finished. The introduction of new ideas

extension oi buildings. Tho Government would ever be asked to contribute for the purpose, and while lie was a member of a Government he would do his. utmost to serve so great a cause for humanity. , , , . ' 'Continuing, Mr Russell said lie had opened a hospital at Blenheim recently, which'had cost £23.000. Within the last few days he had approved the plans of a new hospital lor Nelson, which would cost between £30,000 and £40.000. The late Mr J. W. Cnwthron bad donated £15.000 towards this hospital, and his cheque, having been given at the time, the Government subsidy had been secured. During tile last twenty years enormous sums of money bad' been spent on hospitals in New Zealand. But whatever the cost and where aiul how the money was procured. hospital accommodation must be provided. There were sixty-five general hospitals in the Dominion, providing 3500 beds for accommodating patients. The average number of beds occupied last year was 230-4. Patients, in and out. receiving treatment bad numbered 31,336. The administration of the hospitals in the Dominion was excellent. While the equipment and management was not quite so complete as that of the big Home hospitals, he was given to understand that it. was far-ahead of anything to be found in the counties. '’ACCOMMODATION FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS. Mr Russell referred to tbo need of more hospital accommodation to provide for wounded and invalided soldiers returning to the Dominion. There would, unfortunately, be rases requiring long and special treatment, and the new ward which was being built as a result of Miss Chalmers’s noble gift would help very considerably in that way... Ho thanked the Hospital Board for what had been done in placing the entire, institution at the disposal of the authorities in dealing with the cases of returned soldiers requiring expert attention. He did not wish to pose as a prophet, but he believed that before this year was through the Huns would realise that they were “ kicking against the pricks.” Mr Russell referred to the method in caring For wounded soldiers from ihe time they left the fighting front to their return to New Zealand. Already 3800 men had returned to the Dominion, including the invalided cases. Of this number -180 had returned to the firing line. When the war was over the country would require to make arrangements for the treatment of all returned soldiers requiring attention. New Zealand had sent over 40.000 to the front, and the reinforcements numbered 2500 per month. These fresh drafts would bo sent no matter how long the war would be kept up. He believed the country would be able-to carry along under the voluntary enlistment system. The Government was concerning itself with tjie problem of providing hospital accommodation for invalided soldiers, apart from the ordinary institutions. At tho King George Hospital at Rotorua, opened recently, there was room for 400 men, while at Hanmer, when the buildings were complete, there would he room for another 400. Mr' Russell concluded his remarks by reiterating his appreciation of the magnificent gift made by Miss Chalmers. THE AVAR AGAINST DISEASE. Bishop Julius said there was not only one war. The first war was a war of destruction, the second was a war of salvation. The first had been waged with varying success; the second war had been carried on with almost complete and continued success. The second war was the war against disease. The army of doctors, scientists and nurses were carrying on the war quietly, heroically and nobly. One would never know and certainly never realise the enormous debt of gratitude owing these scientists, doctors and nurses. One had only to consider the horrors of the trenches and of plagues that were likely to occur to realise the grand work of the medical service. But for that work disease would have been rampant, decimating hosts and doing the work of destruction more deadly than munitions. Why was this not so? U was because of tho great work of tho army that made little noise and attracted little attention. The comparative immunity enjoyed was n conquest of science, of doctors and of nurses over disease in all its dread. forms. Those who had boon stricken with disease had been nursed back to health in thousands. But war had a greater area. There was fighting here; it was going on all over the world. He referred to tire war against disease. The number of doctors'and nurses in the Dominion had been diminished, owing to so many going to the front. Those left behind were working with zeal, energy and devotion. This was being done elsewhere. Doctors and nurses worked hard; there was no frivolity in their life, and they lived on plain fare. “YVliv a chronic ward?”, one might say. There were things beyond human reach. Science was coining to the aid of the afflicted and poor humanity was enabled to have its burden made easier in the chronic

wards, if not cured of its ills. Miss Clialmors had a loving heart. It good and great of her to have given this ward for the. treatment of incurables. She had money to spend and God had given her the grace to spend it in the right way. Her example might w-edL bo followed by * others ■whom God had blessed witlrhealth. He hoped that- Miss Chalmers would be long spared to look upon the noble work that she had inaugurated that day. OTHER SPEAKERS. The Mayor congratulated the Hospital Board on its bequest, and Miss Chalmers on having made the gift. He explained what was being done in connection • with the erection of the Children’s Home at the sanatorium on Cashmere Hills. He hopc-d' the building would be completed rapidly to be in time for dealing with tho returning soldiers. Mr H. B. Sorensen (chairman of the Hospital Committee) said that when he came to Christchurch in 1864 it was as a. hospital patient, from tho West Coast. Ever since he had been keenly interested in hospital work. The requirements of to-day were many times greater than in 186 4. He recounted some "hospital experi,ences and referred to the splendid woVk of the Ladies’ Committee. LAYING THE STONE. Air Greig presented Miss, Chalmers with a silver trowel, and she laid- the stone amidst applause. The foundation stone bore the following inscription:—-“This stone was laid by Jean February 23, 1916, as a memorial to the, lato John and Peter Chalmers, of Ashburton, natives of Perth. Scotland. Collins and Harman, architects. Greig and Sons, contractor's.” ' ' Under the stone was placed a case containing tho record of the memorial, together with the name of the donor. Tho stone was obtained from Glentunncl. Mr J. Cuningham replied on behalf of Miss Chalmers. Afternoon tea was afterwards served on the lawn.