THE WAIRAU HOSPITAL

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1914, Page 5

THE WAIRAU HOSPITAL

j : « . . ! QUESTION OF SITE SETTLED

'PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF ' THE PLANS.

. The site for fhe new hospital was 'definitely determined at a special meeting of the Wairau Hospital and Charitable Aid Board held yesterday ; afternoon. There were present: Messrs J. J. Cony (chairman), R. J. . Bell, D. Bishell, J. G. Armstrong, :R. McAarthey, S. M. Neville, E. H. . Eocles, A. Wearer, and H. C. Cheesj man. I Mr J. H. McKay, of the firm of i Messrs Crichton and , McKay, ; architects, and Messrs Jones and j Cameron, contractors, were in ! attendance.

I The Chairman said that at the last ; ordinary meeting of the Board it was j decided to adhere to the site of the : present hospital; but in the meantime he found a desire existing among the members to give the question more particular consideration, and therefore took it upon himself to have a special meeting convened so that the matter might be threshed out conclusively. -,_

-In the course of discussion/ Mr L Griffiths, who was present by invitation, explained that when his firm a'cfch'-ossea its letter to the Board (suggesting that •an effort be made to eocuro a more suitable site from thd points of view of proximity to tdwn and more favorable conditions f gr the production of vegetables, mflk, and other supplies) it acted quit© disinterestedly, and did not have in mind any particular property. The Board then adjourned, and wititt the architect., the contractors, atd Mr Griffiths, visited Mr W. E. Clousfcon's property at St. Andrew's, and an adjoining block of land owned by Mr S. M. Neville. Later in the afternoon the party, 9 which occupied five motor-cars, proceeded to Amersfoote, where the present hospital stands. There the grounds were traversed, and the Board concluded the busin«sa of the special meeting. it was unanimously decided to erect the new building on the Board's Mqclcof land, onthe* westefifsid» of the hospital, the spot marked tor the foundajtions being equidistant ■ wrfch';! the .existing institution, from '$%&■ street -frontage. ' v • ' " It'^as- resolved that the Board's seal lie affixed to the plans, specifications, and conditions of the contract with; Messrs Jones and Cameron, Wellington, for the erection of a brick building at "a cost of £14,141. Mri'R. J. Bell expressed himself as in favor of a more adequate institution than the one provided for by the contract. Since the Board was committed to a; large expenditure, it would be a wise policy to carry out the responsibility on thorough lines. Instead of a hospital with two main wards, he preferred to see one 'with, four warda. .

Mr Armstrong and others thought that iihree 15-bed wards .would meet the case. -

Finally, it was unanimously decided tor. instruct Messrs Crich'ton aaid McKay to enlarge the plans with* a view to providing for three 15-bed wards vnph two single wards, the aniended plans with estimates of cost to be submitted io the 'Board at its next meeting; and that, in the event' of.'snch plaa being adopted, the contractors be asked to carry them out on the basis of the architect's estimate of cost. "