RICHMOND EMERGENCY HOSPITAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 282, 23 November 1918, Page 4

RICHMOND EMERGENCY HOSPITAL.

"Highly satisfactory and admirably suited for purposes of an emergency hospital," said Mr T. Neale, chairman ot the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, after an inspecion of tho hospital that stands on Richmond Park. Mr Neale was accompanied by Mr Coltman, (Health Inspector), Mr Wilkes '(Mayor of Richmond), Mr Thorn (president of the A. and P. sociation) and our correspondent. The buildings on Richmond; Park aro pleasantly situated, are well isolated and yet are in close proximity to Richmond. The large refreshment room is tho building that wa s so promptly handed over to tho Epidemic Committee* for use as an emergency hospital by Mr Thorn, (president of the A. and P. Asociation, while that same committee is indebted to the Nelson Jockey Club for tne use of their building as quarters for the nursing and cooking staffs'. .The kitchen has been -well arranged, having two stores and ample table and bench room. Water also has been laid on inside. Tho airy and well-lighted main building has been partitioned, making two wards containing 7 and 8 beds respectively. There i s also ample room . for more .beds. Everything necessary to help the nurses has been arranged and if\ the furniture lacks fineness of quality i,t has tho qualities of practicalness and suggests that someone possesses that adaptability that is so valuable in such times as 1 these. | The (grounds, kitchen, scullery and ward s have been excellently fitted with the electric light for which trie Witf;moa Electric Light .Company, deserves all praise for the expeditious manner they made the installation and also for i their generosity. Th 0 , telephone also has been placed in the hospital, i The staff quarters, consisting of 3' ♦rooms, 8 Beds. . In these quarters there has been fitted a bath for ithe use of the staff. All other things necessary for the smooth working of a hospital have .been fitted up on the grounds. Within a f ew d a ys tho deserted buildings on tho Park have been transformed into a well equipped hospital presided over at the present time'by Mrs E. J. Thomas and a band of willing voluntary workers.

there, are no virulent. oases of in--fluenza in the district, and ,ae the epidemic is weakening in" other centres, the Richmond Emergency Hospital may nevei- be fully taxed, but the building stands ready to be of tho greatest service should tho 'town"suffer a serious outbreak. ' 1 The arrangements speak eloquent] v, of th e public spirtedness of Riphmbrid. citizens, of the wise ■ leadership of Dr. Washbourn and Mr Wilkes, and of the energy and labour of a of workers.

The staff would be ' pleased 'to receive eggs and- lemons for the paticnta and cakes for the staff

SOLDIER VICTIMS.

15 M-OiRE DEATHS. ' (United Press Association. J i- M WELLINGTON, This Day. iMtteen deaths of soldiers aro reportWELLINGTON HOSPITAL REPORT. A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT. ut WELLINGTON, This '.- Ihe Wellington' Hospital reports •' clear improvement. 7, THlj MAORIS. SERIOUSLY APFJiCTED BY EPIDEMIC. < , WELLINGTON, This Day. It is feared that the opidomic Will seriously affect the Maoris. ■-< • THREE MORE DEATHS AT HOKL TTKA. „ : . HOKiTIKA; This Day. Ihreo influenza deaths were reported yesterday, including Sergt.-Major Thos. Atkins, who won the. Distinguished Conduct Medal at Gallipoli, and who. since his return, lias been in charge of the Defence Office here, proving a most efficient officer. A wife and younii child are left. ' * IMPROVEMENT AT fcREYMOUTH. OREYMOUTH, This Day. There are excellent reports to-day. There were no deaths "at the Hospital, and the cases show considerable improvement. There are no serious cases on the Otira line. The shops have reopened. ; , GREAT IMPROVEMENT AT AUCK-' ■ ' LAND. ... EPIDEMIC OFFICES; CLOSING. AUCKLAND, This Day. The abatement of .the epidemic continues. Only g deaths occurred in the Hos- . pital in the 24 hours ended last .lrighE The epidemic office at the Town Hall was closed' from noon to-day, as well as most of the city and- suburban depots. THE EPIDEMIC AT CeRISTCHURCH EVIDENCE OF ITS VJ RULENCB ' / CHRISTCHURCH, -Nov. 22. As showing the virulence of the epidemic, since the first of the month tliero have been 329 burials at the two cemeteries controlled Ly v the City Council, as compared with 44 for the same period last year. The figures for several other cemeteries are xtnavajlable. '*.'■' In country districts influenza is widespread, there being 200 cases, mostlymild, iu Cheviot alone. Difficulty is being experienced in obtaining trained nurses to take charge of hospitals opened, in rural districts; and' doctoi-s are suffering from overwork. In the city two new hostels novo been opened for the roception of children whoso parents tata dowri with malady. SUCCESS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 22. ; Tho epidemic is being .successfully grappled with in North Taranaki towns ! New Plymouth was absolutely closed for ten days, and the citizens organised to fight and defeat tho opidemic. I In New Plymouth .thero have been to date over 1700 cases, bub 240 have 'already recovered*The number is diminishing fust, and to-day thero were only about 60 fresh cases, as against 161 on Wednesday,, and 200 a day previously. The death-rate in town is eompara-. ! tirely light, because oases found' were treated in time, tho Hospital taking all serious cases, the. district number of such cases being tksv about 160. Hospital accommodation was doubled, and a convalescent home was established at one of the seaside paladiumW The disease is rife among the Natives, though every means has been taken to 6uccour them, and a special hospital established. *