HAMILTON AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19524, 31 December 1926, Page 14

HAMILTON AFFAIRS.

WORK OF FIRE BRIGADE, HOSPITAL BOARD ACTIVITIES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Thursday. During' the year the Hamilton Fire Brigade has received 53 calls, an increase of 19 over the previous year, Twentyeight calls were to actual fires, two being outside the board's arfla. The balance of the calls comprised 14 to gorse, grass, etc., four to chimneys and seven false alarms, of which three were maliciously given. The losses have been, small, only two outbreaks involving a loss of over £IOOO.

The duplex fire alarm system has been extended to cover the whole of the Fire Board area, and it is interesting to note that 70 per cent, of the calls were received on the system, as.. against telephone calls, A number of private firms have had extensions of the system installed on their premises. Progress has been made by the Waikato Hospital Board during the year in providing increased facilities for attention to patients in outlying areas. At the Waikato Hospital more than 2800 patients have been admitted for treatment, the daily average of patients in the hospital being 200. , Some 1400 operations were performed.' An important addition to the hospital buildings has been the erection of the new nurses' home at a. cost of over £20,000. A new two-storeyed ward at present in course of erection, which will provide for a further 70 beds, is expected to be completed early in the new year. Branch hospitals have been established at Huntly and Te Kuiti, the latter involving an expenditure of £IB,OOO, The board also has in view the erection of a maternity annexe at the Waikato Hospital. .The raising of the necessary funds is being considered by a special commits tee. and sketch plans and an estimate of the cost 0 are being prepared by the board's architect . , (