SILVER MUGS FOR TWINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20768, 10 January 1931, Page 8

SILVER MUGS FOR TWINS.

CEREMONY AT MATAMATA.

HOSPITAL BOARD'S GIFT

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MATAMATA, Friday.

The history of the Matamata Cottage Hospital was recounted by Mr. J. J. Ryburn, chairman of the Hospital Board, at an unusual function which took place at Matamata yesterday. Members of the board visited the hospital to present silver mugs to twins born in tho institution. They were the children of Mrs. J. Tiddy, granddaughter of Mr. B. Browne, to whose generosity the hospital owes its existence.

In making the presentation, Mr. Ryburn said that early in 1920 Mr. Benjamin Browne, of Matamata, intimated to the Matamata Town Board that he was prepared to donate acres of land to the town as a site for a maternity hospital, and to give in addition the sum of £SOO toward the cost of erecting the necessary building, provided that a further sum of £SOO was subscribed by the residents of Matamata and surrounding district. The amount was raised, and the total sum received, including the value of the land and the Government subsidy, was £3960. A maternity and emergency hospital was completed and equipped early in 1924 at a cost of £6IOO, and the first baby was born in the institution on May 18, 1924. Since the opening of the hospital 723 babies had been born there. There were 171 babies born last year.