REMOVAL OF HOSPITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21783, 24 April 1934, Page 13

REMOVAL OF HOSPITAL

MANGONUI TO KAITAIA PATIENTS AND THE STAFF WORK NEARING COMPLETION [bt TELEGRAPH OWN correspondent] KAITAIA. Monday The work of removing the Mangonui County Hospital from the township of Mangonui to Kaitaia is nearing coinpleticin, and on Saturday the patients and staff wore moved from Mangonui, and are now in the partly completed hospital at Kaitaia. The furniture, beds, bedding and equipment has practically all been removed, and next week will see the last of the main buildings being shipped from Mangonui to Awanui, from whence it will be lorried to the site at Kaitaia. The removal is being carried out by sea as it was considered that by this method, although more handling took place, bigger sections could be transported. The work of removal has been in hand for nearly three months, and all the smaller buildings, such as the isolation block, nurses' home, laundry block, and other buildings have been removed and re-erected round the present Kaitaia Hospital building. The main building from Mangonui is partly dismantled and removed. The contractor, Mr. A. Proven, of Whangarei, has expedited the difficult work of removal, and the buildings, part of which are nearly 30 years old, have come down very well, only a small percentage of breakages occurring, and the timber is still sound.

A large amount of the work of transportation has been done free, Messrs. Frankhams having placed their boa:; Tiri at tho disposal of the Hospital Board for the cartage by sea from Mangonui to Awanui, and lorryowners in the district have carted furniture and equipment free. The patients and staff were moved in private cars, free of charge.

The water pipe-line of over four miles is being laid® mostly by voluntary labour, the pipes being all carted free of charge from Auckland to Awanui, and on to the ground. It is anticipated that the pipe-line from the falls at Qkaihau to the hospital will be completed within a week or two.