THE CHILDREN’S WARD AT THE HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 838, 23 March 1888, Page 22

THE CHILDREN’S WARD AT THE HOSPITAL.

MEETING OF LADIES.

A meeting of ladies was held at the Coun. oil Chambers yesterday week for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken toward raising funds wherewith to furnish the children’s ward recently erected at the Hospital. The meeting was largely atteuded, about 80 ladies being present, and Lady Jervois presided. After Lady Jervois had stated the object of the meeting, his Worship the Mayor made a few remarks. He stated that applications had been made to the Council for the necessary funds to furnish the ward, but it had been refused, as they could vote nothing but the bare necessaries. He was glad to see the ladies take the matter up, as he was sure that in their hands the movement would be successful. Mr Fraser followed the Mayor with some explanation as to the institution generally and the children’s ward in particular. He announced that £SOO would be necessary to furnish the ward. This gave rise to some discussion.

Lady Jervois thought that sum a very large one to - furnish a single ward. Mr Fraser explained that that amount would be required to furnish, not alone the children’s ward, but also the rooms required for servants to attend to the ward. A list of items which had been prepared showing what was required was then read. Mrs J. C. Harris thought that, judging by the list, about £l4O or £l5O would furnish the ward, and the rest was wanted to furnish the rooms for servants. Lady Jervois said that it appeared to her to be so. She was averse to holding a bazaar, and in favor of a rate, as she thought bazaars only reached the charitably disposed, and those who never subscribe to anything got off free. His Worship the Mayor said that a great many would not be reached through a rate, those for instance who lived in lodgings, but he believed they would be reached in the manner proposed. Ultimately the following resolution was put to the meeting :—“That it is desirable for the women of Wellington to assist the above fund by all means in their power, and for that purpose it is hereby resolved that a bazaar be held, such being iu the opinion of this meeting the most likely means of raising the money required. An amendment was proposed as follows, and carried unanimously : “That the women of Wellington, before pledging them-, selves to holding a bazaar, propose that an appeal be made to the public for the necessary funds.'’ On this being carried a subscription-list was opened, and subscriptions (given and to be collected) were promised by thefollowingladies— Lady Jervois, £5 5s ; Lady Prendergaat, £5 5s ; Mesdames Waterhouse, £5 5s ; and J. P. Maxwell, £5 ss. Five pounds (£5) promised by the following ladies :—Mesdames Anderson, Habens, Van Staveren, Brown, Higginson, E. Rawson, Robertson, Borlase, Siaey (£5 promised and £5 to be collected) Kemp, Taylor, Georgo, L. Blundell, L. Beid, Lachman, Richardson, J, Blundell, Duthie, Hickson, J. C Harris, Fulton, A. Youncr, Davis, Saunders, Francis and Barnett. Those who promised £3 3s were Lady Atkinson and Mrs Baker. Three pounds (£3) each was promised by Mesdames Stock, Smith, Fisher, Grady, Bennett and Jellicoe, and £2 each by Mesdames Chat win, Tatum, W, H. Green, W. Brown, Bertie, Bacon and Fergus. Mesdames Allen, Cooper, Purston, Leckie, Harding, and two ladies who did not give their names, promised £1 each.

The total amount promised was £202 Bs. The following ladies were appointed an executive committee: —Lady Jervois, Mesdames Waterhouse, Brown, Sidey, King, Van Staveren, Richardson, Maxwell, Francis, Curtis,. J, C. Harris, Habens, Fisher, Tuckey, Anderson and Felton. Mrs Francis was appointed secretary to the Committee. It was decided to hold a meeting of the Committee next Thursday at 3.30 p.m. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks, proposed by his Worship the Mayor, to Lady Jervois for the interest she manifested in the matter.