ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12639, 17 April 1903, Page 3

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

•DISTRIBUTION OF MEDALLIONS AND CERTIFICATES, The fourteenth annual meeting of tho St. John Ambulance Association was held in the Garrison Hall Last evening. Knowing the interesting work tlwt is always done at theso meetings in the way of exhibition, the attendance of the public was large, and but for 'the inclemency of the night would no doubt Jiayo been much larger. His Honor Mr Justice Williams (president of the association) was in tho chair, being supported on 1)13 right by his Excellency Lord Raufurlv, and there were also 011 the stago Lord Northland, Colonel Rbbin, tho Mayor (Mr J. A. Park), Colonel de Lautour, Major Will, Captain Barclay, Messrs W. L. Logie, G. Moir, R.. 11. Campbell (members of committee), end Mr J. E' Bone (secretary and treasurer). The following was the report of the committoe;—

The number of classes held under the centre this year has been fairly satisfactory as regards the city, but wo regret that in the outlying' districts of this centre there is littlo or no interest being taken in first aid work. With tho exception of Tapanui, there havo been no classes'held in tho country districts this year. A determined effort will be made this year to awaken interest in the valuable work of first aid. Hie classes held in Dunedin were well attended. Sr.William Evans lectmed to the men's first aid, Dr W. J. Will to the women's first aid, and Dr iMacpherson to the nursing class. Dr B. E. do Lautour lecturcd to classes in .connection with the Central Mission. The percentage of passes was very satisfactory, and showed that thoso attending the lectures had taken tho fullest advantage of their instruction. Tapanui class.—Dr Robertson lectured, and DrM'Ara examined tho candidates. The Ambulanco Corps both in Dunedin and Oanrntu have been! able to render efficient first ?.id in many instances, and although we have not so far had any serious public calamity to test their ofiiciency, yet in many single cases tho members have been enabled by their knowledge to do" that which is necessary pending the arrival of .the medical man. The Nursing Corps continues its good work, and when required can always ba relied upon. Dr Barnett has again laid the centre under obligation by tho great interest he-takes in this branch of the work. It is desired to draw tho attention of tho community to the fact that in Christchurch and Wellington this association have up-to-date ambulance carriages for the conveyance of injured patients from their homos to the hospital or,where required. Tho committee intend to take steps to have one in Dunedin, and trust that the public will assist them in this matter. During the year tho chairman (Colonel Wales), after many years' efficient service, has resignod owing to ill-health, and Dr W. J. Will was elected in his place. The centre have to thank the council and Captain Mitchell for the use of the room in tho Firo Brigade station for the men's class; also the various class secretaries, and tho auditor, (Mr C. R. Smith, F.I.A.If.ZJ, for auditing tho books. Mr TV. Livingston, who has been a most efficient secretary from 1895 to 1901, has resigned his post, and the thanks of this association are due to him for the energy with which, ho has fulfilled tho many duties of the office. A glance at the table showing tho number of men. and women who have received certificates and medallions is most gratifying.

The following are the certificates issued since tho formation of the Dunedin Centre: Men who have completed a course of instruction, 2000; who have received 'certificates, 994. Women who have completed a course of instruction—Firts aid, 1578; nursing, 1120; who have received certificatesFirst aid, 927; nursing, 384. Certificated pupils who havo recoiyed medallions—Men, 16"; women, 163.

The Chairman, after reading apologies for unavoidable absence from Bishop Nevill (who enslosed a chequo for threo guineas towards the Veterans' Home), from Dr Gibb, and tho Hon. D. Pinkertoii, spoke as follows:— This, ladies and gentlemen, is the fourteenth meeting of our St. John Ambulance Association..'From a very small beginning it has become a really great institution'in your midst. Ido not this evening propose to discuss tho aim and objects of the association, these are known perfectly well to you all. Tho association is subject to the grand priory of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England. Of that his Majesty the King is sovereign lioad and patron. I regret very much that owing to unavoidable circumstances his Majesty is prevented from being present in person this evening, but wo havo a most excellent substitute—wo havo his Majesty's representative, his Excellency tho Governor.—(Applause.) His Excellency is closely connected with the association, because—and I trust I give him his title ."right—ho is a Knight' of Justice of the Order of St, John of Jerusalem, to which we are affiliated. His Excellency has been long with us, and we look upon him as quite aNew Zoalander. In fact, I think it may be safely said that he knows a great deal more of the colony of New Zealand than nine out of ten New Zealanders do. Wherever there is a good work on hand, there his Excellency is to bo found. Unfortunately, at some time or other his Excellency will have to leave us, but wherever ho goes lis and Lady Ranfurly will have our good wishes following them, and ho will leave bohind him a memorial for all time in tho Veterans' Home which he has founded.—(Applause.) The report, ladies and gentlemen, is in your liands, and I will not go through it. Thero is' a great deal to be done this evening. I will simply conclude by moving the adoption of the report. Thoso in favour say "Aye." —(A chorus of "Ayes.")- The report is therefore adopted. I will now ask) his Excellency to be kind enough to present tho imedals and certificates.—(Applause.) The medals and certificates wero then presented by his Excellency, each recipient being loudly applayjled by the spectators.

This following is the list of names:— Women's Medallions.—Misses Elizabeth L. Applegarth, Margaret L. Applegarth, Lily Doull, Mary Dowic, Harriet Fisher, Eleanor M. Gainsford, Laura M. ' Muir, Isabel M. M'Ewan, Janet C. M'Kechnie, Mary E. Ritchie, Annie 11. Hoss, Jes3ie Stewart, Ethel May Simon, May C. Simon, Elfrida J. Williams. Tapanui: Mrs Jessie Colquhoun, Misses Annie Mackenzie, Janet K.< Mackenzie. Men's Medallions.—William Alexander, David H. Gilmour, Louis E. Nees, John C. Lean, Laurence Laurenson, John AVatson. No. 2 Company Garrison Artillery Volunteers: P.O. J. E. Davis, Leading-gunner D. Fraser, Gunner Henry Dudfield, Gunner George Garbutt, Gunne: John E. Warrington, Gunner Jphn Jack. Dunedin Engineer Volunteers: Corporals A. E. Bragg, C. C. Etheridge, G. A. Kcacli, F. Mulligan, Lance-corporal \Y. Ellis, Corporal A. D. Smith, Lance-corporal H. Baird, Sapper W. Hook. Tapanui: John Shind. "Women's Nursing.—Missas L. M. Aitcheson, Catherine Bruce, Ifilda Blair, M. Buchanan, J. C. Christie, E. B. Ferguson, Mary A. L. Hartley, Margaret Hall, Amy E. Lill, Janet M'Donald, E. M'Fie, F. M'Fie, Mrs Metcalfe, M. C. M'Caw, Janet Ncilson, Lorna Rattray, Lucy Rattray, Mrs A. Smith, Miss J. Samson. .Women's First Aid.—Miss M. J. Young, Mrs J. J. Wilson, Misses- E. J White, B. Skipworth, E. Shaw, F. Stewart, E. Reynolds, M, Rosevcare, E. S. Pateraon, A. E. Niven, Alice Muir, J. E. M'Farlane, E. M'Phoe, Sister Marie, Jane Merrilt, Nellie T. Liddle, F. Knowles, J. Jones, Minnie Freeman, Mrs C. Evans, Misses E. Clark, V. Calder, M. Calder, Jessie Campbell, E. Chapman, L. Chapman, Sister Clare, J. Alexander, M. T. Anderson, Mrs A. Paterson, Mrs P. Simrns, Miss J. Knutsford-

Men's Advanced Aid.—R. W. Davies, W. Smart, T. Begg. Men's First Aid.—H. E. Barth, S. V. Bryant, J. Downes, W. Fleming, W. M. Hogg, C. Heycock, J, Johnson, J. M'Kenzie, J. Turjibull, E. J. Webb, J. A. Webb, W. J. Harvey, F. W. Joseph. ' Engineers.—Advanced: Sapper G. Moodie, Sapper J. Brown, Sappjr J. Stewart, Sergeant A. Miles. Engineers.—First Aid: Sappers A. T. Mowat, A. V. Mulligan, Lieutenant J. T. Midgley, Sappers W. J. Foote, K. Eae, J. W. Clarke. Engineer Cadets.—Advanced: Cadets J. Jones, J. O. M'Kay, Sergeant G, Andrews, Cadet T. M'Quillan, Corporal J. "W. Timlin, Corporal C. Bragg, Sergeant L. Ross, Sergeant-major W. Burley.

Engineer Cadets.—Pirat Aid: Sergeant J. Hill, Cadet D. T. M'Kenzic, Cadet W. Fuller. Garrison Artillery No. 2 Company.—Gunners J. S. Morrison. R..W. M'Culloch, K. Slater, J. B. Jvicol.

His Excellency, on rising at the conclusion of the presentation - of medals and certificates, said: Sir Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen—l C an assure you it'always gives me pleasure to be present at any distribution of certificates and medals 'belonging to the St. John Ambulance. Society— (Applause.) There is one thing I particularly noticed to-night in this distribution, suad that is that there arc such a number of eadeta who have got tho advance aid certificate.— (Applause.) I think they are deserving of special credit. Jlany, many pcoplo take up this St.. John Ambulance Jwork and go through the first course. That is good, and it can hurt no one to learn tho first elements of first aid; but I would'venture to point out that it is very much better, having obtained the first aid certificate, to go 011 and got advanced aid. No' oiie' knows at what time in their life an accident may happen at their door, posiibly to their nearest and dearest, and it is 1 most useful to bo able to place the person afflicted in the most comfortable position, cmd to do everything possible until you get 0. doctor.— (Applause.) You must ahvays remember tho St. John Ambulance Society has never meant tt teep the doctor out; on the contrary, the St, John Ambulance Socioty would never have existed in its present form had it not been for the kindness of the" medical profession in gratuitously teaching classes.— (Loud applause.) To the doctors of this city and to the doctors throughout the British Empire the St. John Ambulance Association owes tho deepest gratitude, and wo know the St. John Ambulance Association tries to return its gratitude by . sending patients to the hospital in a better condition than the received them before. The object is to save an injured person pain, not to cure. A little knowledge is often dangerous, but to bc'ablc to send a person to the nearest medical authority, in such a stato that ho will bs fit to be dealt with by tho doctor is knowledge well worth acquiring. I Imow of many instances in this colony where men have been struck down in tho bush. I have known working men who havo been bush falling in a district throw down their axes, not knowing how to give assistance, and carry a man down 40 or 50 miles on .somo occasions; but without the knowledge of how to. oarry the man that man must , have suffered excruciating agony. Eut oven in the btish in the North Island life St. John Ambulance Association has made its mark, because talking with doctors in tho North Island they tell me there had been a marked difference in the way patients have been brought to them.—(Applause.) I take the very deepest interest in tho advancement of tho St. John Ambulance Association. I was looking only to-day at some figures that appeared about a year ago which I would have said were ineorreot, as I should have said they were altogether far below tho mark. I find that the St. John Ambulance Association lias oyer 500,000 people who have obtained first aid certificates. X was under tbe impression it viae far more. Tho St. John Ambulance | Brigade at present consists of 12,000 men— that is, thoroughly trainod men, and 2000 women—that is to say, nursing sisters. Over 2000 went out from the head o/Kce in Clerkenwell, St. John's Gate, to South Africa. Seventy died there, I have spoken to many troopers who havo been out iu South Africa with our contingents, and from ojje and-all of thoso that have seen the inside of our hospitals I have heard the very best report. As regards the St. John's Ambulance Volunteers that worked out there, I may inform you that I know of many who volunteered in the time of the South African war, men in good positions, earning their £300 to £<00 a year, who threw it up and accepted Is 6d a day—l think that is the figurein _ tho army licspital service, with a view to assisting the wounded in South Africa. —(Applause). I only mention this, to point out that -wo aro a philanthropic society. What we want to do is to ameliorate suffering. We aro anxious to do the best wo can to assist our fellow creatures. Such has been from the beginning' the idea, tho intention, and the action of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, of which I have the honour to be a member. That order was founded in the year 1023 by a band of Italian merchants, extremely poor, from the town of Amalfi, close to Naples. They went tp Jerusalem and they gave up their lives to found and attend to the hospice or hotel for tho purpose of taking in the pilgrims visiting tho Holy Sepulchre. Times changed at Jerusalem, and it was found that the pilgrims were being attacked on their way to and from Jerusalem, and these monks—because it was a monkish order in those days—had to buckle 011 the sword and escort the pilgrims to and from Jerusalem. Attacks becamo more serious, and though they still kept the hospice at Jerusalem, they gradually by necessity developed into an order of chivalry. The order grew chiefly 011 account of the Crusades. In the time of the Crusades, under' Richard Cosur do Lion, the knights of the order of St. John of Jerusalem were well to the foro. Godfrey de Bouillon is a namo well-known in history aa one of the heads of the order of St. John. They were always found fighting for the Cross against the Crescent. Jerusalem and the Holy Sopulchro were eventually lost, and the last stand was made at the famous siege of Acre, from whioh a few of the knights of tbe order managed to escape. From Acre they went to Rhodes, and for 200 years kept the Mussulmans back from overrunning Christendom, which was the great danger of that day. Eventually they had to evacuate Rhodes; but they had held it with honoui>-20,000 had withstood 200,000,—and for two centuries they had kept the Mediterranean Sea virtually' clear from pirates. The order consisted of many nationalities. There were, I believe, seven, langues, as they were called,—England, Arragon, Castile, Italy, France, and-, others. These langues all had different parts of tho wall to keep, and it is a curious thing in these days to think, when' you see the 'jealousies of the different nations, that these langues used to live together in absolute peace, vieing with each other in their endeavours to gain honour and glory to their especial langue in their fighting and in preserving each its special part of the wall in time of siege. But eventually they were turned out from Rhodes, as I said, andi from there went fo Malta, which was given them by the Emperor Charles V. It was only a remnant that went there, but that remnant held Malta up to the time that Napoleon left France for Egypt, with a view, we believe, to taking India. That, I think, was quite the end of the eighteenth century. I only mention this to show you what an ancient order it was. In the old days the knights of the order of St. John had their hospice at Jerusalem, where they treated pilgrims for illness and fed , them. Here, at the prosont day, we of the order of St. John have our hospital at Jerusalem, at which last year we treated 2300 persons.— (Applause.) It is a curious .thing to think of that. It was an order of charity in the old days; it is an order of charity now. You may make a simile of Groat Britain and her colonies with regard to this order. There is the order of St. John at the head, tho hospital of Jerusalem a colony in one place, tho St. John Ambulance Association a colony within all the colonics of the Empire, there is the St. John Ambulance Brigade everywhere, there are the nursing institutions—l believe the Red Cross was founded by the order of St. John,— and there is tho almoners' department of the order, which assists poor convalescents. Then thero are tho medals that are' given out by the order of St. John for bravery— not bravery on the battlefield or at sea, the one being honoured by the King and tho othor by tho 'Royal Humane Society, but bravery in othc-r ways. There is many a brave action done' that people do not consider, such as that of the man who goes down a min9 te Tesoue another,* the man who stops the runaway horses at the risk of his life, or the man who at imminent risk drags away another from the front of tho express train to his own injury. All these the Order of St. . John recognises.—

(Applause.) And the head of our order, as the chairman has told you, is his Majesty the King; and the head of our chapter is his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, with whom the real work now rests. I have mentioned all these things because I want to point out what a deep interest I, as one of that order, and who havo been so for-mamy'years beforo I came to this colony, take in the work that is going on'. This ambulance work is work that is most useful. It is bearing' ft great fruit, and the St. John Ambn!anc& Association is, I believe, one of the strongest associations at the present moment in our Empire. I can assure you it has given me great pleasure to come hero and take part in the distribution of these prizes.—(Prolonged applause.) The Chairman said they had to thank his Excellency for the address ho had given. It showed them conclusively what an admirable sooiety it was and what flood it did in the world. They would • very shortly havo nil exhibition upon the platform c! ambulance work.

Those on the platform then took their seats amon? the audience, and during a brief interva' for preparation tho Garrison Band, under Lieutenant George, played a selection. The first exhibition was by tho Engineers. They had been fired upon and soma of their number wounded, and in tho absence of a bearer corps the unhurt menhad to attend t<, tbe wounded and cany than off under escort. The second exhibition showed wounded men upon the field, oiul on tho bugle-call the bearer company entered anil attended to the injuries of tlis men in the accepted military style, after which they wore removed from the field. Tho third exhibition was a street accident, A man had stepped cn a piece of orangepeel and in falling had broken a log and injured liis head, and received prompt aid from passers-by—umbrellas, walking-sticks, neckties, and handkerchiefs being brought into use 'in the operation. The final exhibition was. given by tho Dunedin Nursing Corps, under the direction of Br Barnett, and consisted in illustrations of bandaging and bed-making. Tho former included tbe bandaging of various parts of the patients, and the latter changing sheets and bed-rests, and improvised stretchers. 11l this exhibition was al-o shown the bronchitis tent, irrigation (improvised), cradle over injured limb, injured fingers, and the administration of medicim., application of poultices, and the us? of invalid trays for breakfast, lunch, and tea. All the exhibitions given were most interesting, and thoso taking part in llicm were heartily applauded. The proceedings closed with the playing of the National ,Anthem by the Garrison Band, whioh rendered several .selections during the evening.