“A COMMUNITY BENEFIT.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19695, 23 January 1926, Page 20

“A COMMUNITY BENEFIT.”

CEREMONY AT ROSS HOME. NEW HOSPITAL WING. GOVERNOR-GENERAL LAYS FOUNDATION STONE. “I am sure that among the wonderful work which is done by the Presbyterian Church throughout New Zealand, and particularly in this part of the Dominion, no work appeals to me more, as giving lasting benefit to the community than this provision of facilities for the care of the sick. This was one of the many appreciative remarks made by his Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Forgusson, after he had laid the foundation stone of the Dunrowan Hospital wing at Ross Home yesterday morning. Manv adherents of the church and the inmates of the home assembled on the lawn at the rear of the home for the ceremony, over which the Rev. . Trotter presided. Amongst those present were Sir James Ross, Sir Robert Stout (Chief Justice), Sir George lenwick, Mr H. L. Taploy, M.P. (the Mayor), and Miss Bums, a descendant of the Rev. Dr Burns. . , The Prayer of Invocation was read by the Rev. George Miller, and those present sang Psalm ICO. . , , , „ The Rev. W. Trotter end that all would be pleased at the realisation of the first step in the building of the hospital for the inmates of the home, and he was sure that the late convener would have been happy to have seen the laying of the foundation stone. The necessity of the hospital was that during the winter months, from ‘hgldto 12 patients required attention. Two wards, one for men and one for women, were to be provided, and both would contain eight beds* Two smaller rooms would be devoted to those in need of special treatment. Ample accommodation for four nurses was allowed, and all necessary adjuncts and a snn balcony would complete the building. The contractors were Messrs Fletcher Bros., and the estimate of the work was about £3BOO. That cost did not include the furnishings, which would be on the latest and most approved lines. The plane of the building had been submitted, to the medical authorities, and also to Dr Falconer, superintendent of the Dunedin Hospital, and had met with their approval, the hospital lay out being very satisfactory. In 1918 Professor Waters, of Otago University, had presented his home at Maori Hill for the association’s social seryice work, the house to be used as a hospital. The nouse was used as a _ convalescent home during the influenza epidemic of 1913, and later as a homo for young people. Professor Waters had later agreed that the house should be sold and the proceeds devoted to the erection of the hospital. In addition to housing the eick, the Dunrowan wing, which was a memorial to the late Mrs Waters, would give training to nurses in practical work as church agents. The sale of the Maor-i Hill property had realised £IBOO, the Blakeley trust had made a grant of £7OO and two sisters had made a gift of £3OO. Through that generosity, the memorial was now on the road to accomplishment. With a gi ft of £25 the total receipts reached £2925. A further £ISOO or £I6OO was required to complete the work and Mr Trotter appealed to those present to assist. Before long, ho said, the association hoped to have a school for children under school age at the Anderson’s Bay property. Mr Trotter said that all were greatly honoured at the presence of his Excellency and regretted that (Ladv Alice Fergusson was unable to bo present, as she had taken a great interest in the Ross Home. Mr David Thomson then presented to his Excellency a gold plated trowel, inscribed as follows: “Presented to his Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart. LL.D., G.0.M.G., K.C.8., D. 5.0., M.V.0., Governor-General of New Zealand, by the Fletcher Construction Co., Ltd., on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of Dunrowan Hospital Block, Ross Home, Dunedin, January 22, 1926. _ Rev. W. Trotter, convenor P.S.S. Association.” The party then visited the block and tie Governor-General declared the stone well and truly laid. On his return to the lawn, his Excellency addressed the gathering. “I think the one thing which impresses the newcomer to New Zealand is the vision which is displayed in attending to the aviaous requirements of the needy,” said his Excellency. “The institutions in New Zealand for too care of the sick and aged, not to mention those sections of the community are most wonderful, and, of many of these institutes I personally know of no hotter example than that of the Ross Home. It has been my privilege on two occasions, with her Excellency, to visit this home and I am sure that all of you who are familiar with it will agree with me in saying that we cannot fail, after a visit, to see that at anyrate in the Ross Home, everything possible is being done to give aged people happiness, peace, and contentment during the evening of their lives. And now to complete this wonderful home there is being erected a fine wing which, as the chairman told ns, is going to fulfil two very useful purposes. It will give proper accommodation and every possible caro to those old inmates who unfortunately fall sick, and secondly, it gives provision for training nurses who will be able to give assistance and medical help in the homos of the people. I am sure that among the wonuerful work which is done by the Presbyterian Church throughout Now Zealand, and particularly in this part of the Dominion, there is no work that appeals to mo more, as giving lasting benefit to the community than this providing of facilities for the care of the sick. Those who have Been sickness in the home know how much depends upon good and skilled nursing, and it is not only the treatment of the patients of this home but the handling of the sick of the community in their homes that will render this enterprise a blessing to the community a large. I am very sorry that her Excellency is not with me hero to-day, but the fact is that my visit to Dunedin was totally a business one, and her Excellency had oilier engagements in the north. I am sure, however, that my friends of the Roes Homo who have seen us here together twice during the past 12 months will realise that her Excellency would not have desired any greater pleasure than to bo present on this occasion. She, like myself, has happy recollection of the folic in the Ross Home. I wish to thank the donors of the trowel and to congratulate the gentleman who handed it over on the felicity of his quotations. May I say personally that my visits here. are of the greatest pleasure and I hope the completion of the hospital wing will not bo delayed. I think, among us, we will be able to raise the comparatively small sum needed to complete the block, and see it opened. We owe much to those in the past who have done so much for the Ross Home, and those generous contributors who have already made tho erection of this new wing possible.”—(Applause.) The Rev. J. Kilpatrick, Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, then recited the prayer of dedication, after which a collection in aid of the Building Fund was taken up, £55 3s being received. In moving that his Excellency be heartily thanked for his kindness in performing tho ceremony, Professor Waters expressed the admiration of the support of their Excellencies. The .committee, know that Sir Charles Fergusson had made a special effort to bo present, though at first he had considered it would be impossible to attend. Professor Waters said that the. inmates of tho Home also wished to thank his Excellency, and lie was sure that they would not forget his presence that day. Tho vote was carried with applause and cheers given for Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson. 'the function concluded with tho singing of “God Save the King,” and pronouncement of the Benediction.