SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20767, 12 July 1929, Page 7

SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

NEW BUILDING AT KEW. PLANS FINALLY APPROVED. I Special to Daily Times.) INVERCARGILL, July 11. A resolution finally approving of the plans for the new general hospital at Kew, and a further resolution that the plans and specifications should be. prepared so that tenders should be called, were passed by the Southland Hospital Board to-day. “ Well, Mr Chairman, I am very pleased wc have come to finality,” said the oldest member of the board (Mr Colin Robertson), when the resolutions were carried. “It lias been a long time, but I don’t think the waiting has done any harm. 1 believe we shall have a hospital of which we shall have every reason to be proud.” I am greatly relieved, I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, at such a satisfactory conclusion,” said the chairman (Mr John Matheson). Other members of the board expressed keen satisfaction at finality having been reached, and ventured the' opinion that tlie new hospital would be equal to any other institution in the Dominion.” The matter of the new hospital plans came up when the Building Committee reported that it had met on July 8. There had been present: Messrs John Matheson (chairman), E. Bowmur, H. E. Niven, J. S. M'Dougall, Dr Owen Johnston, Matron Ross, and Mr E. R. Wilson (the boards architect). The architect had reported on his recent visit to the north, and his inspection of different hospital buildings, and interviews he had ban with the officers of the Department of Health and other exports. He made certain recommendations regarding the layof concrete floors (a matter about which there had been a difference of opinion among board members). The committee reported that, after fully discussing the recommendations of the architect, it had carried the following resolution :—“ That the committee recommends the board to adopt the’ architect’s amended scheme, as outlined, for concrete floors thoughout the cut in hospital buildings (except in one or two minor departments suggested by the architect) to be covered with maltboid and good-quality linoleum, as recommended, over the entire floor area; and for copper piping to bo installed for the domestic hot water supply.” On the motion of Mr Niven, the board unanimously decided to adopt the committee’s recommendation. A further motion was carried, that plans and specifications should be prepared by the architect, so that tenders could be called either for four separate building contracts, or alternately for one contract.