A SPLENDID GIFT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 8

A SPLENDID GIFT.

DONATION OF £BOOO. WARD FOR INCURABLES. DONATION TO HOSPITAL BOARD. A splendid gift to the public of North Canterbury and Ashburton is being made by Miss Jane Chalmers, of "Holmwood," Ashburton. Miss Chalmers is prepared to donate £BOOO for the erection of a ward for cases of incurable disease, in Christchurch. The conditions attached to the gift are very few and simple.

Intimation of the £ift was made by Messrs Cuningham and Taylor, solicitors, Christchurch, in a letter to the chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. This letter was read at the board's meeting to-day. It ran as follows:

' 'We are instructed by Miss Jane Chalmers, of 'Holmwood,' Ashhurton, to state that she is willing to donate to the board any sura that may be required up to £BOOO for the purpose of building and e«iuip : ping, at the Hospital, a ward for incurable cases. Our client desires the ward to be a memorial to her uncles, the late Messrs John and Peter Chalmers, and that it shall be known as 'The Chalmers Memorial Ward for Incurables,' the same to be erected on the site of No. 1 Ward, now being demolished.

"We understand the donation will carry 24/- in the pound subsidy from the Government, which, should the sum of £BOOO be fully required, will render available the / sum of £17,600 for the purpose of building and N equipping a complete and up-to-date ward for the purpose aforesaid.

"It is the wish of our client that all poor patients from the Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid District be given such special privileges as the board has power to grant, in the way of reduction and remission of the usual charges made to patients. If our client's offer be accepted, the money will be available as required, by the board, and provision has been made to secure the sum for the purpose mentioned, should any unforeseen event occur in the meantime." OFFER ACCEPTED. After a brief discussion in committee the chairman moved: — That the board, in accepting Miss (maimer's most generous offer, desires to convey, through her solicitors, Messrs Taylor and Cuningham, its grateful and sincere thanks, and very high appreciation of her noble and magnificent gift, and assures her that the board will, as far as possible, endeavour to carry out her wish in every detail with the utmost expedition after submitting plans, etc., for her approbation, and further hopes that she will honour the board by being present to lay the foundation stone of the building she is so handsomely providing. The board sincerely trusts that Miss Chalmers may live for very many years and witness, with satisfaction, the inestimable boon she is conferring -on suffering humanity by her munificence. Mr 11. J. Otley seconded the motion. Several members expressed appreciation of the generosity of the offer, and supported the board's acceptance. Mr J. D. Hall said that it was a splendid gift and a noble example. The chairman said the ladies of Ohristchurch viewed the gift with admiration. The only trouble was that the ladies had collected the money for a chronic ward, and what would they say at it being devoted to some other purpose? The maintenance would be a matter they would have to consider. Patients entering the ward would require tender nursing rather than medical attendance. The motion was carried. Mr Sorensen moved that Mcsdames Wilson and Christie, the chairman, Mr Hall, and the mover lie a sub-committee to wait on the ladies and report to a later meeting.

Mr ,1. D. Hall moved that it be suggested to the ladies that the money collected by them be invested and the proceeds used towards maintaining the chronic ward.

The amendment was not pressed, and tlio motion was carried.