NURSES' HOME.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14156, 19 April 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

NURSES' HOME.

OFFICIALLY OPENED. (From '/Tho Colonist," April 6. ) •' The Nurses' Home in t!ie Nelson Hospital grounds, which has been in joccupation for some time past, was ofUcially opened by the Mayor (Mr C. J. Harley) yesterday afternoon in the- preserce of a large assemblage of the ptfclic. The chairman of the Hospital Board (Mr H. Baigent), 'before asking the Mayor, to declare the building open, mentioned that the late Mr A. H. Bisley was the first person to take-active-steps towards raising- n fund for tli i erection of a nurses' home. Thai .was m 191 U. By means of a series of gift auction sales, which were conducted by .Mr Bisley, free "of cost, a sum of £91 [ lls 2d was raised. Then various entertainments were held, by winch over £800 was provided. A levy of £1500 was made on the local bodies, in the hospital district, which carried a Government subsidy of a similar amount. Then the late Mr Thomas Gawthron 'came forward with a gift of £1000, (which carried a Government subsidy oi I £1200, making a total of £0094 9s 3d. iTlio contract price.for the building was £5281, and the extra* amounted to £200 13s Id. Plans, specifications, ancl cost of supervision carao to about £265. ;It was estimated that the amount required for cleamng, furnishing, erecting gates, making paths, etc., would bo about £347 16s "2d. Mr Baigent then I called upon the- Mayor to address the I gathering.. Mr Harley said that when the present hospital was erected comforts for nurses were loss thought of than at the j present day. It was true that when I the hospital was erected the •oeommor 'dation was sufficient for the nursing ststf, bxit that was fifty years ago. !Si nee then, although the institution ha/1 I not grown in size, it had grown in importance, and the number of patiencs 'had increased two or three fold. When jtho Hospital opened there was accommodation for 25 patients and G nurses. Now there were between 70 and 80 patients—sometimes 90 —in the inst-itu-jtion, and there was a staff of 20 muses, i Their quarters became overcrowded, land they had.no privacy. A moivcment jwas then initiated by the- late Mr A. H. j Bisley to raise funds for the erection of a nurses' home, and by means which hud been indicated by the, chairman of the board, over £6000 was raised, and the present handsome building erected. It was plai-nly but nicely furnished, and there was accommodation for ü bout SO nurses; and they deserved it. (Hear, hoar.). Nursing was essentially a woiti&n's.. sphere, and in the present war thousands of women had ooine forward to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers. From the Nelson Hospital no "fewer tl.an ten nurses, who had been trained in the institution, had come forward (Hear, hear),) including Sister Ingram who had madft a great name, for herself in Egypt, and Sister Jacobson, who had gone in the hospital shap Mararaa. j These noWe women .leserved our grate- ' ful thanks, and he was sure they would ihave the grateful thanks of th« sick and wounded soldiers Further comforts wore required for the nurses at the home, ancl he was »urea generous pubi lie would be only too ready to come forjward and provide them. Among other 'things required was a piano- and it .would be of benefit to the nurses if they | had a tennis court or a croquet ground. jXJe did not think there would be any i difficulty in raising the money required | for these purposes. Mr Harley tho:i declared the building open, and a versa of the National 'Anthem having beer, sung, the public w'ero admitted. Afternoon tea was provided by the j nursing and domestic staffs, and for an 'hour the building was thrown upon for j inspection.