NEW BUILDING TO BE IN BRICK

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14142, 19 July 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEW BUILDING TO BE IN BRICK

COMPETITIVE DESIGNS TO BE CALLED FOR. . >:

(From '!The Colonist," Juljt 6.)

At the monthly, meeting of the Nel-.l son Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, the chairman (Mr. H. Baigent) reported ■ that ~ the Alexandra Home had been destroyed by fire, and! detailed the arrangements that had been made to provide tercporary accommodation for the old people at the new Home for Defectives at Richmond, j The Board .would hare to consider the question of rebuilding the home. 'He stated that there would Toe £5600 avail-' able for-the.-new building, including the Harris: bequest of. £1000. Mr. Hoult thought that the Board should have been called together after the" fire. He moved that the' Board proceed immediately with the erection of a new home in brick or ferro-con-erete,' at a cost not exceeding £5000. Mr. Macmahon seconded the motion. Mr. Lock thought the hoite, should be built on the same site. He supported the motion, which was carried ! unanimously. Mr. Bell wanted to know why the Board should pay a water rate when there was ..no water to extinguish .the fire. It was an. absolute shame. .He moved that the Council be asked for an explanation tis to why there was no water available. ,

Seconded by Mr. Lock, and carried unanimously. Mr. W, Houlker applied for the position/of architect for the new Alexandra Home. He undertook to furnish complete plans within 14 days after the Board had approved of sketch plans. Mr. Bell moved that competitive plans. be called for from architects in the Nelson district, a bonus of £25 to be given to the architect whose plan is accepted. Sketch plans to ...be subntitbed within 14 days.

Mr Houlb seconded the motion. The chairman opposed the motion on the around'of ■delay. Mr. Maernahon opposed the giving of a bonus, although he approved of calling for competitive designs without a bonus. He moved as an amendment that the £25 bonus be struck out.

Seconded by the chairman. The amendment was. lost, and .the motion carried on the voices. The chain! Sn expressed the opinion that the Board would 'have, to,call on contributing bodies, as the amount in hand would not be sufficient to erect a building in brick or concrete. The chairman said the Fire Brigade had; rendered good service at the fire, and he moved that a sum of £5 be voted to the brigade funds. This was carried. .

-It'was resolved that the Board tenders its hearty tha.nka;-to .all those-.TvliD rendered assistance at -the time of the fire, and to those who were contributing: clothing;, for the old people. Mr. Hoiilt moved that the thanks of the Board foe tendered to the town members, Messrs. Baigent and Lock, and: Mrs. Watson.,for what they had done ,since the fire. He said Mrs. Watson had rendered valuable service in connection with the women inmates.

Votes of thanks were also accorded the doctors snd.staffs of the General and Mental Hospitals for attention to the old people. . ■ Mencbers of the Board then visited the site of the fire!. y The chairman said that at the fire the master and matron (Mr* and Mrs. Crouch) not only rendered splendid service, but Jost all their personal effects and' clothing, between £50 and £60 worth/ . ..'■■ • .■■". ' '-. .

It was resolved' to make . them a donation of £15 towards their loss.'

July, 8. Mr S. Blomfield, clerk -of the Hospital and Charitable. Aid Board, received on Thursday the following insurances on the Alexainch'a Home destroyed by fire on June 29th. 'Guardian-office- '£300, T^oyal £300 on furniture;' Rojal £1000, Norwich. Union £2000 and Queensland £1000 on building. - '