NEW HOSPITAL AT RANGIORA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17342, 15 July 1924, Page 6

NEW HOSPITAL AT RANGIORA.

OPENING CEREMONY. The new maternity hospital provided by the North Canterbury Hospital Board to meet the needs of the Rangiora Borough, and surrounding counties, was opened this afternoon. Built at a cost of £6200, from plan: prepared by Messrs Collins and Harman, the hospital, in design, construction and equipment, is as modern ai any other institution of the- kind. The hospital site is six acrevS in extent, situated in Ashley Street, the entrance being opposite the Itangiora Show Grounds Handsome gates open into a drive sonic chains in length leading up to th« building, which occupies a commanding site fronting to the north, with a beautiful outlook as far as Mount Grey and the adjacent hills. The building, two storeys in heighf i and of haoidsome appearance, is conI structed of reinforced concrete, the outer walls being hollow, and finished vicli a waterproof plaster, ensuring an interior perfectly free from dampness. It contains in all about thirty rooms. The maternity wards—seven in number, and each built to accommodate ten patients, are all on the ground-floor on the north side or the building, and each has a fireplace. The wards open on to a sun verandah, having a floor space of 65ft by 10ft, and divided into two equal parts *by the front entrance leading into the hall. A wide corridor extends through the whole length of the building at the rear of the wards, and the balance of the ground floor is taken up with th© receiving room, or-fl-oe, store room, operating theatre, kitchen and the nursery. On the upper floor ample and most comfortable accommodation is provided ;■ for the matron and her staff. About sixty steel frame windows give a flood of daylight to the rooms, and electricity is used as the night illuminant, while tlie chimneys and window's afford means for perfect ventilation. A feature of the building appointments is the costly and complete plumbing sys- | tern, connected with a. septic tank, and j other methods of drainage; ensuring j perfect conditions. i The water supply is provided from a ! concrete water-tower 30ft in height, j surmounted by a tank holding 1000 j gallons of water, which can be filled | in three hours by an electric pump, j Th© water drawn from the shingle ] strata through “which it percolates from j th© Ashley River close by. is * con- | stant in supply, and of the purest | quality. The grounds are planted with shelter belts and orchard, and the drive is bordered with ornamental trees and shrubs, and flowers. The site chosen for the hospital has given general satisfaction, being centrally situated for th© four counties interested, and close to the borough, near th© main road, yet quiet, high, dry, open, and for drainage could not be improved upon. Th© builder was Mr C. -S. Ayers, of Itangiora, who has carried out his contract in a most satisfactory manner. There has been some delay over the furnishing of the building, but it will b© ready for occupation very j shortly. When th© furnishing is eom- ! pie ted, th© total cost of the institution will be approximately £7500. | At th© opening ceremony, the cliair- | man (Mr H. J. Otley) and members , of th© Hospital Board were present. | also local medical men, th© Mayor of . Itangiora (Mi* W. A. Rowse) and some i of th© councillors, chairman and members of the county councils interested in th© institution, and a numerous gathering of the public. At the invitation of Mr Otley, Mrs F. Horrell, wire of the chairman of the Rangiora County Council, turned the key and declared th© hospital open. Speeches were then made by several of the representative men present, and afteri’R ards the (Mrs Rows©), j assisted by wives of the councillors, j an< * members of the Plunket Society ) Committee, dispensed afternoon tea for the guests. 1 lie contractor (Mr 0. S. Ayers') presented a gold key brooch to Mrs Horrell as a- memento of the occasion.