WELCOME TO CANON AND MRS WILFORD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17759, 1 February 1926, Page 9

WELCOME TO CANON AND MRS WILFORD.

On Saturday afternoon many of the workers for St George’s Hospital assembled at St Margaret’s College to welcome Canon and Kirs Wilford on their return to Christchurch after a holiday of fifteen months spent in England. Wales and on the Continent. Many members of the executive were present, and after a few words of welcome from Captain Tahu Rhodes, chairman of the Hospital Building Committee, Dr Crawshaw detailed the scheme ; of the hospital to carry out the orig- j inal idea of the founders of the Province of Canterbury. It had. been initiated about three years ago. A street collection of £540 had been the nucleus of the building fund, which had been augmented by a series of markets. The ladies had worked splendidly but they needed enthusiastic men helpers. He hoped that now Canon Wilford, who had taken a lead in the movement from the first, was back a fresh impetus would be given to the work. Canon Wilford thanked all for the hearty welcome given them. He congratulated all the workers on their successful efforts. lie encouragingly said they could learn nothing from England on money raising methods and that their progress was watched apd noted by the English papers. lie had seen quite lately that someone had given £3OO to the fund. lie had had a delightful holiday, which had begun auspiciously with the celebration of the twenty-fourth anniversary of his wedding day, and he had enjoyed the wonderful wonder of his wife’s companionship on a prolonged honeymoon. Ue had gone hoping to find a sisterhood able and willing to staff the hospital, and ultimately his efforts had been crowned with success, owing mainly to a chance meeting in Wales with two sisters of the Order of St Elizabeth of Hungary. The Mother Superior and a sister of this community are coming out to Christchurch to see exactly what is wanted and will go back with full knowledge of the hospital's needs. Professed sisters will take charge of the various departments and a third order will be founded to do the nursing which will be of the best. They will not be professed sisters and will of course be paid. Kir Lyttelton, a son of the original chairman of the Canterbury Association, is also coming out to see the progress of the Pilgrims’ Hospital, and to meet the people who have put their hands to the plough to do the work his father hoped for seventy-five years ago. Among those present were the Very Rev the Dean and Kirs Carrington, Archdeacon and Kirs Taylor, the Rev C. A. and Mrs Fraer, Captain Rhodes and Kirs A. E. G. Rhodes, Dr and .Mrs Crawshaw, Mrs Boys, Kirs Croasdale Bowen. Kirs Hubert Tones, Kir and Mrs Brunt. Kir and Kirs J. E. Flemming. the Revs 11. O. I-lanby, 11. 11. Smith and Mrs Smith, the Rev J. Hervey. Kirs and Miss Head. Mesdames Klacferron. Mackechnie, Weblev Morrison, Lohrale, Bowker. G. Patrick. Saunders, Cargill, Ilewland. F. R. Jones. .Meddings, Chudleigh. W. Cioggie, R. XV. Williamson, Gibson, A Lyons, Stanley, Fantham. Sa Iverson, Eslick, Danvers 11 amber. J. E. Graham. Frazer (Dunedin). A. Eslick and Kir Sedger; Misses Iliatt. Bowker, Ballantvnc, Pheney, Ollivier, Courage, Parkersorv, Peters. Priest, Saunders, V. M. Grey. Sister Jones, Candy, Hope, Fryer, Bos. Morgan, Napper and Frazer. Kirs Andrews and her felllowworkers had made all the arrangements for the function admirably, and at the conclusion of Canon Wilford’s address tea. cakes and sandwiches were handed round. Miss Peters played two piano solos. “Lorelei,” by Seeling. and Verdi’s ”Rigoletto” the' while, and Canon and Kirs Wilford renewed their acquaintance with their mainfriends and fellow-workers * in the cause they have made so specially their