WANGANUI HOSPITAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 271, 16 November 1945, Page 4

WANGANUI HOSPITAL

NEW LAUNDRY AND BOILER HOUSE IN USE

MODERN PLANT INSTALLED. Handling on an average 26,000 to 30,000 pieces a week, including 1000 napkins daily, the new laundry at the Wanganui Hospital is now in use, the change-over from the old plant having been carried out during the Labour Day week-end. The new boiler house and workshops, all part of a re-building programme which cost £52,000, exclusive of the old plant still being used in the new premises, are also functioning. The new laundry and boiler house were inspected by members of the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday. They expressed appreciation of the rapid change-over effected by the engineer, Mr. F. M. Smith, and his staff, who worked long hours. A start with transferring the laundry plant was made at 3 p.m. on the Friday before Labour Day, and at 8 a.m. on the following Tuesday the laundry staff started work in the new building, which is four times the size of the old premises and much more convenient. Most difficult task of all was the transfer of machinery, the heaviest weighing 18 tons. Equipment in the new -laundry includes steam presses and mangles, two hydro extractors for rinsing clothes, four washing machines, and also a drying machine which cost £lOOO. Two now boilers were fitted in the new ongine-room and these are already under steam. One of the old boilers has been transferred to the new site, but is not yet bricked in, and the second boiler from the old premises has vet to be transferred. These old boilers each weigh eight tors.

During the summer months two boilers under steam will supply all the hospital’s requirements, but. three will be in use during Ihe winter. The fourth boiler, in reserve, will be used when one of the others *s blown down for cleaning or inspection.

The new boiler house is completely modern and very clean, board members commenting on the absence o' coal dust and smoke. Much of thi? is due to the automatic stoking de-

vices. The coal comes from the bunkers in an overhead trolley and is tipped into bins Which feed the fires gradually. The installation of electrical equipment has yet to be completed a’d a steam standby generating plant is on its wav from England. Construction og a new laundry, boiler house and workshops block at the Wanganui Hospital is the start of the board’s extensive building programme.