HOSPITAL ENLARGEMENT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14834, 27 November 1913, Page 4

HOSPITAL ENLARGEMENT.

A NEW BLOCK OF BUD^ I^5

FOUNDATION-STONE I^ lo

There was a largo gathering at the Hospital yesterday afternoon, when the opening ceremony of tho new block of buildings was performed by Mr F. Horrell, the chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. So far, practically only the foundations of the now buildings have been completed/ but it is evident- from these, and from tho plane, that the additions will bo of a very extensive and handsome character. The site of the now annexe is at •what will be tho main entrance of the Hospital on the Kiccarton road, just ofi tiio Lincoln road, and the buildings will bo partially two-storied. The block will contain nJa.... all tbo administrative portion of tiie Hospital organisation, ac well as other accommodation. On tho leit of the entrance will be the porter's lodge, tlio ambulance dock, superintendent's and matron's ofnees, visitors' waiting hail, etc., and diviaed from this by the mam hospital corritior is a largo iia.ll i'cr out-patients, a dispensary, X-ray room, aud some minor operating theatres. Then there are staff dining-rooms, kitchens, room for - tho honorary medical staff, and bed-rooms, in tne upper storey for tho junior suigoons. When compieleii the new block snould present a very handsome appearance, and will do credit to vie architects, Messrs. Collins and liarman, the builder, Air Smith, and the clerk of works, Mr 11 , . H. Harrop. Among those present were the chairman and members of the North Canterbury Hospital aud Charitable Aid Board, his Worship the .Mayor, Bishop Julius, representatives of various loca! bodies, and the staff of .the.hospital. Mr H. B. Sorensen, chairman of the Hospital Committee, spoke. briefly detailing the reasons for iho building of the new block, and accommodation that was to be provided therein. Tho cost of the complete block would be £iy,153. Christchurch was to be congratulated on the ..-orslity of the members of the Board, who were actuated by tho sole desire to uene-i the sick. Mr Sorensen then read apologies from the Hon. 11. H. Rhodes, the Mayors of Rangiora and Woolston, and others. His Worship the Mayor, Mr Holland, said that the new building would be the heart of the institution, and it was important to have a good heart in any organisation. The contributors to the institution should regard the .fact that they wore allowed to help as a privilege, for there was no more important work than the alleviation of suffering. He eulogised the work dono by Mr Horrell, and was glad to see.that his name would be handed down to posterity on the foundation stone that was to be laid. Dr. Acland said he was exceedingly glad to see that the building was at last well on the way to completion. It was needed, and "they had waited for it for a great many years. Five years ago very little of the Hospital could bo said to bo really up-to-date and up to modern requirements, and the speaker detailed tho disabilities under which tho staff and patients had laboured under the old conditions. He thought tho block was unfortunately named as the "administrative block," as it might lead tho public to think that the largo sum of money had been spent for administrative purposes only, which was decidedly not the" case. As a matter of fact, the major portion of the building would be directly for the benefit of the patients, and they had the satisfaction of knowing that it was entirely modern and adequate. When the present buildings were -completed they would have to consider the replacing of wards 4, 5, and 6, which, though picturesque, had served their purpose. They were hard to ventilate, ight, and heat, and it was hoped that before long further. accommodation would be provided, for the Hospital was always full, and there waa always a long waiting list. Mr F. Horrel], chairman of the Board, was received with applause. He said that he could assure them that he very deeply appreciated -the honour they had conferred.'on him in "asking him to perform that pleasant and important ceremony for which they had met that afternoon. He felt that what chare he had had in what was being done was only his duty as a citizen of North Canterbury for the last 56 years. It was to him a labour of love. The building would have the same relation to the Hospital as the heart to the human body. It would be tho point from which all life would radiate. That it was a costly building was undoubted, but the cost would bo more than outset by the greater efficiency of the institu- % tion. Unfortunately for tho Board and for tho Hospital, between the years 1885 and 1910 there was no machinery for carrying out new work unless by voluntary contributions from the public. These had been forthcoming most generously for many purposes; but it was not reasonable to expect to re-build the Hospital by such means. The consequence of the old Board having no power to raise money for new buildings was that the Hospital fell into a condition approaching dilapidation; and now the Board was having to face the position and erect new buildings in place of the old inconvenient and incommodious wards and offices now in use. ■ "The first Hospital." said Mr Horrell. "was openeif in Christclmrch in 1862, and this building is still in use for hospital purposes. — How unsuitable it is may readiry be imagined, but we have had to make the best use of it. It was built to accommodate twenty-five patients and the staff. The offices which are housed in that original building are the out-patients' department, the dental ward, the kitchen, store-rooms, matron's and doctor's offices, porters' quarters, and a ward for chronic consumptives. The l building of which we are laving the foundation-stone to-day will contain all these offices as well as wait-ing-rooms for the public, the pathological department and X-ray department. 1 can confidently say this, that there is not one foot of space in this building that has nob its use; The Board's claims on the local bodieshave no doubt been regarded as heavy, but they have been necessary. For ono thing I am thankful: I believe that the local bodies and the public generally are prepared to make sacrifices on behalf of such institutions. The Board has loyally striven to avoid placing too heavy a burden upon the ratepayers in any one year, and I sincerely hone that tho rate for capital expenditure will be a largely diminished ono in the years to conio. "I think it can safely be said fllSt • when this building •is complete that tho Christchurch Hospital will be second to nono "in New Zealand; at any rate as regards efficiency of working. Admittedly more beds are required, but the accommodation for such must be a matter of steady growth, and I sincerely hope that no future Board will have to face the building problems which this Board has had to tackle during the past three and a half: years. Too much praise cannot be given to the medical and surgical staffs (both honorary and resident), and the lady superintendent and architects for the unselfish manner in which they have placed their services at the Board's disposal with regard to the details of new buildings. If there are any hero wlio have felt that the Board has gone ahead too fast, I hope that they will go away satisfied that everything has been dono at the dictate of necessity and in the cause of suffering humanity." (Applause.) Mr Horrell then performed tho ceremony of laying the foundation-stone, using a silver trowel presented by the contractor, Mr Smith. ,

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