ABOVE CITY MISTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18412, 19 June 1925, Page 2

ABOVE CITY MISTS.

V RHODES CONVALESCENT HOME. LADY ALICE FERGUSSON'S VISIT. High above city mists and smoke, sheltered so that while the full warmth of the sun is caught, the biting southerlies are deflected the Rhodes Convalescent Home, at the Cashmere Hills is a place where- one would imagine that the irksome process of regaining losi health might b;> transmitted into a pleasant period of tranquility. Nay, it might eren tempt one to cultivate an illnebS, not a painful one of course, so that lor peaceiul days, one might sit in tho sun and watch the Jiazy city, and linen to the soughing of the wind in the neighbouring pines, and, do absolutely nothing. Lady Alice l'ergusson visited the Homj yesterday, and \\;as impressed with the splendid brick building, and tho twenty-four acres of garden and orchard, where lemons and oranges are even now a-ripening, and pine forest. Lady Alice stated that tha visit had given her pleasure, and she accepted gratefully a present of lemons and oranges. Her Excellency, who was accompanby Mr Little, private secretary to the Governor-General, was received a 4 the Home by the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes .'and Lady Rhodes, by MilGeorge Jameson, chairman of the Home Management Committee, and bv the matron, Miss Hayward. I The Rhodes Convalescent Home was l built 35 years ago by members of the | Rhodes family as a memorial to the late Robert Heaton Rhodes, of Elmwood. It cost about £IO,OOO, apart from the furnishings, all of which were provided by member* of the Rhodes family. It was given to the public in 18S7, and the first patients received in May, 1888. This munificent gift. was intended as an auxiliary to the hospital, and other like institutions. Patients who had suffered weeks of sickness were to have the benefit of a complete change, the attention of. skilled nurses and suitable diet, and enjo~ their convalescence on the bracing slopes of the Cashmere Hills, where they would have completely different surroundings. In 1888 it was decided to take steps to bring the Institution under the Hospital' and Charitable. Institutions Act of 1885, but for some reason or other the then local Hospital Board objected. Tlie Home, therefore, remained, and is to-day a separate institution. The buildings and grounds were handed over to trustees for the benefit of the public, who relegated the management to a committee (elected annually'by the subscribers), who look after the affairs of the Home. There are two styles of residence at the Home—one by which a patienit becomes a dormitory patient, and is provided with excellent board and attention for 27s 6d per week; the other provides for £3 10s to £4 per week, a comfortably furnished private bedroom, board, and attendance. As patients are not supposed to require medical attendance, no doctor is resident at the Institution, but persons desiring it may be visited by their own doctors as in a private house, the cost,of such attendance being borne by the patient. The only restriction placed on wouldbe inniates is that they must not be suffering from any ailment which might affect the other peole.' Accommodation is provided for 50 to 60 inmates, and very rarely is that accommodation taxed ;.to the full; . The Home is 233 feet 'above sea-level! Ifc is self-supporting, vegetable gardens, an orchard, a poultry farm, and five cows providing much of the provendor. The staff of eleven is controlled by the Matron, Miss Hayward, who is a certificated nurse;