PALMERSTON HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 2, 27 September 1907, Page 5

PALMERSTON HOSPITAL.

"•' 'NeV'WING OPENED., SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR. Palnitrston North, Sept; 26V 1 ' . The weather was.. the,.reverse of pleasant'for 'the official visit of.'.the Governor. p_n_t.he.oqc.asicji..QLtuo opening of the new Alexandra ward at tho Hospital. The function was conducted in pouring, rain, and ., consequently there Was only a fair representation of the townspeople. The Governor, who was" accompanied by Dr. Valin 5 tine, was rmet ..at.-the station .by 'Messrs. "J. '&': Wilson (chairman- of the Hospital ;vl3pard),i and M. Cohen, and escorted by' tho' Manawa'tu 2lountcd Rifles to the Club Hotel, vvhoro ho. was. the. guest .of Mr. Wilson.

At tho official ceremony' Mr. J. G., Wilson said .it might seem rather an anomaly "that" they should ask His. Excellency .'to I .'Open'a -ward after it had time, but tho lioard it advisable to await the,'completion of tho whole scheme 'that, tho Hospital'could bo seen under'-better conditions. Ho mentioned that this .district was cut )i! from the Wanganui- Hospital and Charitab^'Aid''District in 1891, and a couplC'of ygars afterwards the Hospital was ; TJiiiit. They, had still some of the original staff, and he was glad to-say'HiWamongst them was the matron,„s;h3_.h.ad...see!xJ:hc. Hospital grow to its present dimensions, often under groat stress and difficulties. Dr. Maclntire, and the Secretary, Mr. Rutherford, had also been associated with them since-the Jfirst open-,: ing, and a groat deal of credit reflected on the latter. .'The Board, lie', was pleased to say, were fortunate in having one of tho most efficient parsing.staffs jjFs'yasVp'pssiblfe'tp oh-, tain. As Palmersfo'h and'Feildirig" Districts have grown so had the pressure upon the accommodation. -Mr-.--Wilson said that there yet remained much to be done.,.. The. surgeons had made a pathetic for a new openit'ipgV't!)e|tro|,;]and fchero should also. J)B-7sompJpla'ce. ifor tubercular patients; --"''for all purposes, therefore, they must turn to tho public"''for funds. The Treasurer, Mr. Cohen, had carried out a scheme whereby tliel.pfiblitfgaiild" Subscribe in the easiest possible way. The Chair-uwH, concluded by,:-hoping-that thcrpifhlic.'JwoWi''SVoJrcely,'an'i thanked those present for'braving the elements to attend the function.

His Excellency said ~hc"was~""delightcd to see such a fine building, and was. ;n!OTc,-plc,as.ed....iu : ;seqing chat it had-bco;v ; l)uilt..jn .brick,. „It was a grdat'pity'tg sco. so ; niany. fine buildings l 6f'■■ \vo6tT,* '\Ydiicli ; 'wb\iid "only' last a few years. The present building would stand for generations. The way thoi public.' supported ..'thi-so laudable objects '.vas most creditable, and praiso. was due to the ladi.es,.who. had worked so hard to collect the money. They bad shown a determination second to no placo in the colony, and thoir energies wcr.o rewarded:by;the oxcellont building thoyltad- obtained-. Tho now ward_ had boon propnrly named tlip Alexandra Ward, after tho swcot ail?) kind-hearted lady Quenn who, in . spite.. of, numerous . engagomonts, had found time to diivoto a part of her lifo to caring for tho wants of the siGk-aricVtho.-iVoor. l!o would bo plcaspd to mako rcprosontation that'tho'Vard bo : balied tho Royal Aloxiindra Ward, but he did not know that permission would bo granted, ns tboro wcro certain difficulties in mattors of this kind.