AMBULANCE WORK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 902, 23 August 1910, Page 6

AMBULANCE WORK.

INTERESTING MEETING. LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR. Interesting evidence of the progress of tho St. John Ambulance Association in New Zealand, and especially in this city were forthcoming last night at the animal meeting of the Wellington Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association. An appreciative audience, over which the Rev. James Patterson presided, nearly filled the municipal concert chamber.

Mr. C. P. Powles, chairman of the committee of the centre, read a letter from tho headquarters in Englaild notifying that King George V, Soyeregm Head and Patron of the Order, had acceptcd the position of patron of its ambulance department, vacated by the death of King Edward VII,. and also that the office of president had been accepted by the Duko of Connaught, Grand Prior of the Ordtfr, in successsion to the present King.

Lord Islington Interested. His Excellency the Governor, in a letter expressing regret that a severe cold 'prevented bis attendance at the meeting, said tho ' objects which the association sought ' to. attain appealed to him very closely, and. he hoped to bring hiinjelf at an early date into closo touch with it. It was an organisation with which people of nil classes should. bo identified. He would like to confer with the committee in regard to the arranging for a course of lectures at Government House. He 'would be glad to avail himself of the opportunity of acquiring elementary knowledge of the subject,' and hoped that many others who had not yet attended ambulance lectures would take advantage of the opportunity that would thus be afforded.

Apologies for absence' were also received from Sir Kobert Stout, the Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.), Mrs. S. A. Ilhodes, aud others.

The Report. ' The general committee's annual report) stated that the work of'the centre for the year ending October 31, 1909, had been progressive. Much instruction, was given, in first aid and home nursing, tlio number oi" students attending the various classes being 554, of which 265 were men arid 259 women. Of these, 196 men and 231 women passed the subsequent cxami-. nations. 11l addition to _ "Wellington, classes were held.at Blenheim, I'eilding, Hawera, Masterton, Napier, Palmerston North, Stratford, and Wanganui. The new and up-to-date ambulance brougham arrived after the close of the financial jear, and had not yet become sufficiently known to 'bo used as extensively as it I would be.' It was a most comfortable conveyance, eminently suited to the requirements of invalid transport. The nursing- guild' had done excellent work. The thank; of'the association were due to .the ladies-of Wellington, who had ,again so readily helped the association when assistance was Required The movement'to bring about a closer connection between tho different centres, as marked by the conference in Christchurch, was also referred to, and tho report concluded with a reference to Lord Plunket's connection with the society and to the kindness -f Lord Islington in accepting the position.

District Nursing Work. In moving tho adoption,; of the report, Mr. Powloii said he was particularly, sorry not'to. have' tho opportunity of congratulating his Uxcellency the Governor on being created a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of : Jerusalem 'and Mrs. : 'S.' A. Rhodes on being created a Lady of Grace. The fund for the nursing of the sick poor,, which Mrs. Rhodes had established during the last- few years, had reached tho total of .£7600, which was invested by trustees, the income to' bo devoted for all timo to tho payment of nurses, whose' whole attention would be • given to. the sick poor. This was a work thoroughly in aceprdanco with the ancient traditions of" \ The, fund- was supporting Nurses' Sexton and Macan- ; drew, who were not .-paring, but spending, themselves ii, ministering •to the sick poor. They had had ' 972 patients since the inception of the work, treating some of thom in their own homes and attending to others at the offio's. There were at the present time 35 ipatients on the books. •. I\ Building Wanted. ' Turning to other branches of .the centre's work, Mr. Powles mentioned the first-aid worl;, the ambnlance brigade, and the ambulance brougham, van, and stretchers./ What they, required .next was a. headquarters building with' a room for tho nurses, and'rooms for lectures and for practising first aid and strotcher drill. There should also be a coach house and stable and: accommodation for a. competent and well-trained ambulance man, who would take charge, drive out the van or brougham when required; A charge was made for the use of. theso vehicles, .as they had to be kept up, but if people were unable to 'pay, no .charge was made, and when a telephone message came .one of the, vehicles was sent v without making any difference between rich and poor. Tho conference which was held at Christchurch last Easter decided on tho .formation in New Zealand of a priory, of tho" order,-'ii step which was in accord with the wishes of the Home'authorities, who thought the time had come for New Zealand .to have a. greater measure 'of self-government. The association "was doing, its host' to live up to its motto, 1 "Pro - utilitate hominum," and intended to do all it could to succour the sick and injured wherever they wero to be found. (Applause.) . The motion was seconded by Mr. H. H. Seed, and carried.

• Committee' Elected. TIIO following were elected as the general committee:—Mesdames S. A. llhodes, J. IV Luke, L, Mcnzies, H. M. Pearson, L. A. Corrigan, Hacon, and Waters, Br. Agnes Bennett, Hiss L. Coates, Messrs. J. Besant, J. Cable, A. Croiv, A. 15. Pollock,' 11. H. Seed, 1,. Baleomlie Brown, G.A. Troup, \V. Coi.

The Awards. Tho certificates, medallions, and vouch, ers were then presented by tho chairman. The list for the last financial year lias already been published. The following awards for 1910 were also presented: - . Vouchers (Second Examination).—P. Morton, L. Barclay. . Home Nursing.—Annie Smith, L. Thompson, M. Hill, J. M'Keuzie, B. Blair, Edith Anderson, E. Woodmnn, Li Stormont, G. Jlillar. First Aid (Women).—May S. Atkins, Frances E. Battersby, E. Capper, Miss Devonport, E. M'Lean, Berlha Price, E. Cooper, Mi.ss Capper, M. Josephine Chapman, Miss Kelly, G. M'Lean, Miss Watson. .

first Aid (Men).—Tlios. F. Brenchley, Florence Culloty, George H. Hart, George Lambert, Trevor AY. F. Newman, Geoffrey D. Robertson, Herbert J. Smith, -Reginald D. Squire, Andrew AYoods, Chas. P. Anderson, Ed. B. Gallery, Charles Hurley, 'J'horaas Moriarty, George Munro, Arthur J. R. Palmer, John T. Rough, Bernard Smyth, H. A. Sims, A. Plowman, ,T. H. Trevithick, T. A. AValsli, AY. R. Roulston, J. B. Martin, James. Acheson, Edward T. Bird, Robert H. Cattin, Robert H. Gray, Graliam AA r m." M'Lean, Joseph Jl'Noil, Langley H. Shearman, John Bruce Young, William H. Coles, William S. Grigg, Harold N. Hawken, James E. M/Cleiinan, AYilliam H. Nugent, John B. Rosanoski, James J. Sparks, Alexander E. E. AVebb, Archibald Anderson, James Blakely, Mioliael- Gourley, Thomas Heeps, John N. Morris, AA 7 m. James Nixon, AA'm. C. Robertson, Maurice Ryan, L. G. Mayo, J. Bell, J. Russell, P.ißox, W. J. Feeney, J. Chambers, A. AA'. Hutchings, Frederick J. Baker, Horny A. Borland. James Edwards, David Hugh JJoj'd, AYm. John M'Lcod, AVm. O'Donnell, Wm. Joseph Sleotli. A collection amounting to .65 13s. Id. was taken up. . -

Practical Demonstrations. Squads from tho AYcllington Division, Corporation Tramways Division, Railway Division, and Petone Division of St. John Ambulance Brigade took part in an interesting, display of stretcher drill. This was followed by a bandaging demonstration, in which several uniformed nurses —members of the Nursing Division—took part. Dr. A. AY. Izard congratulated those who had taken part in tho display upon the efficiency shown, and spoke highly of the work of the association