HONOURING MR. R. C. KIRK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1610, 29 November 1912, Page 3

HONOURING MR. R. C. KIRK.

- 4 ——" . HOSPITAL BOARD'S TRIBUTE. A pleasant little function took place yesterday afternoon at the Hospital ajid Charitable Aid Board offices, tho occasion being a presentation to the retiring chairman of the Hospital Board (Air. R. C. Kirk). Those present included the Hon. C. M. L'iike, M.L.C., J. G. W. Aitken, and kiss Richmond. Mr. J. Trevor presided. In making, the presentation the-chair-man remarked on the fact that for twenty-three aud a naif years Mr. Ivirk had been connected witli hospital matters. Mr. Kirk's services have 1 been many aud varied, and by his resignation the board would certainly be a loser. Mr. Trevor then presented Mr. Kirk with an illuminated address, aud two handsome silver colfee pots. Mr. Kirk's connection with hospital and charitable aid matters was sot forth in the address as follows:—"Your legal knowledge and acumen in dealing with the extensive endowments of tlie hospital, your untiring energy and thoughtfulness in tho management and administration of the various institutions connected therewith, have been of the highest service to both tho public and your Your long term of offico will always be intimately associated with tho many important additions and improvements, notablo among them being the erection of the Allen and Fraser Wards, the Victoria Operating Theatre, tho Nurses' Home, the Victoria Home for Chronic Invalids, tho Seddon Shelters, the Infectious Diseases Hospital, tho King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for Children, and tho Hospital and Sanatorium at Otaki. Your zealous attention to details of administration, and your sympathy with tho sick, suffering, and helpless section of tho community will ever be gratefully remembered."

The address is signed by Mr. A. H, Trnebridge. (Superintendent of Charitable Aid), Mr. J. Coyle (secretary), aud Dr. Hardwick Smith (medical superintendent of the hospital). Every membei of tho board present.spoke in appreciation of Mr. Kirk's work. Mr. Baldwin considered that in some way the citizens of Wellington ought to recognise All'. Kirk's services, and others voiced opinion to the same effect. ' ■<

Miss Richmond then said that she wished to propose a hearty vote of thanks, to Mrs. Kirk, and the motion was carried by acclamation.

'Tn replying, Mr. Kirk thanked members for their kindly expression of appreciation. He then referred to the time when he first joined the board. He said that it / had been a very pleasurable experience for him, as 'he took a very keen interest in the work. Regarding th.e future of the board's work, every member would agree with him that the hospital .was over-crowded. The board would have to find the money- to build two uew general wards, and nnother operating theatre. He considered that tile present laundry was not up-to-date, and it should be rebuilt. "I stress thes? points," tlie speaker continued, "becauso they seem to me to bo of urgent need." Mr. Kirk concluded by saying that it was only the urgent necessity of attending to private business that had caused him to send in his resignation as chairman of the board. He had heard that it had been suggested that h.9 -was resigning for other reasons, but he wished 10 assure those .present, and the public generally, that it. was purely on account of private business. (Applause.)