ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1736, 29 April 1913, Page 5

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

OPERATIONS OF PAST YEAR. V

The annual report of tho Wellington Centre of tho St. Jolin Ambulance Association for ithe year ended March 31 is now in circulation.

It states that a large number of students have received instruction in first aid-and in home nursing. The service for ithe conveyance of sick' and injured has been utilised to a very large cntent, the number of ssrvicfcs for the year being 482. There was a decided increase in the total number of students as compared with 'Hie number for the previous year. Tho number who took a course of instructibn was 470, of whom 252 wero men and 231 women. Of theso 172 men and IC2 women passed the subsequent examination. Classes wero held at Carterton, Jlawera, Masterfon, Maranui, Napier, Nelson, Palmerston North, Petone, Wangnnui, Wellington South, in addition to the classes conducted in Wellington City. The annual "Ambulance Saturday" was held on December 7, when the sum of .£225 4s. 7d. was collected. This was a much better result than the previous year's effort. Negotiations were entered into with the hospital authorities for a joint-collection day, but a, basis suitable' to both parties could not bo arrived at. Evonts showed "that the committee's decision in tho matter was a wise one. Tho ladies again earned the thanks of the association for their splendid services on 'the day. Tho proceeds were, as last year, allocated iu equal shares to tho St. John Ambulance Brigade, the District Nursing Guild of St. Joliii,'. the Centre's Quarters (building) Fund, and tho' Centre's General Fund. Ifpon arrival in 'New Zealand, his Excellency Lord Liverpool was asked to. accept tho position of president. It is with pleasure that tho committee reports his acceptance of tho position.

Further distinctions in the Order of St. John have been bestowed upon local members. Mr. W. B. Fisher has been created an Esquire, and Mr. C. P. I'ov.'les an Honorary Serving Brother. Two recommendations for recognition of conspicuous bravery were sent forward during the year, and the recommendation has been adopted in ono case, that of Waller Harold Gordon. The act was one by which ho saved a woman from probable death at tho risk of his own life, at the Hastings Railway Station, where he was at the time employed as a junior porter. He has been awarded a certificate of honour. Timothy Hirlihy, a labourer, was also recommended for conspicuous bravery in rescuing a fellow-worker from the Waikari lliver, Wairoa, in exceptional circumstances connected wtli a land slide. As, however, the awards 'of the Order aro confined to acts of bravery oil land, the case yould not bo considered.