A HOME FOR THE DISABLED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2859, 25 August 1916, Page 3

A HOME FOR THE DISABLED

WHERE GRATITUDE IS DUE. : Lady Mills, of New Zoaland, has been elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Oversoas Fund of tho British Women's' Hospital, which i s extending its appeal to £1011,000, for the purpose of building, equipping, and furnishing tho Star and Garter Homo, Richmond Hill, for totally disabled soldiorH and sailors (states tho London correspondent, on' July 13, of a southern exchange). Tho Star and Garter Hotel and its site were presented to tho Queen some time back and Her Majesty handed this gjft over to tho British "Red Cross Society so that it might be maintained as a homo for men rendered incurably helpless by the war. Tho British Red Cross Society decided that it was moro economical to pull down the existing building and to put up one. that was fireproof and that would accommodate more patients—a building, moreover; that would bo infinitely bettor suited to. the purpose. At tho request of the British Red Cross Society, the British Women's Hospital has undertaken to raise the necessary funds, knowing that the women of the Empire would wish not only to build the hospital, but to give it, completo and ready for habitation, as their permanent momorial of gratitude to the men who have suffered seriously in this war. Tho British Red Cross has under-, taken tho cost of maintenance.

There is to be a ward for the bedridden and a separate room for each .disabled man. Tho latter will be able to regard his room as his permanent homo. The siim of £250 will build a room, and will also carry. tho privi-lege-of placing a tablet with the name of tho founders. -'The sum of £2000 will endow it in perpetuity, and give thc-right of nomination. The Overseas Fund has boon organised to collect money to assist this splendid object, ami a strong committee is now at work under the presidency of Lady Fulton. No New Zealand visitors to England return to the Dominion without going to Richmond to view tho world-famed river view from the Hill, and all such are thorefore well acquainted with tho site and with the Star and Garter as it was up till a year or 60 ago. The war has been responsible for many changes, but none more important or interesting perhaps than tho transformation which centres round this prominent landmark. Erstwhile visitors from all parts will doubtless feel /a personal interest in the ■ present big scheme, and many will feel that they will like to contribute to the amelioration, as far as possible, of the sufferings of men—many of them still very young—who will be housed there as permanent invalids. Sir Frederick Treves was one authority who urged the desirableness of pulling down the old Star and Garter and of putting up • a building better suited, to its, future purpose. Use is being made of the old.foundations, also of a good deal of the old material, and Mr. Gilbert Scott, the architect, is giving his services gratuitously. Endorsing the appeal to tha women of England to provide money for this homo, Sir Frederick Treves considers it-'a' matter of national interest and gratification, that one of sites in. England should 6tand as a memorial raised by-them to tho sailors and soldiers Who have been disabled' in the war. Hospitals-put up temporarily .will in time disappear. But this one will remain for . all time. . The annexe is already in use, and has accommodation for sixty patients with the staff. "

Miss C: W. Christie is visiting Napier for a fortnight.