TAUMARU HOME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 8 October 1917, Page 6

TAUMARU HOME

CONVALESCENT SOLDIERS AT LOWRY BAY

There was a timo in Wellington when Lowry Bay boasted a wliavf, and most of the marine picnics, public and private, were held there. That was long before the public knew of the existence of Day's Bay or Jluritai, and when the point to bo decided by picnic organisers was—Somes lslaud or Lowry Bay. Aud the choice, as a rule, was the latter place, because of its natural beauties and sheltered position. In the process of Time's other indentations in the harbour's fringe became better known, and Lowry Bay passed, into private ownership. Still, its natural beauties remain unimpaired, but excluded from the "madding crowd's ignoble strife,""and only known to the scooting motorist and the occasional summer yachtsman. Others have rediscovered Lowry Bay lately, thanks to the generosity of Sir Francis Bell. For many year's Sir Francis has been the fortunate owner -of a very charming and comfortable villa in the centre of the Bay, and this he handed over to the Government to be used as a convalescent home for' soldiers, and here those men have discovered the beauties of the Bay, the hills, the grounds, and the everchanging, moodful harbour to be material aids to the recovery of lost health. This charming old home, now known ns the Taumaru Convalescent Home, really consists of two buildings, separated by a eouple of hundred yards; the one, the main residence, being the reception place, the dining-room, the music-room, and general place of assembly for all the inmates," whilst the other, hidden almost among the trees that fringe the road, is arranged as a dormitory, bu.t also contains a largo _ billiard-room, which boasts one of those jolly old-fashioned open fireplaces that can easily take a four-foot log. Here most of the men sleep in single iron beds, each well furnished with bedclothes, with the big Ked Cross of mercy staring out from the centre of the bedspread. And through the French windows comes 'the fresh, clean scent of violets and primroses, breathing hope and encouragement with each aromatio waft.

The home proper is not so tree encompassed. It is reached by a finely-graded, (Travelled drive, which ascends in a gentlo elopo from the main road. Here at the end of the drive is the homestead—a comfortable, roomy old place, surrounded by a deep verandah, rendered additionally cool and shady by the foliage of climbing roses. And what a delightful prospect from the French windows—a velvet-like stretch of pcrfect grassy sward, broken here and there by well-kept flower beds—sweeps down to the road; through the tall trees that fringe the grounds can bo seen little bits of the azure of the harbour, tne island, and the hazy city, with a view of the entrance to the port within easy range. Across the main road there i» a beach and perfect bathing facilities for summer days. At the rear of the homo there are glorious hills,.with splendid patches of native bush, capital walks for the robust, and grassy couches for those who would sran-bathe at rest: . The home is run on novel lilies. The matron is Mrs. EoHeston. an extremely competent manageress, wlio has the assistance of a large number of voluntary workers from all parts of the. district, who take spells of servioe at the Bay, and hugely enjoy the experience. They have their neat uniforms, anfl look spick and span to the eye of every visitor, but; the spotless cleanliness of every room shows that the girls are not arraid of Eousework. Only the cases which may need attendance are bedded in the main home building, and there Sister Jennings, 'a trained nurse (who was on the staff of the hospital ship Marama), keeps watch and ward. The voluntary helpers are Housed in a cottage at' the back, where they are quite happy and content in their rural environment. The home could" accommodate sixty men at a pinch. At the present there are only thirty-two inmates, most of them well on" the ltiad to good health.