WELLINGTON NORTH DISTRICT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 51, 25 November 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON NORTH DISTRICT

A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. "The operations from Wellington North," reports tlie Ittv. S. Robertson Orr, minister of St. Andrew's, "are still being further restricted as we find that every Uny sees a considerable decrease in tlie number of the appeals. Even Sunday saw the' same decrease. We had expected that with so many people oil work on Sunday that discoveries would be made of sickness in certain houses, and iuither appeals for nurses and heip would be sent in, but this was not so. AVo have, therolore, decided to do without as many workers as possible, so as to release them for other depots.. The organisation wi[l be kept going on a minimum basis juijtin case it may be needed. We all sincerely hope it will not be needed again. Tiie trams which were ruii from the different termini proved quite a help in getting the workers to tueir various p:aces and hospitals in time. , "One or two nroblems confront us; one of them is in/'regard to fitting up tho convalescent, cases. We hav« neard on all sides that the best thing to do is to supply as much necessary food as wo can. Wo are to do this, and soup, broths, etc., arc coining in on every hand.' We would be grateful if those, who have theso to send to us could possibly arrange to have them delivered. The number of motor-cars at our disposal is not now sufficiently great to be able to send for all that is offered us. so that if these very necessary things we're sent in they would be even of nioro value. Still, if they cannot be sent- in wo will make the best arrangements wo can to send for them. We have also made arrangements for supplying much-needed tonics, and these, can be secured on application, at sixpence per bottle, or free where the applicants aro unable to pay. Another problem in regard to the convaUwcnt oases is whether any of these should be removed from their private homes to somo home fitted up for them. There are necessarily some people who cannot be satisfactorily looked after in their own homes, and these may at any time come back upon our hands. We, therefore, have taken tho precaution of finding some suitable home into which we can remove convalescent cases, and see that they aro properly looked after until- they are thoroughly well. Further information may be obtained from the Tiev. S. Robertson, Orr, St. Andrew's Depot. "Another aspect of the convalescent cases is in respect to their boardinghouses. We find that if one is convalescent in <i hospital or in some other place where they have been sick, they expect to as usual -to their boardingliouse. and then find their plnce is not open. This, of course, has happened in many cases, and we want to be able to deal with them before they go back to itheir. ordinary homos. We, therefore fee! we should attempt to discover if convalescent cases are sure they will get back to their permanent homes. We am also endeavouring to do something in regard to the children whose parents nro unable to look after them, or whnse parents are in hospital. We have fairly good hopes of being able to open a private homo, which we hope tn secure for a certain nunilwr of these children in our district. Quito a number of capable workers are offering to look after these, healthy children until their parents aro ready to care for them again, so we trust we will bo able (o meet this need within the next dny or so. Our workers are much gratified to

find that they havo coped with the epidemic in such a comparatively short time. They havo all worked hard, and the strain has been indeed very great. We hope at some vady date to acKnowledgo publicly our indebtedness to tho mauy workers by supplying a complete list of their names. Tno workers were much heartened this morning by receiving from the Mayor tho personal congratulation and hearty thiinlis on bchalr of tlie city fur (he work dono in Wellington North. Wo am not of course disbanding wholly, but will just hold the organisation in readiness in case it is needed. We do not foul Ihal a contral organisation can supply all the needs of this district in the iiiwiiiliino, ns they are not acquainted with the particulars that nre in our possession, so that wo want to havo a little oversight over the various homes we have been' holping until we are finally assured no more help is necessary. "Only one oilier thing we would like to a' , ; for, that is that friends should send 10 us any rending , mailer that (hey havo to spare for hospitals, particularly when patients get convalescent they begin to look for somo means of employment, and reading matter is already asked for. Please sciul it to St. Andrew's Schoolroom, from which it will be distributed to where it is most needed. It is with much regret that we learned to-day that ont' of our experienced nurses, Mrs. Beagley, had succumbed. She gave her life to save others."

IN WELLINGTON CENTRAL The Wellington Central Committee greatly appreciates the attention shown at the Town Hall to the children who have been sent to the children's 'home at Miramar, and also the successful organising efforts of Major M'Cristell in connection with the children's home and elsewhere.

The measure of success attained by .the committee in combating the effects of the epidemic can be put down to the wholehearted efforts of the willing band of volunteers and doctors, who have never stinted themselves either in work or hours. Clean bottles, corks, pickle and jam jars are urgently needed by the committee. All gifts to bo delivered to tho general inquiry office, AVillis Street. . Mr. C. Bary, treasurer of tho Central Distress Fund, acknowledges further donations:—Mrs. Mills, 7s.' 6d.; Mies O'Toole, Ml; Soldier, £5; Mr. AV. H. Bennett, £5; Anonymous 10s.; Anonymous, 125.; Grand Central, 175.; Anonymous, £f>; Mr. Goodwin, £5; Mr. Gilnier, ,£5; Mrs". Carmody, £1; Mr. F. AV. Rowley, £5; Mr. It. A. Armstrong, ,£5; Mr. A. L. Johnson, £a 55.: Mrs. A. Elder, £1; Pcßgio M'Neil, £\; Jack M'Noil, -■£1; Rev. Dr. Elliott. 10s.; Mrs. J. S. Rotheram, ,£2 25.; Mr. Limpford, 55.; Miss Piggford,. £\ 10s.; AVest Coaster, 4'5; Mr. G. "Ward, £1. Further donations will gladly be received, as there is much distress in the district, and all cases must be relieved.