OLD PEOPLE'S HOME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 27, 16 February 1937, Page 6

OLD PEOPLE'S HOME

New Site Suggested Near Marewa SCHEME BEFORE BOARD A comprehensive Bcheme for the establishxnent of an Old People' s Home at Marewa, Napier' s new suburb, to accommodate all the Park Island Joint (Jommittee's inmates in Hawke's Bay has been placed before the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board by Mr N. Blennerhassett, the xnanager of one of the Old People' s Homes in Napier. Granting his scheme has the approval of the board, he undertakes to build an institution by April next with every convenience for the sick and aged, even to a billiard .table. Mr Blennerhassett's offer is to be placed before the special committee appointed to consider the renewal of tbe agreement between the Hawke's Bay, Waipawa, and Dannevirke Boards regarding the control of the Old People's Homes. In his letter to the board, Mr Blennerhassett asks the board for a contract to carry out his scheme, with regard to which he has the option of a section at Marewa. "I understand that by March 31 your agreement. with the old Para; Island Committee lapses, so please place before your next meeting of the board this letter and plan of a model home t° take all your old people^, in Hawke's Bay, which I .can have up by early in April," he stated in his letter. "I have finance arranged to build a model annexe here which, with the present home, will have accomodation for 50 inmates. But better still, I will build a model home on a few aeres I have an option over adjoining the Marewa suburb. This block I have the option over will run a small dairy herd and so keep , the home jn milk, buttfer and vegetables. Also, another area has been offered to me near Hastings, but this is farther out and so I feel sure your board would .approve of tho Ma~.

rewa extension site owmg to its nearness to the hospital' for medical aid and inmates' amusement. l am prepared t'o go ahead'at an early date- with the buildings, if. your board accept my offer and approves of the enclosed plan. "I will employ two registered nurses for the care of the sick, and. a night porter as well as domestic help for the general running of the home, and I supply all linen as now. l "All I ask of the. board is .for a.contract .to carry out this work, the board to furnish the home for me with) hospital jron beds, mattresses, pillows, blankets and bed lockers, as now. The home will have accomodation for 50

inmates with every - convenience for the sick and aged and a billiard table. in reading-sitting-room, which I will donate. "The home will be built ln wood for protection against earthquakes, with roughcast exterior- finish in cregm and plaster wallboard cubicles. In tne event of anythdng»unforeseen happening to me I would give the Board first option of securing the home at valuation. "I have now had (within a few months) five years' charge of the infirmary section of the work. Previous to this hospital appo ntment I was one of seven brothers who served in the world war, serving most of the time myself on the staff of the -New Zealand Medical Corps on the Hospital Ship Marama, so I feel confident, with the service I now have had, of giving the board every confidence in me for the continued care of the sick and aged of the province.'5 After this letter had been read, the chairman, Mr C. Lassen, suggested that the matter should be left in the hands of the special commiittee appointed to consider a renewal of the agreement between th'e Hawke's Bay Waipawa and Dannevirke Hospital Boards regarding the control of old people's homes. A motion framed by him ]bo this effect was seconded and carried. On the motion of Mr C. Duff, Mr Blennerhassett is to be thanked for the trouble h ehas taken in the matter and.to be informed of the board's decision.