WESTLAND HOSPITAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1923, Page 1

WESTLAND HOSPITAL.

F.XTENSI YE ALTER ATK»NS. 'The special correspondent of the “Press” comments: — Hokitika undoubtedly leads the way at present on the West Coast in tlie provision ami improvement of public buildings. The restraint which is exercised upon the spending of largo sums of money in the construction o. buildings for the use of citizens ill other YY'est Coast towns does not seem

to obtain in Hokitika. This is parji ticularly true of the operations of the j, Westland Hospital Board, which is at | present having built cxti ii.Mve addij' lions to thc public hospital and improvements effected to the ground', f Before the commencement of the work. I. two large wooden wards which had \ outlived their usefulness were de | molished, a p union of one only being I "retained and shifted in a new site for J use ill . infectious eases. A large new j ward has been built in more up-to-date materials. The principal part of ; tin's building has a length of i'sfi and ; -a width of 2 fit. and has provision for ,lti beds, each of which is supplied with ail electric light. The bathroom? l and sanitary annexe adjoining are very modern, and are tiled five feet high, iaina flooring being also in use. Radiators are installed, and a large verandah on the portion of the ward facing the sea gives facility Ini freshair treat mem for convalescents. The dimensions over all of this wing are ] lift by 2(ili. Il is proposed to rail the new war,l the Alandl YYard. the late Mr Jo-eph Alandl having bequeathed in his will the sum ot £‘s(lO for its erection. In the administrative block, now under construction, offices, a waitlng-rimm and dispensary

- are being provided. The ‘dimensions i of this wing are IHft hv 38ft with an I additional structure 26ft by 24ft. At ■ right angles quarters are provided for : the use of the mafron,' and staff and j nurses’ dining-room, the latter being I 22ft by 16ft. A large general kitj ebon, 22ft square, is replete with' j every modern convenience. Provision ! i' made for cooking by steam, which ; proceeds from two large boilers.. On j the first floor of this block there aro I to he 13 bedrooms and two bathrooms and a large balcony in front. Tho building contractor, Air 1). Stevenson, of Hokitika, has had to encounter a, difficulty in obtaining some supplies, and has found it hard to obtain skilled labour. The hospital is provided with a large laundry in which tho idealising of clothes is done by machinery. a sufficient staff being maintained in handle the laundry work from the mental hospital as well. The Westland Hospital stands in spacious grounds, some of the land on the- flat and dose to the seashore being run as a farm. The buildings aro vvei ted on a high plateau getting the maximum of sunshine, and the sea breezes, which aro seldom absent, maintain its health-giving propensities at a very high level.