SIR MAGI POMARE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1924, Page 2

SIR MAGI POMARE.

VISIT OF MINISTER OF HEALTH. AT WESTLAND HOSPITAL. Sir Maui Poinare. .Minister ol Health, arrived in Hokitika yesterday after midday, and in the afternoon visited Westland Hospital. He was accompanied by Air .J. O’Brien, Alember for Westland and Hon H. L. Michel. There were also present the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry', -Messrs J. ,|. Breeze (Chairman). T. \\ ■ Dull. V ■ Jeffries (Members) and T. W. Bruce (Secretary) of Westland Hospital Board. Dr Baird (Medical Superintendent) was also present. The Atinisier was shown through the new wing and administrative block now nearing- completion, and visited tho other portions of the institution, including a view of the Old Peoples Home now in course of erection, and the infectious diseases block. The Afntron subsequently entertained the visitors at afternoon ten and the opportunity was taken hv the Chairman and Members of the Board to bring a number of matters before the Minister.

A request was made for a grant of £730 towards the cost- of the infectious diseases ward, a promise of which had been previously made by a former Alinister. That an alteration he made in the law to safeguard the Board

against patients who refuse to pay maintenance iti accident eases, by the inclusion of an order in the payment of insurance moneys so that Hie employer shall he liable for payment of maintenance, specially to refer to sawmill cases; that extra provision bo made in tho Act to safeguard Hospital Boards in the collection of maintenance fees so as to give summary power io prevent a debtor able to pay foim leaving the Dominion without so do-

Tho requests of the Board were fully put before the Afiuislor by tho Chairman, Afossrs Jeffries and Bruoo and supported by Air O’Brien and TTon Alieliel.

The Alinister. in reply, requested 11ml - tho matters he put ou paper and forwarded to him, when he would place the various requests before the Cabinet and promised that due consideration would he given.

An adjournment was then made to the front of the new wing.

OPFNIXG OF NnV 'VTXG

The parly gathered at the entrance to the new wing, "here Air Breeze • Chairman of the Board) asked Sir Bomare to formally open the new wing and administrative quarters.

Sir .Maui Bomare in acceding to the request staled lie was pleased to formallv declare open the Alandl Ward and Returned Soldiers’ Alemorial Hall ami administrative quarters, now nearing completion. He felt sure that the buildings were well and truly made, and he trusted that the many patients who would enter the doors of the ward would reeieve every possible care and attention, and that they would be •speedily returned to good health and bo able to return to their loved ones improved and better able to continue the battle of life, as a result of their slav in the institution. He congratulated he Board and all concerned on the very line structure now approaching completion and formally declared the building open.

Mr .1. O’Brien. ALB., was; glad of an opportunity to express his appreciation of tho line buildings just opened and to endorse the remarks of the Alinister in reference to the treatment and leoovery of the patients who became inmates. He felt that with the advancement of the district there would l,p continued necessity to further increase the scope of ilie institution, and if so Imped that it would be continued on the very up-to-date lines ut the present structure. He congratulated the Board, the staff and people <>f the district on the very succssful efforts that had resulted in tlm erection of .such a very tine block of build-

Hon 11. L. Michel also was glad to have an opportunity of congratulating the district on the very fine addition to their hospital. It was gratifying to find that the old conditions were changed and that now the Matron and staff were housed in it building worthy of their labours, where they would have every comfort and convenience. He trusted that the new buildings would add to the eomlort and improvement of health ol those who had to enter its portals. Mr G. A. Berry (Mayor) expressed his pleasure at the completion of the vorv fine addition to the hospital buildings. There had been a necessity for the renewal of the buildings and tin l new portion was of the best and should ensure every possible eomlort for patients, lie was glad to be liresent on the occasion.

M, T. \Y. Dull’ (County .Chairman) said as a member ol the Hoard and County Chairman he was glad to welcome Sir M. Pomare among them, lte was glad that he had been able to open the budding and expressed appreciation and thanks on liehall ol the people of the district. He ielt sure tlm it he new wing would proven great blessing and would be fully appreciated by the patients who had to take advantage of it. He thanked the Minister again for having attended and opened the new structure. This concluded the gathering. the Minister leaving a few minutes later mi a visit of inspection to the .Mental Hospital. THE NEW ADDITION"'. The new umg and administrative quarters at West laud Hospital which formed the subject ol the opening, ceremony complete the present intended additions to the main buildings at! West land Hospital, which is now a verv compact and ornate institution.

The new wing has now been completed for several months and has been in Use for most oi that period. A full account of that portion was published at the time, when the building was put into commission just before the old administrative quarters wore begun to he demolished as the work of rerun st met inn took place.

The administrative quarters now reaily for use join up the three main wards, and are of two storeys. The upper storey contains the bedrooms

am! other necessary accommodation tor the staff, while below on the ground floor are the -itiing rooms and dining room for the Matron and stalT. and a very fine kitchen, pantry and other necessaries for the cooking of the food of the whole hospital. Complete and as up-to-date as the Hospital Department engineers can make it, the new building lias been erected under the supervision of Mr D. Stevenson. and the finished work is a credit to the Board, the supervisor and the architect. It is beautifully finished and in some <u the woodwork the very best results have been obtained troin a fine selection of red pine of di.-ti" live appearance. The whole- of the Work I- now approaching completion, and the fine structure should prove a worthy one for the object in view. Tim front of the main building is an attractive one and bears a marble -lab on which appear the words • Erected in honor of Westland's Fallen in the Great War. 1914-191*. Peace Day. July 19th, 1919.” The grounds of the Hospital have a very attractive appearance at the present time and to Mr (.!. Davidson

(Chairman of the House Committee of the Board) most of the thanks are duo. He has labored hard and long, putting in an immense amount of personal work in his efforts to make the general appearance of the grounds worthy of the line institution they front and his success is undoubted. Jn front of tho main entrance to tho hospital building is the Memorial eroded to the memory of the late Matron Little. It is a Ratable addition to the grounds, and' the flower bedecked ground that circles the monument and the bright, appearance of it generally makes a striking tribute to one so loved and mourned by the community. Another recent improvement lor the safety of the institution and its inmates is the erection of a water tower at the rear of the building. It is'-v-o concrete structure with a tank of a capacity of holding (1000 gallons-;*? water. It is -10 feet above the level of the grounds, and the water is pumped into it by the electric pump at tho foot of tiie hill, which supplies the verv tine water that forms the main supply of the institution, with Borough water supply as a staml-oy. This water tower has pipes leading to the various portions of the institution which enables the water pressure to he used in ease of necessity. It’s utility may ho gathered when it is known that since nts installation the fire insurance has been reduced by a fairly substantial amount, which will help to pay the cost on the erection which was a little under £SOO.

A limit 100 yards from the mum ■structure the ivork of erecting the new Old Peoples Home is in course.of construction and though the want of (Tertain material lias delayed progress considcrahly it is hoped that this shortage will he shortly overcome, and that the work of construction will pro-, gross much more rapidly in the near future and continue until the work is completed. Some idea of the extent if the work involved in the recent building operations at the Hospital may he gathered from the statement made yesterday the Chairman, that the cost of the works o far. carried out exceed £“21 .000