KING GEORGE V. HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1535, 13 April 1916, Page 3

KING GEORGE V. HOSPITAL.

A SOLDIER’S TRIBUTE

We are in receipt of a letter from a patient in the Convalescent Hospital for Soldiers at Rotorua, in which the writer says :

“1 am in the Convalescent Hospital, a beautiful new building situated on Pukeroa Hill, overlooking Lake Rotorua, and just above the Maori village of Ohinemutu. For its purpose the hospital could not be in a more suitable situation, and every care has been taken to provide the best possible comfort for the soldiers, most of whom are men returned from Egypt and the Dardanelles. The building contains two large wards, Anzac and Suvla, and a large mess-room, as well as rooms for officers. In addition, provision is made for offices, store rooms, library, etc., while a large billiardroom is in course of erection. The building is well aired, and thoroughly clean, having everything in the way of conveniences. The food Is exceptionally good. For instance, this is one day’s menu : Breakfast: Porridge, trout, bread and butter, tea ; Dinner: Steak and kidney pie, banana custard, tea ; Tea : Roast beef, bread and butter, tea ; Supper; Cocoa (made with hot milk), bread and jam or cheese. The dally routine is as follows : Arise in time to be ready for breakfast, S a.m.; dinner, 12.30 p.m. ; tea, 5.30 p.m.; supper, g. 30 p.m. ; roll-call, 10 p.m. : lights out, 10.30 p.m. During the day the men requiring treatment go down to the baths, etc., and when this is done they are practically free, and can do just what they please—go fishing, motoring, or play tennis, bowls, or croquet. Some, of course, are required to do ‘light duty,’ but that means very little. The men have plenty of recreation, and receive s'pecial concessions on the trips and at entertainments. Colonel Newall (the commandant) is a ‘white’ man, and controls admirably. So you can see that we are well off at this place,”