PALMERSTON DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2150, 15 July 1920, Page 3

PALMERSTON DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

ADDITIONS TO THE BUILDINGS

OFFICIAL OPENING YESTERDAY. The official opening took place yesterday afternoon of the additional wards at the Palmerston North District Hospital, together with the Marin Memorial (in memory of the late Dr. A. A. Martin), and the recreation room for returned men who may he in the hospital (and for which over £I,OOO was donated by Mr L. H. Mcllardy). In a memorandum issued yesterday by the chairman of the Hospital Board, Sir James G. Wilson, the history'of the hospital movement is reviewed in interesting fashion, Sir James recalling with pleasure the thought that during the time he was member for Palmerston North he was able, by getting all the local bodies in (lie district to agree (including the Hospital Board in Wanganui), to a division of their district, making the Rangitikei River on the north, and the .southern boundary of the Fitzherhert Road Board the boundaries of the district. The Enabling Act was passed in 1891; the money was provided by a bazaar held in the Square, for which Mr Snelson and his wife worked hard, and was opened by the Hon. W. P. Reeves. The late Mr Snelson was the first chairman, and Mr Lareomh the architect. The builder was Mr G. Carter. The original cost was £3,700. Much of the success of the movement to establish a hospital in this town was due to the work of the late Mr W. Rutherford.

The hospital was opened in November, 1893, for public* service. The stall consisted of Drs. Mclntyre and Porter, and Miss Dougherty iis matron, and two nurses, one of these was Nurse Tasker (now Mrs Ercnstrom), who is still living in Palmerston N. There were then four wards, viz.; No. 1 was a private ward, later used as an operating room, and now the matron’s sitting room; No. 2 was built; from money left by Mr AVilshor, now called the AV'ilsher Ward, and witli Jive beds, which was the women’s ward. A small side ward (No. 3) with two beds, and No. 4 was the men s ward with 17 beds.

The contributing bodies were the Alanawain Hoad Board, Palmerston North Borough Council, Ilaleomho Town Board, Poston Borough Council, Peilding Borough Council, Eitzherbert Bond Board, Kiwiica (knmt.v Council, Manawatu County Council, Poliangina County Council, Manchester Hoad Board. The lirst patient was admit led on November 23rd, .1893, and the lirst operation was performed upon William Thompson, who is si ill in (he employ of Urn Board, and was the third patient.

The records in the operating hook show tiial ocsicles the hospital slal’t the name of the late Dr. .James, of AVelliugtou, and Dr. George Wilson was appointed in 1895, and 1 Ibid the name of Dr. McGregor as having been present at operations. Dr. Martin’s name lirst appeal's on (he 13th September, 1904. Our present matron, -Miss McLagau, was lirst appointed as trained nurse in 1898, and was appointed matron in 1908. Since those early days much water has (lowed under the bridge, and many changes happened. A ' new women’s ward was built containing eight beds. After referring to the several extensions of the hospital buildings, Sir -lames Wilson proceeded: Horowhemia local bodies were very anxious to join mu; district, and alter many attempts to get permission it was not till 1918 that they were able to get a clause through an Act and join our district. This great accession to the population of the district made it imperative that the Hospital should he enlarged. Messrs Crichton and McKay were therefore asked to prepare plans for an extension scheme which would form a basis for future guidance. The cost: of the buildings during (he great war was so large that it was impossible lor the Board to gel (he necessary funds by way of levy, and after consultation with the Minister (Hon. G. W. Russell) it was decided that the Board should borrow the sum of £1(1.000 from the Public Trustee for the purpose of building two surgical wards and two small wards containing 54 beds, a new kitchen block with accommodation for the domestic staff upstairs, a new and complete steam laundry, a large boiler house with two large boilers, and an electrical plank to light Ihe whole of,the new buildings.

Mr Leslie Mcllardy generously donated £I,OOO to the hospital,to be spent in the interests of the soliliers, juul one of the small wards is railed after him, and will be used as a recreation room for any returned men who may he in the hospital.

Just previous to the Great War, the late Dr. A. A. Martin had gone to England and America to investigate the claims of radium and Xrays therapy .in. the treatment of cancer and allied diseases, nionej for which had been collected by a committee of generous donors, alive to (ho importance of assisting such a powerful personality. But the war broke out. Dr. Martin gave his services at once, and becoming convinced by experience that major surgical operations were ncces?ai\ right up to the firing line, he came home, helped to equip an ambulance, and after great work died by shell fire at Piers, in 1910. The public at once wished to subscribe for n memorial, and after much consideration* with the Memorial Committee, the funds already in hand were made available which, with generous help, were sufficient to erect a tine building in which the X-ray pluntj

purchased by the Board, will he placed. It is already working in a temporary building under Dr. Stowe, who has done good work for the public. Comprised also in the memorial are large treatment rooms for X-ray and physical therapeutic apparatus, and accommodation is provided for a bacteriological department, which it is hoped will shortly'be in commission under a capable administrator, on the lines of research so keenly adventured and looked forward to by the bite Dr. Martin.

There is also a room for electrical therapeutic work, and when that is installed the whole will he of splendid public, service. The following members of the nursing staff served as nurses during the great war: — Sisters Bennett, Crook, Davies, O’Loughhm, Peterson, Scanlon, Smale, Christenden, Stronach, Dawe and Jameson. Sister Jameson was drowned in the Marquette disaster. Drs Putnam and Bett both had leave of absence to enable them to work at the front. The present Medical Superintendent, Dr. Forrest, who was appointed in January, 1919, was also for three years on active service. The staff has been increasing year by year, and soon the accommodation for the nnrsesc became inadequate. A nurses’ homo had been built and added to, hut again became too small, and a very fine new brick building (for which Mr West was architect and Messrs Trevor Bros, builders) was completed in 1910, with accommodation for 40 nurses. This will soon hove to he enlarged h}" the addition of another wing. A substantial twostorey brick residence is now being erected for the Resident Medical Superintendent. With the transfer of the domestic quarters to the new kitchen block there is some very useful space in the old administration block, which, with a few alterations now. being carried out, will provide quarters for an assistant medical officer whom the Board propose to appoint in the near future. Much land has therefore been purchased to provide the room for all lids building which, together with the infectious diseases section, taknp a very large area, hut as far can be seen we have sufficient lor many years to come.

The opening ceremony was performed by Hie Hon. C. J. Parr.