NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME.

Otaki Mail, 20 January 1919, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME.

- hospital scenes. BEAUTIFUL WALTON-ON-THAMES, -A SPLENDID RECORD. A LITTLE ABOUT SPARE-TIME • ACTIVITIES. (By H. T. B. DREW,’ 2nd Lieutenant.) Along the hanks of the swift; silentrunning Thames, on graceful terraces, have arisen, as <he centuries have' foiled on, fine old Buildings, which, new stand us fair types of the’solid, picturesque 4 ' old homes of England. ’ ’ In one of these homes, in the midst of one of tho most favoured spots along the river, is siiuatel the New Zealand No. 2 General Hospital, or, as it is perhaps better known, the Walton-on- Thames Hospital. «• Walton is a village seventeen miles irem London. It has pretty, old-fash-ioned buildings, and, after the fashion of English villages, particularly tourist resorts, is kept scrupulously clcau arid bright. The hospital is on the'edge of the village in a large early Victorian house, which was originally built by the Earl of Tankerville, and has sinco passed through various hands until at present it belongs to a Mr Crompton, from whom the New Zealand authorities rent it. The building has all the roominess, comfort, and grandeur of the period, and to those excellent qualities have been added from time to time all modern conveniences. It stands on a'terrace- surrounded with magnificent lawns, whereon arc played in season bowls and croquet; and tho spacious grounds, which stretch away along the Thames bank, carry lofty English trees which in summer are a. thick canopy overhead, and in autumn provide beautiful vistas of gorgeous colouring. The Thames runs silently immediately at- Hie foot of the terrace, and in summer supplies endless attraction in boating and punting, both to those patients who arc well enough to participate, and to those who can only sit quiety on the garden seats along the bank and watch the ever-changing scenes. The surroundings are truly splendid; no patient who is able to wander round can complain that nature never smiles kindly upon their wounds and their sacrifices. The peacefulness of Walton, after the horrors of France, will live in many memories. A Little History. The institution was first founded in August, 1915, by the New Zealand War Contingent Association, for our wounded men who came to England. Enthusiastic work was done by the pioneering association, but in August, 191(i, the control of the institution passed to tho military authorities. Since then, with tho additional demand of the increasing casualties in France, the hospital has grown enormously. The main building long ago ceased to supply sufficient accommodation. Other wards, or huts, built in light material, were added, until there are now eight of them, stretching for considerably more than a-quarter of a mile along the grounds. But even this accommodation proved insufficient for rushes after “stunts,” and so the authorities added another building, known as Oatlands, avhich is'/bouftbree-quarters of a mile beyond "Walton; The Main thoroughfare between tlic two is a’ street of fashionable residences, with beautiful parks and gardens. Oatlands, before New Zealand leased it, was used as a hotel, but in former times was built, ‘ owned, and Occupied by Royalty. ' Its grounds are almost eqaully fine as at Mount Felix (the name of the main building), and the attractions as good. It is a building larger than the main hospital, with a broad frontal facade, and wings stretching back at the rear. No additional huts are here; but in summer marquees are erected, and extra cases can be taken; though iu winter the authorities do away with this style of accommodation, and have all patients roofed. Altogether, since the No. 2 Hospital was established up to the Ist oi last December, fourteen thousand patients had passed through. The accommodation is for 1040 patients at anyone time, though it is intended to provide for ISSO,

Tho average number of operations performed each month has been about ISO, and there have been over the whole period only for-six deaths. A new Xray apparatus has recently been fitted, and an ophthalmic room added. This hospital is the centre for the treatment q£ jaW and facial injuries, and to here are drafted all suitable cases from other hospitals. The staff comprises eighteen Medical Officers "(all New Zealanders), including specialists in different branches of medical and surgical science, fifty-eight sisters, and 173 iV-A.D.’s (mostly Now Zealanders). Male orderlies, all permanently unlit men, are eut down to the minimum according to the rule in pur military affairs in England. Three Chaplains administer to the spiritual necessities. Practically all clerical work is done,by women, whose ranks include several New Zealand girls. A Little Bit of Heaven. The large rooms of the main Walton building make capital wards. Officers occupy one wing of the building (the left), and the men the, large entrance hall and the remainder. The front rooms on the right as you enter are used entirely by the administrative .staff. An orderly-sergeant has quarters at the main door—a small detail, perhaps, to the public, but an enormous saving n time'©id of interruptions to Headquartcrtwjas lie “sorts out” all persons making calls. Bc-bidcs' Ikree high roomy wards the officer patients have at their disposal a dining-sitting room, comfortable and bright, from which, as from the wards ■ -French windows open out at the bad en to the lawn, where bowls, and tennis

p 1 and badminton entice them to exorcise under the spreading trees. Beyond tin lawn, under the frees, tents accomiuo date the orderly staffs when there is ; demand on interior space. And from hereabouts is a pleasant drop down ai: ivy-clad/bank to an old promenade, oi tow-path, besides the Thames. In the front of the building,, intersecting the sweeping approach or drive, and passing under the overspreading trees, a path loads to the outwards, proceeding thence down a broad duck-walk past the Y.M.C.A. and Church hut,]over a road, on a temporary bridge, and/then on down the whole length of'"Hie requisitioned grounds. Off this on either side are the wards, eight in number. Four of these wards have beds for fifty patients, and the other four accommodate sixty each, and all have baths, lavatories, and accommodation for the attendants. Bright and well ventilated, they have nothing about them of the old-time hospital wards. On the right of the duck-walks are the kitchen, scullery, and other centres of industry, the butchery, sterilizing room,- bakehouse, and laundry. The operating theatre, dental chamber, X-ray theatre, and throat, car, eye,, and nose specialists’ rooms arc in the well-lighted upper : story of the main building. Cases arc classified in the wards ae- i cording to injuries, and under this scheme the medical, limbless, and chest i cases are sent to Oatlands, whore leg cases arc. kept on the ground floor to save the stair-climbing, and lung troubles are tended in shelters on the lawns. A Good Time. Tho convalescing patient is well looked after, and generally speaking has a very happy time. Liberal leave is granted, which few New Zealanders abuse. In this respect more trust is < shown officers and men than in the j “Tommy” hospitals, and this makes j our own men wish to get to our institu- j tions. Organising parties to various places is the delight of many New Zealand ladies, and the"\Vir Contingent Association —London being half an hour away —who manage, somehow; to got the wliecl-chairs; pushed along on such occasions. But. every road or pathway * around Walton and Oatlands is a pleas- j ant walk. The village with its quaint- ) ness, and the river with its passing j pleasure boats and barges, offer endless I attraction. There arc hotels, certainly; | but. no patient in blue, or officer with | blue sleeve-bands, may enter a hotel. Then, the Y.M.C.A. building has its I usual attractions for the men, for whom ii. the afternoons and evenings concerts ■ are continually held, mostly by the War Contingent Association. There is a cinema; and besides this on many oe- , easions tho Commanding Officer, Medical ‘••Officers, sisters, nurses, .' and' V.A.D. ’s organise cutertainmcints.ani.bug the hospital talent, or run ;various games and indoor competitiops. It is--pleasant indeed to sec the bl«d»fclothfc<r| .patients, on a typical, night... gathered,, together in the recreation.room flaying. ) games with doctors and nurses, and convalescing officers and 'friends,.who -have. • come in. Men remember these occa- j sions. Rules are definite and strictly enforced, but they arc Ti'ot'unnijec.ssary'j or harassing, and (hp .- result. ■ .is dllis ! healthy brightness about 1,1 tiro e jW3ccJ*’r which is not always sc at Imperial-in-’-stitutions. >.• *• ~ . . C One proud record ..the- dcaHiY;rate of those admitted to the hospital ; is only three per thousand:' Scenes You Ssmemher. At both institutions there arc virtually the same scenes in the wards, where the men’s busy fingers utilise this time of inactivity in silk monogram and other work and basketmaking; and the AVar Contingent is to run a room for tho instruction of walking cases in carpentry. eabinetmaking, fret-saw work, and other branches of similar occupations. The greater development of this work, however; is proceeding rapidly, and will be described when fully under way. At Oatlands magnili- ) cent work is being done for the instruc- . tion of limbless men in livelihoods to | suit their incapacities—a work that is • also told in a separaic article. i Field-ambulance training is proceeding at Mount Felix, and once a week, for some time, lectures have been given 1 the men by selected lecturers on various-1 subjects. .- - j Cultivation and Fanning. I Several aeres are under cultivation at . Oatlands. A feature is made of this ; work here, where there is ground good i and to spare. Tho hospital vegetables j come chiefly from this source, which is i an enormous consideration these times, and also a means of education for the ' men who are employed at it. Scientific i agriculture is being applied and the re- j suits . carefully And what ; more healthy exercise could be desired for men’ In another corner of the park 240 fowls have their run, and lay ten dozen j eggs a day, and a number of wandering I ducks augment this supply. Six months ago ten rabbits were purchased—rabbits are a rare treat during the present i food shortage—stud bucks up to £5 each . (they often run up to £SO), and in March the hutches held ‘seventy-eight! Pigsties were recently added to the farm, and the number of big and little pigs now under observation is twentyseven, with some more shortly to arrive. All these activities arc to be turned to account under the scheme for instruction in farming—how to obtain a living off a small holding. Many interested people visit AValton from London to see for themselves these somewhat remarkable activities of the New Zealanders. .