Government House Offered

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 631, 6 April 1929, Page 1

Government House Offered

Vice-Regal Lead to Authorities

“CINTRA” TAKEN OVER AS HOSPITAL

ADEQUATE accommodation and hospitable treatment for ri the members of the Maui Pomare’s crew who have been stricken with influenza, is to be provided without a moment’s further delay. This humane action was inspired last evening by the Governor-General and the Lady Alice Fergnsson, who, giving a much-needed lead to local administrators, offered to place Government House at the service of the afflicted men, whose plight in a sick bay on the vessel was anything hut creditable to the community. The generosity of their Excellencies had an immediate reward, the Hospital Board deciding forthwith to convert ‘'Cintra,” the late Sir Arthur Myers’s fine home into a special isolated hospital for the stricken mariners.

npHE events leading up to this deeision were told to The Sun by tbe district medical officer of health, Dr. T. J. Hughes, this morning. “Last night I received a summons from his Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson,” said Dr. Hughes. “I was called to Government House at about 9.30, where his Excellency and Lady Alice Fergusson were awaiting me. We discussed the position of the Maui Pomare's crew. His Excellency then stated he wished to place Government House at the disposal of the sick crew. He expressed a desire that the men should be removed at the earliest opportunity. “The Governor-General said further that both their Excellencies and the staff of Government House would give every assistance in nursing the sick men.” After remaining about an hour at Government House, Dr. Hughes called at Mr. Wallace’s home. The chairman of the Hospital Board had gone to bed but he met the doctor. "I placed his Excellency’s offer before Mr. Wallace. He agreed that the accommodation aboard the Maui Pomare for dealing with the sick crew was unsatisfactory and that the patients should not he sent to Motuihi. He promised to call a meeting of his board on the next morning (today), stating that he could do nothing without consulting his colleagues. BOARD’S DECISION A special board meeting was duly held this morning. It was decided that premises should be at once secured for the removal of the patients to a place where they could be dealt with in a satisfactory manner, said Dr. Hughes. For this purpose “Cintra,” situated in Symonds Street, and formerly the home of the late Sir Arthur Myers, has been requisitioned. The Hospital Board was now equipping the building for the reception of the sailor patients. It will supply a nursing staff and assume full charge of the cases. “Cintra” has long been untenanted. This morning workmen were busy restoring gas, electric light and water and installing a telephone. The building is entirely devoid of furniture and cots have been procured from the Auckland Hospital. It is expected to have this temporary hospital ready for the patients about four o’clock. “Quite apart from the urgency caused by the outbreak on this

ship,” remarked Dr. Hughes, “it it recognised that as regards accommodation of epidemic patients the position at the Auckland Hospital is unsatisfactory, it has ail along been apparent that the board should have ready subsidiary accommodation of an adequate kind.” When informed this morning by Dr. Hughes of the Hospital Board’s decision their Excellencies, while expressing gratification that the sick islanders were to have immediate attention, were extremely disappointed that they were not to have a share in the nursing of the men and that it had been decided to utilise a building other than Government House, said the doctor.