THE NEW REFUGE FOR OLD PEOPLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 190, 22 August 1901, Page 2

THE NEW REFUGE FOR OLD PEOPLE.

On Monday afternoon the chairman and members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board paid <» visit of inspection to the newly finished refuge for old men and women that has been erected on a commanding site to tho westward of the Hospital. At the courteous invitation of tho chairman (Vlr F. P. Corkill), a representative of the Daily News was present, and had 1 an opportunity of thoroughly inspect--1 ing all the arrangemen's, as well as seeing how the inmates fared in their new quarterp. ' Our readers have al--1 ready been furnished with a genaral description of the building, which; c orms a notable landmark owing to the elevated position it occupies, but it may ' not be out of plac-3 to again furnieh a general dsscription. In the ground pkn the building is W shaped, though at each end of the frontage there is a 1 projecting gable, which rot ooly forma a shelter to tho varandab, but breaks the monotony of the line. The eastern ' wing is occupied by the women, the ; western by the men, while thy centra' • bloi-k i« devoted to dining-rooms for : each of the sexes, with kitchen, scul--1 lery and caretakers apartments. From ! the outside the home haa a very pleas- ' ing appearance, its good proportions I bring very noticeable, the height being ' 28 feet. The spacious verandah (7 feet I wide), which runs the whole length of 1 the frontage, with a short retain at ■ each end considerably enchances tho ' effect, and affords an enviaole shelter ' yet sun>.y promenade, or resting p'ace > from which a magnificent vie-v of tUi '• 'own and to seaward is obtained. 1 Entering by the central doorway, tho ' corridors 6 feet wide, and laid with 1 linoleum of a suitable pattern, run to ' either end of the building, and through » each of the blocks. These passes art well lighted, excellently ventilated, and ■ servo to keop a constant supply ef pure ■ air circulating throughout the buildinu. ■ Each inmate has a separate bed-ror/m ' or cubicle 10 x 7. of which there art? ' 32. Sufficient of these have been furnished for present requirements, ; and all in use looked clem and t'dy. • There is an iron bedstead with steel • spring matrons, over which is an ' ordinary mattress and dark coloured i blankets, covered with a counterpane, besides which tbere are two pillows, the upper one having a linen case. ' Shests have been placed on the women's 1 beds, and are under order for the men's ' also. There is a locker and bracket in • each room. With regard to vantihtion, > not only are the windows of large size, but there is * ventilating apparatu* at i the top of each window for letting in > fresh air, while over every dcor is a ' swinging light which serves as an out- • let of air into the main corridor. In the men's quarter*, thera fire two sick- • wards, eicb having a fircplice. These > wards, one of which is 30 x 10, and the other 15 x 10, have a very cosy appearI ance. Both were occupied by one or ' two inmates, and one could not help 1 b°ing struck with the thought that the declining years of the poor old people's ' lives were being passed undor conditions which reflected the greatest > credit ou those to whom is assigned the ' duty of administering to the sustenance of the and distressed. In tho ; general sittirg room, whi<h is 27 x 9, there) is a god supply of chairs ar-d table o , tho htfc. r boin« well furnished > wi'h current periodicals, &C, and a < larfjn open fireplace affor's plenty of > artificial warmth. At the far end of tho cross passtge are ths lavatories,; < bith-room, and o*iher conv<'ni"nces. At present the lavatory basins are only temporary, and will be replaced wh-ui tlw permanent articles arrivo fiora Scotland. The baths ma fitted with hot and cold water, but it would seom advisable that they should be cased in, Each inmato is furnished wi'h a towel which is changed weekly. At present these are far too email, and some wera very dirty, but when tho permanent supply is given out, doubtless a b=t f er order of affairs will ensue. B fore quitting the men's quarter* tho stwe closst was inspected and therein J was a largo supply of good clothing of all sorts, which hud been kindly and liberally contributed in response to tho ch.iirman's appeal. Proceeding ti the cntral block, tho Stst rooms ou either side of the corridor ar* tho diningrooms, that for tho men being 20 x 16 and for the women 1G x 16. Tho former is excellently lighted by two large windows but the latter his only one window, and that at tho low?r ond, tints on a dull day tho apartment has rather a gloomy aspect. This could uoS well bo avoided as tho larger part of tho room is in the main frontage, the extra length of the mon's room permitting of an additional window. An opportunity now occurred of inspecting the butter, as to which Eomej | discussion had taken place at the]: Board's table, It cannot be said that i

the effect w«s pleasing—far from it—l| the butter was stated to have been in' use over a week and its appearance,' and odour were certainly not appetis- \ j ing. No one present ventured to taste' if". There, on plates, were several pieces ' of butter, presumably the remainder of the week's allowance, and the only ' covering which they had was a she9t or two of paper which looked as if it had done duty for some time. The allowance of salf; was placed in saucers but ou the top of the salt was a makeshift tin box (formerly an insect powder tin) which served duty for a p°pper castor. Now these tins wore about as rusty as salt could mika them, the consequence being that the salt had a coasiderable covering of rust. It seemed a curioui anomaly in an up-to-date building costing several thousands of pounds that these poverty-stricken rusty makeshifts should he allowed to find a place, when, for af aw shilling?, clean and who'e»ome articles could have been supplied, Poasib'y some kind friends who have the eternal fitness of things at heart may come to the rescue and secure the cleanliness of the " inside of thi platter," or in other words donate a few inexpensive, oondient receptacles. In the kitcheD, which is 20 x 16, there is an excellent rang o , withalarge oven on each sid»,ind fitted with high pressure water header. From all appearances th>s range should prove a profitable customer to the coal contractor, but it has the niorit of doing its work mo«t satisfactorily. A small safe hss been put up, as part of the furniture, outside one of the windows. If. is quite exposed to driving rain and is much too small. A proper pantry is needed where all food can be kept, including the butter, and there should be no difficulty in obtaiuing a suitable place for it in the shade but open to the air, while protected from bad weather. At the rear of the kitchen (which by the way is a model of scrupulous cleanliness) is the scullery, a room I6ft x Bft, the arrangements of which seem very satisfactory. Whilst here the Board considered the question of giving access to this room from the outside, and the matter was left in the hands of the House Committee. Possibly in discussing the matter the committee may see its way to provide the needed pantry. At the end of this block are the caretaker's apartments, consisting of two bedrooms and two sitting-rooms the former bsing 12ft x 12ft and the htter 12ft 6in x 12ft. Though somewhat smtll, the heigh*, of the rooms gives the necessary cubical space of air, and while a small addition to the siz* might have been convenient, there is that appearance of cosiness and comfort which is not to be despised. On the women's side of the building there 26ft x 12ft 6in, in which the infirm inmstei seemed r s comfortable »s possible under th» circumstances. All the rooms occupied in this wiog were clean and tidy, the sitting-room being a cheerful apirtment 24ft x 12ft 6in, furniahed so as to make it comfortable and homelike. This is as it should be, and possibly iu time a few donated articles will still further assist in this direction. A room has been set opart as a dispen sary and will doubtless prove useful. The question of drainage has reciverf > every Attention and-the scheme carrifd out has been approved by the medical staff. As a whole, the building, both as ■ todesign and arrang m< , nJ ! ,r'fl-otssreat i credit on the architect (Mr. Junes Sanderson) who has evidently thought, j i the matter well ouk and brought into : play his mature experience and archi- > tectural skill. The style of the archi tectura is hardly sufficiently d'stinitiv* ■ to lend itself to correct specific dei signation, but it has the main features; 'of modified early English. Tha cmi tractor, Mr. G. Oliff, has given comi plnte pa'isfactfon in carrying out t>o wo.k. The painting wis oi"cutad by i Mr. Bellringer, and b"ars all the evii dence of firsk-flass material and work | marship, while the bricklaying was done by Mr, E. Hooker. Tho district. now pos'wsrs an old people's home) wliich should, for many yews to como, i f suffice for all requirements, and when thr j groundß are hid out tinder Mr Listei's supervision the inmates will have a really enviable plsce in which to pas* the last years of their lives.