ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 28 June 1902, Page 2

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

[ The annual meeting of th? New Plymouth ceDtre if the S5. John Ambulance Association whs held on Tuesday evening in the Whiteley Hall. The president Mr E. Djckrill, occupied-the chair. Apologies were received from Mr J. B. Roy, a vice-pivsident, Rev. Evans, and Drs. Leatham, Fookes, McOleland, and Walker for their unavoidible absacce. Toe annual repari was then read, as fo'lows:— The committee regret that there ha<been a decided falliogofF in the interest taken in the wo.k for the pas year. The ladies' classes in New Plymouth were fortuoa'e in securing thvaluible s;rvicei of Drs. Le»tbam and Home; but it must have baen very discouraging to those gentlemen to set the sparse attendance at the classes. The result of the examination of tbe ladies' classes was only one pass in G.st aid, three in the nursing course, and three in the final examination. A word of praise is due to several ladies who hive passed tluir final examination but became members of t* e classes to encourage and assist members with their knowledge, Mrs Dowliog kindly undertook the duties of secretary to the ladies' class ?s, taking a daep intercs"; in their work. Tha , mens' c'afss, of which Mr A. Leß ■ act: das s.cretary, were in charge of D. Fuok?, and were fairly we 1 a'tended. Six members passed the ex mina'ion in first aid, seven the s.cond yeir, and nice the fiml examination, entitling theaa to thtir medi)lio:s Thsexamina'ion cf the Nbw Plymouth classes was conducted by Drs Walker, Liaf.ham, and Fookes, who, together with Drs Home and McOtaland, ara entit'ed 1 to the best thanks of the centre for the : r services. Drs McOleland, Wa'kv-r, and Home have completed the nec ssary number of lectures to entitle them to be placed on the life honorary membership of the associa'ion, and certificates have been received from London for presentation to them. Tho Stratford clause 3, of which Mr H. E. Long is secretary, had s'.ven students pass in ii st aid, four the second year, and eight ihe final examination. Mr E. H. C.ark is the secretary of the Toko classes, which bad three students pus in first aid and even tbe second year. Both the gantlemeu named have been most untiriog in tbeir efforts in c:nnootion with tin work, and merit the best thanks of this centre. The services of Drs. Sumders, Carbery, and P*gst have been always at the disposal of the classes at Stratford, both es lee'urns and ex (miners, and they bave earned the deep gratitude of theexecu tive. Owing to Dr. Harding's departure from Eltham no clas.es were held there last year, but it is hop d the work will be revived duriDg the coming se sion, Efforts hive bean made to etrblish classes at Hawera, Inglewood, Waitara, and Manab, but s:> fir wi hou'. success. It is a matter for regret that the centre has lost duriog the year the valuable services of Di\ Hutohins id, who occupied the position of ch!ef of the medical staff, and was always 1 ready to do his best for the work. During the Royal visit an i laminated address was presented to HR.H. the Duke of York, Grand Prior of the ■ Order, by tbe centres of New Zealand. A photograph of the address has been revived by th : s centre. Although the attendance of the vari< us classes has not bean so gooi as the executive would wish; it is still a matter for congratulation that there are now oa the roll 245 membars who have passed the first aid examination, 89 ihn second, and 51 the final. This meaus that those members have acquire! valuab'e Knowledge that will enable them to act in cases of emergency nud bs in a position to relieve sufi'-riag in a manner which they would otherwise have been unable to do." Thinks are due to the Fiie Brigade for tha use of its stition for the men's classes, and to Mr R. 0. Hughes for his office for meeting-;. The balance-shoct showed a credit balance of 1 259 J, receipts haying been £36 10s 3d. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-shoe'', regretted that the attendance at the classes had fallen away, but there was reason for congratulation in.the fact thif there was so many members scattered throughout the district who were able to reader valuable assistance in case of accidents, etc. Referring to the Stntford and Tuko branches, Mr Dockrill thought the interest shown by their members, living in such scattered communities was very gratifying. The adoption of the neport was| seconded by Mr McGahey and carried. Mr W. Ambury then addressed the meeting, giving a brief account of what he had saen of the work of the Asso?iation during his recent trip to Eaghnd. The secretary of the chief centre in London has informed him that the work done by the New Plymouth branch was amongst the most successful of any branch in operation. Mr Ambury urged that endeavours should be made to obtain a hand ambulance fcr tbe conveyance of cases cf accident which may occur. A suitable sat ot apparatus c*uld be got for about £25. He also trusted that ambulance brigades would be established in connection with the various branches, as he bc-lhved that competitions between su.h b.-ig.idcs would arouse interest in ambulance work, The presentation of awarJs was then made by Mrs Dockrill as follows:

ANNUAL MEETING AND PRESENTATION OF PIIIZES.

—Ladiei' Classes. First year, Miss Bertha Thompson ; 2nd year (Nursing), Misi M. Johnson, B. Roberts, and G. Marfell; 3rd year (Medallion), Mis Serpel), Miss F. Coldwel), and Miss F. fcfodder. Men's Clas=e?.—First jear, Messrs A. Canning, G. Blanchnrd, W. Bige liw, W. W. Thompron, A, G. H. Ncsbit; 2nd year, Constables VV. Bufctimore and P. Stackpoolo, Messrs Marfe'l, J. Basket E. Butler ; 3rd year, F. Garrington, W, J, Ololand, VV, Ambury, A. H. Arnbury, E. S. Allen, N. A. Allen, H. J. Gilbert, T. Ghattertoi). W. Kerr, G, H. McGahey, and A. J, Way. The secretary, referring to the membership, remarked that the first roll book showed 64 lady members. He was sorry to see that {he number had gone down, He thought', with Mr Ambiuy, that an effort should bs made tn obtain an ambulanca conveyance for New Piymouth. J The election of office-beiters resulted: Vice-president*, Messrs J. B. Roy and Hy. Gray ; executive, Mis:es Testar and Humphrie?, Mesdames H. Gray, Dowling arid . Dockrill, Messrs W. Ambrury, F. Camngtor>, 11. T. Ainsworth, W. Kerr, T, Chattertoiy H. Dempsey and VV. Barridgo; hon-1 secretary, Mr G, Gilbert, j

Certificates cf life memhership of the St. Johu Ambu'ance Association were received from London, for presenta'ion to Drs. HornMc'Jlehnd, and Walker. Oa the chairman's motion a hearty vote of f'anlcs was accordel to Mr Ainswortb, the retiring sec.e'ary, who had done a great deal of wtfrk f.r the society. Thanks to all who had sssi?t~:d were pas-ied by acclamation, and the cmcludtd with the sieging of tii National Anthem. | Daring the evening musical itemswere given by' Mis*, s Taylor and Ooliis (2), and Mr H. Gray.