BUILDING THE HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 290, 11 May 1914, Page 7

BUILDING THE HOSPITAL.

A BUSY SCEXE. . PHOGKKSS OF THE WORK. Most Kevv Plymouth have a general idea that a new hospital is being built somewhere in t!ie town, but until one lias .paid a visit to the scene of its erection, it is impossible to form any adequate idea of the magnitude of the work, or of the elaborate nature of the building which is slowly beginning to take shape there. The first impression which the visitor just at this time would he likely to receive is that the site of the new hospital is a very muddy place. Carts and constant rain have done their work on a clay formation, and the only dry path is' by way of the brick foundations which everywhere enmesh the ground. The scene of operations, viewed from the highest point of the partly erected building, is a bewildering maze of brick foundation work, stopping abruptly, turning amazedly, twisting in and out, and linking up with something else in a perfectly incomprehensible manner, wonderfully like a giant jig-saw puzzle or a demented snake with a superfluity of tails. Some thirty or forty men are busily piecing this puzzle together, rushing the process over the large tract of land which the site comprises.' There is hardly a foot of the ground which is not occupied with brickwork, for the whole of the foundations are now laid several feet high, except those for the kitchen, which must bo delayed for a while yet to leave room for" the carts which are constantly arriving with material at the back of the building to be. Scattered among the network of foundation and footway planks are sundry deep laid drains which more men are busily excavating. The western wing of the building is up to roof height, and the principals will shortly he put on. The framework of the laundry is also practically complete. The giant jig-saw puzzle is daily taking definite shape, although it will occupy the attention of 100 men or so before it is fully completed. Those two long parallel foundation lines will mount into the walls of a six foot corridor, which will communicate with the various wards which branch off at right angles to it in irregular brickwork shape. The work which occupies most time at present is the erection of tluvconcrete verandah.', or sun rooms, round the rooms of the rapidly growing western wing. Altogether some 400,000 bricks have been used by the builders. "This time next year," as the contractor (Mr. Trevor) says, "there will be something to see." And what will be the end of tills ghnt jig-saw? A large block-built building, with a frontage of 320 feet, and a fine outlook to the sea. One of the most up-to-date and 'best-equipped hospitals in the Dominion. There will be three men's wards. 04ft. Cin. in length by 24ft. fiin. in width. Altogether they will accommodate 60 patients. A one bed ward is also provided for in each of these wings. There wiH be a, children's ward 34ft. long and 20ft. wide, accommodating seven patients. At the extreme western end of the building, that which is now tlic furthest advanced, will be the females' ward. This will be about 70 feet long and 24 feet 6 inches wide. All the wards will be self-contained, being provided with kitchen, sterilising room and other apartments. There will be a dispensary parallel to the wards, and at the extreme eastern end of the building. Waiting rooms, matron's offices, medical quarters, accident examination room, operating theatre, X-ray room, dark room, dressing rooms and all the apartments of a modern hospital will have their places. The kitchen block, the one that is gradually extending to the territory of the busy carters, now, will be the only twostoreyed portion of the hospital. It will contain kitchen, servants' hall, and all necessary apartments. The first floor will contain ten bedrooms, bathrooms and sanitary conveniences, a padded room and at the western end of the corridor a five-bed ward for females. The end of tho puzzle will be a hospital of which New Plymouth may be justly proud.