COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 6

COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

BUILDING FOR OPUNAKE PROGRESS OF THE WORK. FOUNDATION STONE LAID. The hopes cherished ‘by the people of the Egmont County of securing an institution established in their district for the care of the sick are speedily nearing realisation. Yesterday afternoon the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the district’s maternity home and cottage hospital was performed by the chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board (Mr. M. x Fraser), and as the work is already well forward a couple ’of months should see the building almost ready for occupation.

The chairman of the Board was accompanied by Mrs. Gray (in the absence of Mrs. Fraser), the matron of the New Plymouth Hospital (Miss Campbell), Messrs. E. Holden, and V. Griffiths, respectively secretary and architect to the board -and the following members: Messrs. J. Sutherland, A. H. Haleombe, S. Vickers and G. Capper, and G. Young (a former member). The party was welcomed at Opunake on behalf of the Egmont County Nursing Association by the Rev. Stent (secretary), and later were met by Mr. G. W. Rogers ’(chairmair of the associaMessrs. M. O’Brien and Jas. Young (the Egmont representatives on the board), C. Trotter (chairman of the Town Board), and S. Campbell (chairman of the County. Council). The visitors and other guests were entertained at lunch at the Club Hotel. Apologies received included communications from Dr. E. A. Wtilker (superintendent of the New Plymouth Hospital) and Mr. O. Hawken, M.P. THANKS TO THE BOARD. The function at the hospital building was opened by Mr. RogersJ who recalled the formation of the Nursing Association and the work of that body in having nurses stationed at Opunake from time to time. All would agree that this had been a great boon, but now the people, and especially the members of the association, felt in favor of a step further than having a district nurse. Through the kindness of the Minister for Public Health (the Hon. C. J. Parr) , theJ Hospital Board, and last, but not least, the inhabitants of the r district, sufficient funds had been raised for the building now in course of erection. He believed it would be a credit to the district and a great adjunct to it, and that it would fulfill its mission in giving facilities for the healing of the sick and those requiring mescal attention.

Mr. Campbell expressed pleasure at seeng the hospital so far advanced and also at the presence of so many members of the Hospital Board. He paid a tribute to the work of the chairman and Mr. O’Brien in connection with the movement to establish the hospital. Mr. O’Brien heralded the hospital as “the grandest institution ever created.” He eulogised the the board, the co-operation of the Minister of Public Health, and referred to the splendid response of the Opunake people to the appeal for funds. 1 Mr. J. xoung paid a tribute to Mr. Fraser’s efforts towards having the building erected in the interests of the I health of the people of the district. Mr ‘ Young said he had been a resident for ! 38 years and knew the necessity for 1 such a hospital; good nursing attention j was the chief thing in sickness. He . also thought that the hospital had b°en ■ placed on a splendid site. On behalf | |A)f the people he represented Mr. Young expressed thanks to Mr Eraser and to . the members of the beard for their i help. » x ■ | Mr. T. Trotter referred to the. fact ; | that the efforts to establish the hos- i i pital had been made for the last three : years and he wished to thank the people for subscribing so freely in order to enable the building to be erected.

OPUNAKE’S EXAMPLE. Before carrying out the ceremony, Mr. Fraser dealt with the negotiations which took place before the board was able to accept a tender. He remarked that the questwn of the. cottage hospital had been berore the board for the last four years, and at one time it seemed to him hopeless th. the scheme would ever materialise. When tenders were called the amount was so very high that it looked altogether beyond their capabilities. However, there was one feature which he always remembered. and this was that the people of Opunake, with a spirit of splendid independence and seif-reliahce managed to raise the sum of nearly £llOO-{or the building. It was a fine example to all' the health districts of this Dominion. With the subsidy from the Government the amount . which was thus made available for the cottage hospital was £2172. The building would cost close upon £5OOO. Lying behind the action of the. people of the district must have been a great goodness; it must have been a deep feeling for the <rood of humanity before the. people would have put their hands in their pockets to the .extent they had done. 1 Thev knew that much pain and sutferino- had been caused as the result of having to send patients all the way to New Plymouth, but there was more than that in the minds of the people of Opunake Right through this Dominion there was a feeling that there were deaths which should not occur. It was not a matter that was often spoken about, but constantly came under the notice of those interested in health matters. Because there were not sufficient and proper conditions women lost their lives at a time when it was particularly hard that they should do so/ Perhaps this aspect had been in the minds of the people of Opunake in securing a • cottage hospital. Highly as he appreciated j the invitation to be present, continued Mr. j Fraser he believed' the committee should have secured the Minister of Public Health to perform the ceremony, so that the news of what Opunake people, had done would have gone right throughout, the country, for it was "something to be proud of. He also understood that some of the rooms in the hospital were in a very sincere sense in' the nature of a memorial. Mr. Fraser urged that while the people of the district had worked very hard to secure their own cottage hospital they must not forget the New Plymouth hospital. All serious cases would still have to go to New Plymouth, and there were a number of improvements to be carried out there. They should not for a moment get the idea that, the building was the beginning of what would become, a separate hospital, and that later Opunake would have a board of its own. Their representatives on the Taranaki Board would be fully aware of the expense entailed in running a boAoital.

Mr. O’Brien: “W6 are satisfied now, sir.” A FINE ACHIEVEMENT. Continuing, Mr. Fraser mentioned the good work accomplished oi; behalf of the cottage hospital movement by the Revs. Pahner and Strand, and Mr. O’Brien. Mr. Fraser referred humorously to the eloquence displayed by Mr. O’Brien on the occasion of a deputation to the Minister seeking support for the cottage hospital fund. Mr. O'Brien’s picture of affairs at Opunake had reduced the Minister to a wreck and brought tears to the eyes of the typist. (Laughter.) Mr. Fraser said that the district of Ashburton was the only other one which had attempted to build a cottage hospital, and theirs cost £3500. Cpmpared with this Opunake’s. effort was a fine achievement.

Amidst applause Mr. Fraser nerformed . the ceremony of placing the stone in posi- ' tion, and' declared it well and truly laid. | Mr. Haleombe congratulated the people ' on the decision to secure a cottage hospital. In stating that he had some idea of the trials of the people of the back- ’ blocks he informed those present that ! Uruti had a cottage hospital—started some fourteen years ago—and he predicted that Opunake would find its institution a great comfort. It was only through a true Christian spirit and a desire to help others that such an effort could be made. “It is when the trouble comes home to you and you lose your own that you want to do something to help other people,” said Mr. Halcombe. He congratulated the district very heartily on what had been accomplished, but at the same time warned them that a larger institution would not be practicable. For the more serious cases they would still have the New Plymouth hospital to fall back on.

Mr. Vickers thanked the Nursing Association tor their invitation to be present. He congratulated the committee on the movement, and on the fact that the building was being erected on the most approved plans. While they had had their difficulties in the past he hoped that in the future the question of finance would not press unduly hard on them. While the hospital would deal with casualties and general sickness it also had a much more humane sphere. A MODERN STRUCTURE. Mr. M. J. Mcßeynolds, a former representative on the Taranaki Hospital Board, iin touching on the question of finances, said that in his forty years’ experience of the district he had never known any of the associations which he had been connected with to be short of money. And in this connection he desired to give a hint which might be taken up by the Hospital Board—he always saw that at least two or three lady workers were included in any committee.

As a memento of the occasion Mr. McReynolds, on behalf of the Nursing Association, presented Mr. Fraser with a handsome trowel.

Returning thanks, Mr. Fraser said the gift would be much treasured, and he felt that for what little he had done for the future of the hospital he had been more than rewarded.

The party was entertained at afternoon tea the beach pavilion prior to the

return journey to New Plymouth being commenced, and before the gathering dispersed Mr. Fraser thanked the Nursing Association for the splendid way in which they had received the The maternity home and cottage hospital has been qi course of erection for the past three months, and the building is partly ropfed. The site is about an acre in area, and is situated close to the township. The hospital will contain one threebed ward and three single-bed wards, a nurse’s sitting room, bedroom and maid’s room, kitchen and laundry block and general conveniences.

The building is entered from a verandah Bft by 30ft, looking north. The whole of the walls, including the partitions, are of solid concrete, and the exterior will be finished in roughcast with a pale buff tint, while the roofing is to be of Motueka terra cotta tiles. This should give the building a very attractive appearance. The interior will be finished in white plaster, with woodwark of picked heart of rimu, and furniture throughout of the same material. Provision is being made in the wards heating by fire-places finished with tiles; and arrangements will allow of an electric installation being made when the district power scheme is ready. Water will be supplied from a well pumped to concrete storage tanks by windmill. A hot and cold water service will be provided throughout, and the kitchen block will have all modern equipment. The building completed will cost in the vicinity of £5OOO. Its completion will take about another two months.