THE NEW HOSPITAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 130, 16 February 1866, Page 2

THE NEW HOSPITAL.

If much apathy and indifference has hitherto existed in certain quarters in tho matter of proper hospital accommodation for tho district, amends to a certain extent have since been made bj the erection of a really oreditablo structure for tho reception of those suffering from the ailments incidental to poor frail humanity. For Borne weeks past the work has been going on slowly, but surely, rind is now so vory near completion that in the courso of a weok it is anti ■ oipated the carpenters will bo discharged, tho painting and a fow siinplo decorations alouo remaining to be finished. The site chosen for the new building is in itself a good one, although open to objection on account of its extromo distanco from town, with a stream of water intervening, not safo to cross at all sonsons, and this, wo fear, will prove a fruitful source of inconveniences and fatal hindrance hereafter. The position, however, was fixod upon as a good one by tho Government, and the building now being nearly finished, a description of it may prove accoptablo to our readers. On tho south side of tho rivor Hokitika, and about 300 yards distant from tho shoot of wator called " tho Lagoon," is situated tho new Hospital, in tho contro of a reserve, some acres in extent, specially sot aside for tho purpose, and surrounded by a substantial post and rail fenco. Tho building, whioh is of wood, consists of two largo and most commodious wards, 01 fcot long x 25 feet wide, connected by a range of offices wo shall dosoribo hereafter. Tho hoiglit of tho walls. is 10 feet, and tho oxtromo height from the floor to tho ridge 22 feet. In eaoh ward thore are oloven windows, six on ouo sido and five on tho other, each fitted with ono moveablo casomont, whioh can bo opened ar. pleasure, to ensure a moro thorough ventilation in warm sultry weather. In oithor ond,aboiit fiv-o feet from the floor, is a largo mullionod window surmounted by a louvro ventilator, in sizo amply sufficient to caifry off tho vitiated atmosphoro, whioh is sure to arise when tho wards aro orowded, of which there seems but little probability, for the first feeling that strikes the beholder on entering them is surprise at their lofty, spacious appearance and tho abundance of room they contain. Outside, the wards have a most unpretentious look, as in form they are merely single parallelograms, surmounted by the usual roof sloping down to wall plates on each side from the ridge. Gables, 13 inches deep, finished with wrought and beaded barge boards, project at either end, whilst tho vidgo is finished with a tlireo inch ridge roll and nine inch ridge board. Tho wards arq. built parallol to each other, with a space of 93 foot between them. Thoy Ho nearly duo north and south from each other, and are, therefore, distinguished as the north and south ward, according to their respective positions. They are connected by a range of offices at thoir wostorn/Oiul, consisting of a central building 57 fcot long by 15 feet wide, which is joined to tho wards by two smaller buildings, oaeh 18 feet long by 9k feet in width. But through this block runs a corridor 4£ foot wido, tho ends of whioh opon into each ward, and out of it along the entire length aro entrances into the different offices of tho establishment. The central building is, divided into nine compartments, tho principal of which is the kitchen. This occupies the central place, and- is 15 feet square, flanked on the south by a soullery, x next to whioh is a sto.'e-room and larder, and beyond them a recoption-rooin. Tho south connecting building contains a soullery, a water-closet, and thesurgory, all of which aro miserably small, the first beiug only 6x5 feet, the second 3x5 feet, and tho surgery, which should be a most extensive apartment, is only 9x5 feot. lie turning to the kitchen, and proceeding nor:fawards wo come to a couple of bath rooms, at the back of which is a dirty-linon closet and a boiler room. The small 'building connecting tho north ward with thos.p i 3 a counterpart of tho southern one, only instoad of another surgory it, contains a nurse's room. >According to tho original plan tho central building should have boon two-storied, but tho funds provided falling short of tho ostimatod cost it was found ncco3sary to curtail its proportions. Tho frame work, howovor, is so constructed as to pormit of its boing built upon when the necessity for so doing bocomos imperative As seen from tho outsido tho appearancd of tho Hospital is most unitnposing and somowhat unfinished, whioh is causod in a groat degree by tho difference in tho height of tho two wards and tho offices conuo ting thorn, tho formor being tho highest by four feot. This disparity in the hoight is rondorod the moro striking by tho groat longth of tho front, which is flankod by tho high gable ends of the two wards. There is ono porobed entrance into tho Hospital immodiatoly 'opposite tho reception room, and another door, without tho porch, opposite tho bath rooms. Both of these entrances lead into the connecting corridor. Tho range of building forms three sides of a parallelogram, enclosing an oxtonsivo yard, in whioh it is proposed to oroct a house for tho rosidont surgeon nnd another kitchen. Taking it as a wholo, tho goncral plan of tho building is a good ono, tho wards especially boing really magnificent ; but a grave mistako wa3 mado in tho draft whon so little space was allowed for tho offlcos. They should havo been at least six fcot wider. Who over hoard of a surgory 9 feot by 5, or a nurse's room of tho same dimensions ? In fact, tho whole of thoso rooms aro miserable littlo pens, aud will bo found quite inadequate for thoir respective purposes. The water-closets, aro also badly placed, and should at once be removed to an isolated position in the rear, and connected by a covered way with tho main building. Should their present positiou lemain unaltered, in warm weather they will prove an unbearable nuisance. So far there is no accommodation for the employees of the establishment, as of course, tho nurse's room abovementioned, is not worthy of boing taken into consideration. We presume, however, provision for thorn will be made in duo course. -Patients can bo conveyed from Hokitikn the whole way by water, as L-igoon Creek runs close to the resorve fenco, at the back of the hospital, joining iho lngoon a couple of hundred yards below it. Thirty beds will at first be nwdo up in eaoh ward, but on an emergency forty-five patients can bo accommodated without being unduly crowded. Wo believe the terms of the contract have been faithfully carried out, and that nothing but the best material has been used in the construction of the edifico, whilst the substantial and well finished appearance of ovory part bears favorable testimony to the skill of the workmen employed, 4and tho careful supervision of Mr Rickard, the foreman of the works. Attached to the hospital is a garden in full oultivation, which will supply tbo inmates with all kinds of vegetables. At present it is well stocked, and appears to be carefully tended, as the different esculents flourish luxuriantly, giving unmistakcable evidenco of tho fertility of the soil. Those who have not visited the locality will find it worth thoir whilo to do so, as tho trip by water in fine weather is delightful, and a most pleasant day can bo spent in the vicinity.

An Opotiki correspondent writing to tho Oumaru Times of tho moans adopted by tho nativoß to restore animation in oasos of drowning, says :—": — " A Maori infomiod mo the other day, that by kindling a firo, and holding tho patient's head downward noav tho firo, rubbing plying snnplo means, that ho has known persons, whoso bodios havo boon immersed for a considerable timo in wator, and whoso bodies havo boon perfectly cold, brought about by such romodies." The natives openly deolaro that had thoy beon allowed to apply those moans to tho body of poor Fuller, who woj drowued » fjwfayi ftgo, tlwt \\m. would h&v«