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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

The Wellington District Hospital

The Wellington District Hospital was originally established on a site in Pipitea Street, given by the Maoris. The small cottage which was first used for the purpose in the early days, was built on the site of a Maori pah. The accommodation was from time to time increased by the addition of new buildings till page 356 in the year 1879 no less than eighty-six patients could be treated at the same time. The population of the district had at this time increased to such an extent that the Government felt the importance of providing more commodious premises. The grand site off Adelaide Road, consisting of eight acres, having been set apart for the purpose, the central portion of the present edifice—a one story brick structure—was commenced. The bricks were all made on the ground, and the building was duly completed by prison labour and opened on the 12th of July, 1882. It consisted of four principal wards—numbers one to four—having convenience for ninety-six patients, exclusive of four side wards for the accommodation of the nurses, and four small kitchens for emergency work, in addition to the main kitchen. It was not long before it became evident that more room must be provided; the western wing was therefore added. This is a brick building of two stories which contains a children's ward which will hold twenty-four patients, and on the upper floor has twenty-one rooms for the nursing staff. The eastern wing, which is more generally called the new wing, was finished in June, 1894, but is not yet formally opened. It will comprise two wards named after two members of the Board of Management—the Allen and Fraser Wards. At present (1895) one of these wards is divided into nineteen departments for nurses. There are also two private wards, which provide or three patients. The Allen and Fraser Wards will give room when completed for about fifty sufferers. Besides the building already described the Hill ward was built in 1892 as a temporary ward for fever during the heavy typhoid season. It is an iron building and contains the Ewart and Willeston wards with accommodation for twenty-there. The infectious fever ward was built on the hill about the time that the main centre was completed, and contains beds for twelve patients. In 1889 or 1890 a puerperal fever ward—holding four—was added, but fortunately this is seldom needed. A most complete laundry was erected in 1891. This necessary adjunct to the Hospital is completely equipped with the latest machinery for washing, wringing and mangling. A horizontal steam-engine by Messrs. Cable and Co. drives the plant. There is also a large drying room which is heated by steam pipes, and thus the Hospital is quite independent of the weather in this respect. Additional outbuildings such as mortuary, dissecting room, fumigating room, carpenter's shop and plumber's shop have been provided. There are also two drug rooms, two dispensaries, and a store-room specially set apart for antiseptic dressings. The central corridor, which connects the whole of the wards of the main building, is 300 feet long, thirteen feet wide and eighteen feet high. Outside there are three court-yards prettily laid out with fountains, fish ponds and ornamental and flowering shrubs. In front of the main entrance hall a very fine fountain with a large concrete basin has been constructed. The grounds are
The Staff Of The Hospital.

The Staff Of The Hospital.

page 357 tastefully laid out and planted with flowers and trees. The Wellington District Hospital is admitted to be laid out on a better plan than the majority of such institutions in the Old World, and it ranks among the most complete in the Colony. The number of patients at the beginning of September, 1895, was 181—sixty-four females and 117 males, the average number being 152. The following gentlemen are the Committee of Management:—Messrs. F. H. Fracer (chairman), G. Allen (treasurer), Rev H. Van Staveren, Messrs. C. E. W. Willeston, J. Collins, R. C. Kirk, L. L. Harris, C. W. Brown, J. Danks. The institution is supported by voluntary contributions subsidised by the Government to the extent of 24s. in the £.