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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Charitable Institutions

Charitable Institutions.

The Wanganui District Hospital Board was established prior to the coming into force of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act of 1885, under which it has since conducted its operations. The members of the Board at the time of writing (February, 1897) are:—Messrs. A. J. Parsons (chairman), A. Higgie, J. P. Lethbridge, J. Laird, E. Newman, W, Ritchie, J. R. Sommerville, R. K. Simpson, E. N. Liffiton, and A. Simpson; Mr. A. C. Ritchie acts as secretary. The district includes the counties of Wanganui, Waitotara, and Rangitikei, together with the boroughs of Wanganui and Marton. The revenue of the Board for the year ending 31st of March, 1896, was £3880, including a balance of £536 from the previous year, and a sum of £1972 from the Government. The expenditure amounted to £4053, but this included a sum of £2474 expended on the new hospital building, which is referred to elsewhere.

Mr. Archibald Campbell Ritchie, Secretary to the Wanganui District Hospital Board, was born in 1862 at Lochgoilhead, Argyllshire, Scotland, where he received his earlier education. Arriving in Wanganui in 1874, after a few months at school he went into the country, but soon afterwards returned, entering the service of Mr. A. D. Willis. Subsequently Mr. Ritchie entered the public service as messenger and letter-carrier in the Postal Department, rising steadily in the office till gaining the position of chief clerk. Mr. Ritchie afterwards left the post-office and entered into mercantile life, holding various positions at Napier and in Wanganui till 1890, when he was selected out of a number of applicants for the office he now holds

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The Wanganui Hospital, which has for some years been located on the banks of the Wanganui River in a “worn-out, antiquated building,” to use the official language of the assistant inspector, has been maintained in a state of great comfort by the diligence of the matron, and her staff of attendants and nurses. During the year ending March, 1896, 227 patients were under treatment at the institution, fifteen of whom died, and 196 were discharged, leaving sixteen remaining at that time. There were also 128 out-door patients, who received 656 attendances during that period. By the liberality of an old settler—Mr. Reid—who left a legacy of £5000 to the trustees within the last few years, which has been supplemented by handsome local subscriptions, on which a Government subsidy became payable, Wanganui District now possesses a splendid new hospital which is about being completed. It is situated about a mile out of the town, on the road to Castlecliff, and occupies a healthy, breezy situation on a sandy soil. The buildings, which are of red brick, present a fine example of the modern hospital, being constructed on the pavilion principle. In the centre stands the administrative building, with the men's medical and men's surgical wards on one side, and the women's and fever wards on the other. Both furnishings and fittings are complete and up-to-date in every detail, and the entire establishment is lighted by electricity generated on the premises. Mr. Atkins, a prominent local architect, designed the building, and has supervised the erection.

Miss M. E. Warmington is in sole charge of the Wanganui Hospital, having been appointed to the position of matron in August, 1894. Miss Warmington was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, and came to New Zealand via Melbourne, arriving in Wellington in 1883. In 1889 she went Home for a visit, and returned in 1891 per s.s. “Rimutaka.” Though contrary to the wishes of her friends, her love for the work of nursing induced her to enter the Christchurch Hospital, where she was trained, and in two years received the final certificate of competency. This was in 1893, and Miss Warmington then entered the Wanganui Hospital as a nurse. In May, 1894, the office of matron became vacant, and to the satisfaction of all, Miss Warmington was appointed on probation for three months. In the interests of the patients and sufferers generally the writer of this article made particular inquiries in all quarters as to the suitableness of Miss Warmington for this important position, with the result that he was convinced beyond all doubt that a more capable or popular officer could not be found. Miss Warmington has that rare capacity for managing without seeming to interfere, and her interest in the patients is so genuine that she is beloved by all. The authorities, the attendants, and the inmates are all to be congratulated upon this fortunate appointment.

The Patea and Wanganui United Charitable Aid Board exercises jurisdiction over the counties of Wanganui, Waitotara, Rangitikei, and Patea, together with the boroughs of Patea, Wanganui, and Marton. Prior to the coming into force of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act of 1885, this body was known as the Wanganui Benevolent Society. The members of the Board (1897) are:—Messrs. A. J. Parsons (chairman), A. Higgie, J. P. Lethbridge, J. Laird, E. Newman, W. Ritchie, J. R. Sommerville, R. K. Simpson, E. N. Liffiton, A. Simpson, J. Patterson, and J. A. McKenna; Mr. A. C. Ritchie acts as secretary. Besides administering relief in the district, the Board is responsible for the conduct of the Wanganui Old Men's Home, known as the Jubilee Home.

The Jubilee Home. The Wanganui Jubilee Home is most pleasantly situated on the banks of the Wanganui River, at a distance of some four miles above the bridge. Like many of the Wanganui institutions, it has a history of its own and by no means uninteresting. It was erected by Mr. Henry Churton for the purpose of a college for Maori girls. No expense was spared in its construction, and during Mr. Churton's lifetime it was by him liberally endowed, but the death of its founder in 1887, and the losses sustained by his estate, which, if accountable, were at least unsuspected, deprived the college of its support. Mr. Churton's philanthropic work finding no successor to carry it on, the inmates of the college were obliged to return to their homes, and the building became unoccupied, and gradually got out of repair. In 1892 the need for a home for the aged needy was urgently felt in Wanganui; indeed, some efforts had been made in this direction prior to that time, and a fund of some £220 was lying at interest, having been collected by the ladies of Wanganui for the purposes of a home. The old college was offered at that time for sale, and the officers of the Benevolent Board seeing its suitability for their requirements, made strenuous efforts to become possessed of it. Mrs. Treadwell, the treasurer of the ladies' fund, was appealed to, with the result that that sum was handed to the board, and application was also made to the trustees of the Fox memorial fund, which resulted in the handing over to the board the sum of £70. Thus nearly £300 was raised, which entitled the board to a bonus from the Government equal to twenty-four shillings in the pound. The negotiations with the executors in the estate of the late Mr. Churton had in the meantime resulted in the transfer of the college to the board for the sum of £555. This sum was paid over for its purchase, the balance of the money being devoted to the furnishing of the home. It is a beautiful home, standing in the midst of about three acres of grounds, the whole of which are used for lawns, flower-beds, and vegetable-gardens. It was erected at a cost of £2500, and, with the grounds, is worth at least £3000. Both the Wanganui people and the Board itself are to be congratulated upon its possession. The inmates number about thirty, and all do what they can to beautify their grounds, and to keep the building in a thoroughly healthy condition.