TOWNLEY MATERNITY HOME

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2653, 8 November 1909, Page 2

TOWNLEY MATERNITY HOME

LAYING OF MEMORIAL STONE

Some two score persons assembled in the acre enclosure off Childer’s Road where the Elizabeth Townley Maternity Home is being built, to witness the official stone-laying ceremony on Saturday afternoon. The weather was beautifully fine, and a pleasing little function took place. ■ The memorial stone which was the subject of the ceremony, was a white marble slab inscribed in gilt lettering as follows:—“Elizabeth Townley Maternity Home. Erected by the C.C.W. •Guild. • Foundation stone laid by the 'Mayoress, Ida. E. Lysnar, November Gilt' 1909.” In opening the proceedings Mrs Lysnar said that she was pleased to be present for the purpose of lay in < T the stone for a Home which she was sure, would he greatly appreciated. Everybody must agree that the women’s Guild deserved great praise for carrying out such an undertaking .as the present one, and her hearers would be pleased to hear that it had been decided to attach to the stone the name of Mrs Townley, who had done so iniicii good in Gisborne (applause), llie Mayoress then touched the mortar with the little trowel provided for the purpose and declared the stone well and The Mayor Mr W. I>. Lysuar, made a short speedi, prior to which lie read the following telegrams sent to Mrs \ Scott, Secretary of the Guild, from those unable to be present at the ceren* “It would afford me very much pleasure indeed to be at the laying of the foundation stone, but regret it is absolutely impossible for me to do so on account of Parliament being m session at the time. King regards.—M Ward.” x . .. .. “In sincerely congratulating the people of Gisborne on the important work to be commenced by the laying of the foundation .stone . of the Maternity Horne I much, regret that my Parliamentary duties make it impossible for me to be present to assist at the function which I heartily wish every success This happy result is largely due to the energy,- perseverance and enthusiasm of those ladies who have been identified with the scheme since its inception, and whose work and devotion to the cause are beyond all piaise. J trust the institution will prove what it is intended to bo, that is a real honie, a comfort and blessing to many of the hard working and deserving settlers ol Poverty Bay. Kia Ora.—J. Carroll. “Wish you fine day, large gathering and every success. —Mrs A. G. Beere. “Telegram received, but I aruament beiim session I regret that it is impossible to comply with your request. Hope that you will have a successful function and that the Maternity Home will fulfil a useful purpose in the district. —Geo. Fowlds. ’ Mr Lysnar heartily congratulated the Women’s Guild on the progressive spirit they had shown m the mattei. The estimated cost of the budding they had undertaken to erect was £1548 Ins It would contain eighteen rooms and two wards, each, provided with four beds. There was to be also a children s purserv, and an isolation ward, the Borough Inspector (Mr. J. R- Little.; was the honorary architect, anck Mr. Geo. Smith was the contractor. I here was every reason to believe that as the stone that day had been “well and truly laid” so the building would be well and truly completed. With regard to the financial position, the Women’ slGuild had collected £BOO which it' is desired to make up to £IOOO, which with the £ for ,£ subsidy promised by the Government, would be sufficient to open up and start the home free of debt. The Guild was to be congratulated on the successful efforts of its secretary, Mrs Scott, in interviewing tho Minister at Wellington and getting him to agree to contribute the subsidy. A little more aid from the public of this town would put the home on a fine footing. Another important feature of the home would be the facilities afforded for the training of nurses. In the Go vernment home they charged a bonus of £2O and the nurses got no salary, but in this institute the fee would only he £lO, which would be satisfactory to those wishing to learn the particular branch of nursing that would be required there. Some.people had objected that the homo was too far out of town, but, added Mr. Lysnar, “if the burgesses show the same progressive spirit as the Women's Guild they will have a tramway to it by the time the home is finished. And perhaps this will be the penny section. (Laughter and applause.) After wishing the establishment every success : his Worship called for three cheers for the Home and three more for the ladies who had worked so hard and energetically for it. Mr. John Townley, in the course of a few remarks, said that if the Home only fulfilled half the useful purpose the promoters desired it would be a very useful institution indeed. Its purpose was one of the most useful possible, and there could be no higher, object than that of preserving the race. The speaker thanked the ladies’ committee for giving the Home the name by which it w:i> to be known. Mrs. Melksham, of the Salvation Army, said the scheme was a big one. But where there was a will there was a way, and when women made up their minds to conquer they generally did conquer. She thought the Home was going to be a blessing to the community. Councillor J. It. Kirk observed that during late years more ’attention had been paid to the humanities than formerly, and it was because' of this that, buildings such as these were started. The Late Mr. Seddon had inaugurated the St. Helen’s institution which had been most successful. Mr. Kirk was quite sure that in this Home they would meet with the same success. Or course the St. Helen’s institution was a State affair, but so much attention was being paid to the humanities nowadays that the women of the community had the opportunitv of sharing the responsibility in such matters. In this case the women decided to go ahead on their own, and then the State stepped in and gave them magnificent assistance.

The speaker suggested that in addition to the Home being known by the name of Elizabeth Townley there should be a “Mrs. Scott” ward and a ‘ Mrs. J. Maynard” ward. Mrs. A. Scott, the Guild secretary, thanked the people of Gisborne for their help, and Mr. McNab for tlie acre of ground the Government had given for the site. Thanks were.,.also due to the firm of Frank Harris and Co. for the stone that had just been laid; to Mr. Little, the architect; and to Mr. J. R. Kirk for legal advice. The starting of the Home, she said, would he marked as a stepping stone in the women’s cause. The woman that rocked the cradle needed earing for before the sons who used the gun, and the welfare of the unborn generation was also an all, important object towards which tlie institution would do its part. After the ceremony afternoon to aw as handed round among the guests. - r