PURCHASED BY STATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 202, 27 July 1937, Page 9

PURCHASED BY STATE.

BOWEN STREET HOSPITAL. PURPOSE NOT ANNOUNCED. Per Pi’ess Association. WELLINGTON, July 26. An important deal in Wellington city property is the purchase by the Government of the Bowen Street private hospital and grounds, which are situated on the south side of Bowen Street, extending from the Turnbull Library to the Terrace. ' The property, which covers threequarters ot an acre, was owned by Mrs E E Herbert, widow of the late Dr W. E. Herbert. The price at which the property changed hands was £39,500. It has to lie handed to the Government on August 21. ~ , .. . Some perturbation is felt by medical men at the prospect of the early closing of the hospital because of the deprivation it means to those who arc prepared to pay for treatment in such a place and its handiness for cases of sudden illness in tlio business part of the city. , . It is understood that the Wellington branch of the British Medical Association is to approach the Government with a request for an extension of the life of this hospital in order that some provision of the kind may ho made elsewhere in the interests of tho public generiiilv. No statement was obtainable in Government circles to-day conconcerning the reported purchase ot tho hospital by the Crown.