Waihi Hospital

Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 12, October 1969

By Mary E. Williams, J.P.

In March 1902 Government approval was given for the establishment of a Hospital at Waihi. On 2nd April 1902 a public meeting was held for the purpose of electing nine Trustees, the following being appointed: The Rev. Father M. Brodie, The Rev. J. Olphert, Messes. D. Campbell, R. Newdick, W. R. Locke, J. Hind, Thos. Gilmour, A H. Benge, N.F.J. Haszard.

Two days later the Trustees held their first meeting and Father Brodie was elected Chairman and Mr. Benge agreed to act as Secretary. There was much discussion as to whether the Hospital should be built on a more central site for the whole of the dangerous Goldfields, Waikino being a favoured spot. But the high gold revenue accruing from the newly incorporated Borough hastened the decision and time has proved the wisdom of the final choice.

The Trustees acquired the land and in May 1902 Mr. R Bartley, an Auckland Architect, submitted plans for a Main Building of 20 beds, Nurses' Home, Boilerhouse, Fever Ward and Kitchen. Tenders were called and that of Messrs. Hutchinson and Salt was accepted. As part of a ceremony to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward VII, four Foundation Stones were laid on 9th August 1902 by W.H. Phillips Esq., Mayor of Waihi, the Rev. J. Olphert, Jackson Palmer Esq., M.H.R. and the Rev. Father Brodie. The opening ceremony was performed by the Premier, the Rt. Hon. R.J. Seddon P.C., L.L.D. on 17th May 1903.

Waihi was growing and it was soon found necessary to enlarge the institution. A new Operating Theatre was added in 1909, and an additional Men's Ward was opened in 1911. An extra room was added to the Nurses' Home in 1924, and electricity was installed throughout in July that year. Further alterations to the Hospital and the erection of a Maternity Annexe were carried out in 1940. Mr. K.M. Wrigley, a prominent citizen of Waihi, made a gift of a T.B. shelter to the Hospital, and this building was known as the "Wrigley Shelter". Mr. Wrigley also donated a wireless set for each Ward.

Extensive alterations and additions were made to the Maternity Block and those were opened by Mrs. M.E. Williams, Waihi District Member of the Thames Hospital Board on 8th August, 1935. A new Kitchen was built in 1954 in addition to alterations to the Men's Ward. In 1955 the Waihi Branch of the N. Z. Registered Nurses' Assoc. offered to raise funds for a Chapel at the Hospital and this was opened on 8th November 1958. The Women's Ward was modernised in 1956 and in 1961 a new Boilerhouse and Workshop was erected, in addition to improvements including a canopy at the main entrance to the Hospital, while in 1962 a Dayroom was added to the Women's section.

On 30th November 1937 the Waihi Hospital District was abolished and the Waihi Hospital came under the control of the Thames Hospital Board.

Statistics

(Note by the present Matron).

Arriving on a lovely summer day in February 1964, I found a "turn of the century" building, an old fashioned garden, and wards with a "family" atmosphere. Being a cottage hospital, and not a training school, makes for the patient, a homely environment not possible when he is likely to be regarded as a "case". The Hospital has been staffed mostly by the people of Waihi, many of whom are married women, who also have homes to look after.

The local organization and general public are wonderfully generous to "their" Hospital. Every year since I have been here, money has been raised by some interested group, or given by individuals. In this way thousands of dollars have been given in the form of equipment, comforts, and sometimes cash.

Improvements in the Hospital and the Staff Home, go ahead with every year, but we feel that the pioneers who built this Hospital have left a legacy for which many generations will be grateful. It is remembered too by past Staff. Miss Mary Worthington who trained here 1906 - 1909 and gave a life-time of service to others even after her retirement, died in 1963, but had arranged to have her Certificates and medal sent here and they are now held by the local Historical Society.

NOTE It is no exaggeration to say that a long line of outstanding people have served the Waihi Hospital, some of them famous in a wider field. We could instance the late Sir Carrick Robertson who became the leading surgeon in Auckland, senior at the Auckland Hospital and then Consulting Surgeon there as well as at the Mater Hospital. (His son is now one of the leading Neuro Surgeons).

Dr. George Craig, the father of our N.Z. writer Mrs. Alison Drummond, was a Gold Medallist of Edinburgh University. He had a distinguished career in the Army, serving in the Boer War and the 1st World War (after leaving Waihi). During the 2nd World War he was president of various Military Boards.

Colonel J. L. Frazerhurst also had an outstanding Military Career and spent many years abroad, but he gave phenomenal service in N.Z. (Tauranga, Whakatane, Whangarei and finally Hastings where he died at the age of 81 in 1954 - still practising).

Dr. McMurray Cole F.R.C.S. and his wife Dr. Elizabeth Cole truly identified themselves with Waihi and we quote a brief extract from the illuminated address presented to them: "It has been a privilege to be associated with you and we place on record our high appreciation of the magnificent work you have performed in Waihi during the past 7½ years".

Dr. McMurray Cole was a Senior Surgeon in Auckland Hospital when he died in 1946, and his son David (born in Waihi) is a leading Surgeon in the Cardio-Thoracic Unit at Greenlane. His wife still lives in Auckland. We realise that this story is incomplete and would welcome further anecdotes. Ed.

CONTRIBUTOR : MRS. MARY WILLIAMS J.P.

for the past 12 years has been the only woman member of the Waihi Borough Council, being Chairman of the Library Committee, and for 24 years the Borough representative on the Thames Hospital Board. She has been in Waihi for 36 years, is a J.P. and a trade union delegate for Electrical Workers Union at Akrad where she works for Pye on T.V. sub-assembly, checking control panels - the intricate mechanism that enables us to adjust our television sets at the turn of a knob.