1947 Centenary
In 1947, the Centenary of the establishment of the first General Hospital in New Zealand was celebrated. The photograph seen here is of the front cover of the souvenir programme. The celebrations included a Centennial Ball at the Town Hall, a service at St Paul's Cathedral, and a Staff Ball at the Hospital. A public Centennial Celebration was held at the Hospital on Monday 15th September, presided over by the Wellington Hospital Board Chairman, Mr H. F. Toogood. In the official souvenir programme, Mr Toogood stated that "...the Wellington Public Hospital is but one hundred years young." In a less-widely circulated report to the Board by Mr Toogood, he stated: "The four wards opened at that date (1881) are still in use, and, if in the near future it is decided to remove one or even the whole of them to make room for better and more useful buildings, there should be little adverse criticism after 67 years of use. The unfortunate fact is they are too substantial to fall down, and, until violently removed, will remain as unsatisfactory accommodation in terms of modern hospitalisation. May it not be a suitable centennial gesture to take steps towards improvement in this direction. ..."
Click the image to view detail in a larger version. (Use scroll bars to navigate)	Photograph courtesy Archives New Zealand / Te Whare Tohu Tuhituhinga O Aotearoa

1947 Centenary

In 1947, the Centenary of the establishment of the first General Hospital in New Zealand was celebrated.
The photograph seen here is of the front cover of the souvenir programme.

The celebrations included a Centennial Ball at the Town Hall, a service at St Paul's Cathedral, and a Staff Ball at the Hospital. A public Centennial Celebration was held at the Hospital on Monday 15th September, presided over by the Wellington Hospital Board Chairman, Mr H. F. Toogood.

In the official souvenir programme, Mr Toogood stated that "...the Wellington Public Hospital is but one hundred years young."  In a less-widely circulated report to the Board by Mr Toogood, he stated:
  "The four wards opened at that date (1881) are still in use, and, if in the near future it is decided to remove one or even the whole of them to make room for better and more useful buildings, there should be little adverse criticism after 67 years of use.   The unfortunate fact is they are too substantial to fall down, and, until violently removed, will remain as unsatisfactory accommodation in terms of modern hospitalisation.
  May it not be a suitable centennial gesture to take steps towards improvement in this direction. ..."

Click the image to view detail in a larger version. (Use scroll bars to navigate)

Photograph courtesy
Archives New Zealand / Te Whare Tohu Tuhituhinga O Aotearoa