Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Bother over bacon at Wairau Hospital
A patient makes a formal complaint about the absence of bacon in his breakfast at Blenheim’s Wairau Hospital, this week 110 years ago, as we take a flick through the archives. From the Marlborough Express, April 21, 1914.
A report regarding a complaint said to have been made by a patient who asked for bacon was presented to the Wairau Hospital Board yesterday by the Visiting Committee.
The allegation was that the patient wanted a rasher with an egg that his wife brought for him, and was told by the nurse that he could not have bacon unless he paid for it.
The Committee reported that the incident had been given a wrong rendition. The official dietary did not include bacon, and the nurse referred the matter to the sister in charge, who told her that it was not usual to supply bacon.
The patient was then informed by the nurse that if he supplied the bacon it would be cooked for him.
The Board accepted the explanation after Mr Neville had said that he failed to see any real difference between the two versions of the incident.
ALSO IN THE NEWSPAPER
A pitiful case of a young girl drifting from the path of righteous living was
brought before Mr F. O’B Loughnan at the Picton Court yesterday afternoon (states the Press).
A well-dressed, respectable looking girl, whose parents reside in Westport, was charged by the police with the theft of a silk blouse and also a dress basket, belonging to Nelson passengers on the Arahura last week, a case which was alluded to in our last issue.
The accused pleaded guilty to both charges, and the magistrate, who was sympathetically inclined, could not obtain from her any particulars of her previous life, what work she had undertaken, or how she obtained money for her steamer fares.
Her previous record had not been good, and Sergeant Hanson (who conducted the case) said there were three other charges of which she was suspected.
The magistrate said it was a very sad case, and he hardly knew what to do with her.
He did not like to send her to prison, and after consultation with the sergeant, he remanded her for one week, in order that inquiries might be made with the Salvation Army to see if a place could be found for her in Wellington.