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An additional large room adjoining the post-mortem room was fitted
up likewise for post-mortem purposes, mechanical ventilation being
installed. Modern cold chambers of the Kelvinator make were installed
to hold 9 bodies, and these have subsequently been increased to 15.
There is nothing now to offend the sensibilities of the most sensitive
person who may visit these premises, and the viewing arrangements
are so devised that one who views a body need see no other. Finally
a beautiful chapel has been designed and provided with catafalque and
other furniture appropriate to its objects. An oak wall plaque presented
by Councillor Vanderpant indicates that the modernization and reequipment
of the whole premises took place during the mayoralty of the
Rev. E. St. George Schomberg. The Council has expressed warm
appreciation and thanks to Mr. Vanderpant for his invaluable assistance
and advice in replanning the whole premises and bringing it up to date
and in particular for the ideas which resulted in a chapel of so beautiful
a design.
In reviewing the duties of the staff the committee considered it most
important that in this type of work there should be reasonable off-duty
time. The arrangements whereby there was a mortuary keeper and one
assistant entailed abnormally long periods of duty. Accordingly the
post of superintendent of the coroner's court was established as a staff
appointment and applications were invited from senior non-commissioned
officers in the medical branches of the Services. A late chief petty officer
of the Royal Navy was appointed in July, 1933. For the present he
resides in a flat over the court rooms, while his first assistant lives in a
flat in the neighbouring block of the council's new dwellings and the
second also in rooms provided by the council. The mortuary services
must necessarily be available at any hour of the night or day throughout
the year. Although the resident population of the City has greatly
decreased, yet there is no corresponding decrease in the number of
accidental or unnatural deaths which take place within the City boundaries.
The staff now increased to three ensures that there will always be at
least one person on duty while allowing adequate leave for the others.
The committee also considered it desirable that the last offices in the
case of females should be performed by a woman, preferably a trained
nurse, and this proposal has been carried out. A trained nurse attends
for this purpose.
A descriptive article by B. S. Townroe, Esq., B.A., etc., dealing with
the Court and Mortuary as now constituted appeared in the Municipal
Journal for 5th January, 1934, and by kind permission two photographs
taken for that article arc here reproduced.