OUR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 350, 8 January 1869, Page 3

OUR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.

DUN.ST AN DISTRICT HOSPITAL. Perhaps no benevolent Institution on the goldfields has been of so much valuable assistance to the mining coin inunity, as the Dunstan District Hospital. It was established early in IBG3, at a time when sickness—owing to the exposure that miners were compelled to submit to—was more prevalent than now, and it is within the recollection of many persons resident in Clyde, when, from the effects of frost bite, cold, and exposure, some forty five unfortunates were driven to seek shelter and medical assistance within its walls. Happily such a state of affairs are numbered amongst the things that were, and fourteen indoor patients is now the common average. The diseases which they suffer from are however much more difficult of cure than in the early days of the Institution, while the number of fractures ai’ising from accidents in mining, are unfortunately very large, hut so far as medical science and good nursing is concerned, the Hospital is able to render all necessary assistance in diseases to which flesh is heir to. The mining community subscribe liberally towards the maintenance of the Hospital and seem fully alive to its benefits. It is managed by a Committee of thirteen, which includes a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and Treasurer, this body apparently manage the af fairs of the institution with co siclerable ability The funds are in a prosperous condition, and there seems to be every desire on the part of the com mittee to render every assistance to poor suffering humanity. The officers in charge of the hospital are, a Resident Surgeon, Matron, Wardsman, and Cook ; convalescent patients rendering all assistance in their power. The Resident Surgeon Dr. Char es Shaw, has been in office rather more than four years, and under his charge the Institution has maintained a high state of efficiency, and from what we could see, the general management was as perfect as could be desired The Matron and Wardsman appear to be admirable servants, a d beloved by the patients, upon whom they bestow as much kindness and attention, as if there existed some family tie. A patient in the Dunstan Hosp tal is equally as well off, if not better, than were he is in his own home, no mother could bestow more eare upon her child, than docs Mrs. M‘Arton, the Matron, upon unfortunate suffering humanity committed to her charge Everything is scrupulously neat and clean. The building is surrounded by a well kept garden, four acres in extent, having nicely gravelled walks, and a goodly number of trees planted at intervals about the grounds ,raake a promenade quite refreshing ; we could not help noticing one beautiful weeping willow presented to the Hospital some five years ago hy Mr. Cope, it is the largest English tree we had seen for many months past, its cool refreshing shade was quite delightful. The garden is watered by a branch, cut from the water-race, which supplies the Town of Clyde, but owing to the water being required by the settlers in the Wia TCcri Keri Valley, the supply to the Hospital has fallen very short of late, and the garden is not so bloomi g as we desired to find it. The main building contain three wards; a man’s ward, a female ward, and a ward for the Chinese, two of which are now in-; door patients. The Chinese live precisely the same as other patients, only that they consume a much larger portion of rice. In one case the smoking of opium is permitted ; it appears, that opium smokers can take no other stimulant.

The outbuildings consist of a kitchen stable, wash-house, dead house, batli house, and lumber room. There is ample provision for storing water, every drop of rain that fells upon the roofs is saved, and stored in tanks, capable of holding 1800 gallons. Taken as. a whole, the Dunstan District Hospital is a credit to the district, and worthy of all the support which the mining community can give it. In a few years we hope to see the present wooden building replaced by a substantial stone one ; with an energetic committee of management, this might easily be accomplished