DUNSTAN COMMONAGE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 430, 15 July 1870, Page 3

DUNSTAN COMMONAGE.

A public meeting was held at Hawthorne’ g - Clyde Hotel on Tuesday evening last, to take into Consideration the advisability of placing the Commonage under the control of a Comimttee, and to diseass other matters per taining thereto. There were not above twelve pefSOns present. Mr. M‘Connochie who was voted to the chair, explained the object of the meeting, after Which he called on the Secretary to the minutes meeting. The Secretary read the minutes, likewise a letter received from Mr. John Maokay, Inspector of Depasturing Districts. He then suggested that the legitimate course to snirsue would be to confirm the minute as read, and as there was but a very limited attendance, to adjourn the meeting. On the iuotion of Mr. Hastie, seconded by Mr. Holt, the minutes as real were confirmed. Mr. Feraud said he wished to propose an amendment- Clyde had the character of being one of the most intelligent towns in the Colony, and he hoped nothing would be done that evening which would in any way injure it The question under discussion was of great moment, andas there whs but a small attendance he would hiove that the meeting adjourn. The Chhirrain ruled that Mr. Feraud’s motion was no amendment, and put the original motion to the meeting, which was carried.

-A ft if A deal of talk it was proposed by Mr. Rvan, secondel by Mr. Attfield, That in the opinion of this meeting the Municipality is the proper body to have the contiol of the Commonage, and that the Mayor be requested to memori-dise the Government accordingly, such memorial to be extensively signed. Further discussion ensued, when it was unanimously agree I that the meeting be adjourned till Wednesday evening, at the same place, at 8 o’clock-. Several ge itlemen contributed towards paying expenses. The adjourned meeting took place on Wednesday'evening, at 8 o’clock. There was a very large attendance, the room being densely crowded. Air. M ‘Connochie was in the chair, aud briefly addressed the meeting, tie said he hoped the gentlemen present would confine themselves to the question that had brought them together, which was, to appoint a Committee to manage the Dunstan Commonage. Proposed by Mr. Ryan, seconded by Mr. Newell, That Mr. R. Barlow act as Secretary pro tem. Carried-. The minutes of the preceding meeting having been -read, Mr. Hazlett rose and said : With regard to the management of the Dunstan Commonage, he considered it would be better to form a Committee for tliat purpose. He was not singular in that ■opinion. Mr. Mackay, Inspector of Depasturing Districts, held similar views, and during his recent visit noted doxfn the names of several gentlemen whom he considered competent to act. He (Mr. Hazlett) considered that, until the Coiiirfionage wa* placed under proper superv.sion, a pound was perfectly unnecessary, and that this meeting ought to memorialise the Government on the -subject. He thought the establishment of a pound was premature, and that the appointment of poundkeeper was a most injudicious one. Mr. Hazlett than propose s That a Committee of seven be chosen by the meeting to take steps to have the Clyde Commonage placed Vlndef proper control. Seconded by Mr. Beck, and carried. A ballot was taken, resulting in the appointment of the following gentlemen;— Messrs. Welsford, Grindley, Holt, Fache, Beck, and M‘Connochie. Air. Hazlett said that, as a Committee had been formed, it would he desirable that such Committee proceed to discuss the business entrust d to them. The meeting closed with the usual vote 'of thanks to the Chairman, A meeting of the Committee of Management of the Clyde Commonage was slibsequontly held. Present: Messrs. Hazlett (in the chair), Grindley, Wellsford, M‘Connnchie, Beck, and Holt. Proposed by Air; Beck, seconded by Mf. Grindley, That a memorial be prepared and signed, requesting the Government to ap. point a Board of Wardens or a Committee of Management for the Clyde Commonage. Carried. There being no other proposition brought forward, the meeting adjourned.

DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL The usual monthly meeting of the Committee was held at the Town-hall, Clyde, on Thursday eveeing, the 7th inst. Present: Messrs. Grindley, Clark, Fache (in the chair), Marshall, Beck, Naylor, and Barlow (secretary): The minVites of the last meeting were read and confirmed, The outward coffespoivlence was read and approved. The inward, consisting of letters from Mr. M‘lndoe, Black’s, and Mr. G. Purton, St. Bathan’s, were read And received. The Visiting Committee’s report No. 2 recommended that salaries and accounts, as fol o\vs be passed for payment:—Salaries, £BO Is. Bd. ; provisions, £27 4s. 4J. : me lical comforts, £2 18a. fid. ; fuel and light, £1 16s. ; linseed meal, £5 12s. ; stamps, £1 ; interments, £3; making in all £124 12s. fid. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Naylor seconded by Mr. Clark, That the report of the Committee be adopted, with the exception of the item linseeed meal, and that the account be referred to the Visiting Committee to report thereon. Carried The T eisnr.T npovtel suhscriprions for the month to be £35 2s. 4d. ; paying patients, nil; Government subsidy due, £399 16s. Bd. ; balance due to bank, £490 Is. The report, on the motion of Mr. Marshall, seconded by Mr. Tv ay lor, was adopted A cheque b r the sum of £4 3s. 4d.,j as Collector’s salary for March, in favor of Mr. Milburn, was laid on the tab’e. The Treasurer wished to know what he was to do with it. Resolved, That the cheque be not paid unless Mr. Milburn claims it, as this Committee considers he di 1 no work for the money. The following letter from the Agent of the Bank of New South Wales was read and received : “ Gentlemen, —I beg to point oiit to you that the Dunstan Hospital’s account is now £53 6s. 7d, overdrawn in excess of Government subsidy due, and exceedingly regret having fo inform you that I have received instructions to secure the subsidy now payable in order to cover the overdraft, and after the receipt of such payment to keep the account in credit. A. Christophers, Agent.” Proposed by Mr. Grindley, seconded by Mr. Hueston, That this meeting, at its rising, be adjourned till Monday the 11th inst, for the purpose of considering the letter, and the financial position of the Institution generally. Carried. The Resident Surgeon’s feport, as follows, was read and adopted : Patients in the House on first June, nine; admitted during the month, four; dischargd, cured, or relieved, four; died, two; remaining in the Hospital on -30 th June, seVen < aily average number of patients, eight and a half. The patients admitted weM from the following places : —Alexandra, one ; Dunstan Creek, one; Bannockburn, one Tinker’s Gully, one. The two patients who died were Robert Gordon and Charles Rock. The Collector reported that during the month he had visited Alexandra, Low’s Station, Black’s, St. Bathan’s, Welshman's Gully, Drybread, and Tinker’s Gully, and bad received promises of subscriptions from all of those places. In each district gentle' men had taken charge of lists, with the intention of canvassing. Mr. Pyle, of St. Bathan’s, had kindly promised to give an exhibition of his dissolving views at Clyde and Cromwell, for tke benefit of the Hospital, Received. Mr. Barlow was requested to write to Mr. Pyle, thanking him for his kind offer. Mr. Grindley stated that the Resilent Surgeon desired to cultivate tha upper portion of the grounds around the residence, and wished to be informed whether, in the event of his paying a gardener’s wages for the purpose, the Committee would consent to his boarding in the Institution. Proposed by Mr. Beck, seconded by Mr. Marshall, and carried, That the matter be referred to the Visiting Committee, with power to act. A discussion ensued as to whether the services of the cook could not be dispensed with, on account of the small number of patients in the institution. Resolved, That the Visiting Committee be requested to make inquiries, and to report thereon at the adjourned meeting. Mr. Fache was elected a member of the Visiting Committee. Mr. Marshall asked to be al'owed to adjourn the consideration of the notice of motion standing in his name till Monday, the 11th inst. Granted. The meeting then adjourned, An adjourned meeting 'of the Committee was held in the Town-hall on Monday evening, the 11th inst. Present: Messrs Pyke (President), Fraser (Vice-president), Clark, Grindley, Naylor, Marshall, Feraud, Rev. C. S. Ross, Beck, anil Dr. Burrows. The President having explained the object of the meeting (to consider the letter received from the Agent of the Bank of New South Wales, read at the previous meeting, and the financial condition of the Institution), called upon the Secretary, who re-read the Agent’s letter. Proposed by Mr. Fraser, seconded by Mr. Beck, That the Treasurer be instructed to pay the subsidy at present' due to the Dunstan Hospital to the account of the Institution, at the Bank of New Zealand, Alexandra. Carried. In reply to the question aa to the duties of the Cook, the Resident Surgeon stated that it was his opinion that his (the Cook’s) services ought not to be dispensed With at present. , After considerable discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hazlett, seconded by Mr. Fraser, That the services

of the Cook be dispensed with, and that the Wardsman and Matron be instructed to perform the same. Mr. Marshall stated that he would like to withdraw the resolution standing in his name .for the purpose of bringing it up in an amended form at a future meeting. The business being finished, the meetin separated after having accorded a vote < [ thanks to the Chairman,