PUBLIC MEETING AT BLACKS No. 1 (OPHIR.)

Dunstan Times, Issue 791, 15 June 1877, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT BLACKS No. 1 (OPHIR.)

A public meeting was lielcl at Gavan’s Shamrock Hotel, Blacks No. 1, on Tuesday evening last, to consider the affairs of the Dunstan District Hospital. Mr James Alexandra occupied the chair, and called upon Mr Geo. Faehe, Secretary of the Institution, to address the meeting. M r Facho said ; At the last meeting of the Committee of Management a letter from Mr J. Pitches was read, wherein the writer pointed out that certain dissatisfaction existed amongst subscribers to the Institution who lived in outlying districts, the ground of dissatisfaction being that they derived no direct benefit from the Eesident Surgeon or the Institution, and asked if the Committee of Management could provide some remedy. Well, after some considerable discussion, the Committee appointed their Treasurer and Secretary to wait on the Resident Surgeon and ascertain if he would and on what terms visit the Blacks district weekly, and attend subscribers as out-door patients. (Mr Fache here read the reply of the Resident Surgeon, but as the same was not acquiesced in we do not think it necessary to publish it.) He said the Committee had every desire to consult the views of subscribers in the outlying districts, but had, of themselves, no proposition to make. It was for the meeting to say if they agreed to the proposition of the Resident Surgeon, if not, he (Mr Fache) would ask them to make some suggestion. A deal of desultory talk hero ensued, resulting in the decision not to agree to the the proposition of the Resident Surgeon ; it was afterwards agreed upon—“ That if the Surgeon visited Matakanui and Blacks eveiy alternate -week, and attended to all subscribers of not loss than LI Is, on payment of half-a-guinea each ; and that all subscribers of not less than L2 2s had a right to specially call on the Surgeon to attend upon them at their homes on the payment of a half-guinea, and a mileage of shillings per mile. ‘ The district would subscribe a sum equivalent to the customary subscriptions, and a sum equal to extra amount to be paid to the Surgeon for his atteudance on the district.” Mr Fache said the proposition was one he thought would bo accepted by the Committee of Management, and that he would meet them again on Saturday after consulting with that body. The question of getting up a Concert and Ball and a Gift Auction in aid of the Institution was next discussed, and entered into most heartily. The opinion was that it would prove a most successful affair, and it was decided that a Concert and Ball in aid of the Institution take place at the School House, Blacks, on Friday, Juno 29, price of ticket ss, and that a Gift Auction be held on Saturday, the 30th of June, and that Messrs Gavan, Healey, Fitzgerald, Pitchet, Harrington, Alexander, M‘Endoe, M‘Donald, J. Glass, and G. Thompson be a Committee of Management, M. Fitzgerald to bo Secretary. The meeting then adjourned.