THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1866.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 148, 22 December 1866, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, DECEMBE R 22 , 1866.

We regret exceedingly that we find it again necessary to draw public attention to the very unsatisfactory state of tlic finances of tlie Hospital. We are assured that unless some public effort be made to increase '■■ the resources of the Institution, the Committee will be compelled if not to close the Hospital altogether, at any rite to limit its usefulness very material \\ We learn that the Institution is very much in debt; that the subscriptions have fallen to a lamentably low point; and that the hospital is full of patients and likely to continue so if the number of appli sitinns for admission is maintained. It is impossible that with a load of debt on their shoulders the Committee can continue to keep up the Hospital on its present scale, unless some probability is presented of a revival in the funds of the institution. And it is only by a strong public effort that they can hope to restore tlic finances to a satisfactory condition, as ordinary means have been tried unsuccessfullyIt unfortunately is often the case that institutions likes the Hospital are brought to the very eve of a collapse before they enlist that encouragement from the public that their usefulness deserves. It is apparently the case with regard to the Grey Hi vcr Hospital — at least it is quite certain that this institution is in a very languishing condition, and will und^ubtedl) T come to a disastrous col l.ipsc unless the inhabitants generally rouse themselves to prevent it. The principal cause of the unsatisfactory position of the Hospital is the almost entire cessation of subscriptions in the up-country districts. Gradually the receipts from the mining population have fallen oil" until now they are scarcely appreciable. No doubt this is a good deal owing to the very unsettled state of the miners dm ing the last few months, and the absence of any regular organised means for collecting donations in the country. But it is also largely due to the shameful indittlivnce of the mining community generally to the claims of an institution the chief services of which are. devoted to the comfort and .relief of the diggers themselves. We have so often endeavored to arouse something like a proper feeling amongst the miners with regard to the Hospital and apparently with no effect, that avc almost despair of being able by anything we can say to bring about an improved state of things. It is a singular circumstance that a body of men who in their relations amongst each other, and in their daily life, are noted for their liberality and open hearted ness, should manifest such apathy in the cause of the Hospital. Sickness and suffering amongst them has been relieved and cured, and the lives of many of the miners have been saved through the instrumentality of this institution, and yet there appears to be no desire on the part of the mining population to support the Hospital by an adequate contribution of their earnings. We would just tell each of our mining readers to ask himself if he would like when taken ill, or when suffering from some accident, to find the doois of th« .Hospital closed? And yet there is none amongst us who can assure himself that he will not need the comfort and attention during illness that are .supplied by the Hospital, and in fact are only to be found there in the present social state of the town. This is the light we would desire everyone to regard the claims the Hospital lias on their purses; Let each man look at the possibility of the services of tha institution being

> brought into requisition on his own account, and then we. arc sure none can conscientiously {withhold his contribution. We would also recommend the Committee to adopt some of those sup. plementary means of raising money which are successful elsewhere. The Christmas season is a favorable time for matters of the kind, and we would strongly urge that advantage be taken of the holidays in some way or other. Quite recently the Dunstan Hospital Committee raised a very considerable Bum by means of an auction bazaar.