THE Grey Riber Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY,JUNE 5, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1202, 5 June 1872, Page 2

THE Grey Riber Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY,JUNE 5, 1872.

From time immemorial, that is is to say from such time as is immemorial in Gold Fields matters, charity of the most profuse kind has been their characteristic. Whether a widow was left penniless, orphans were unprovided for, genuine distress of any kind was patent, a helping hand has always been found and the public have, in whatever quarter or colony it occurred,, come forward almost as one man. The noble benevolence that has been exhibited should put to shame the paltry doles that under similar circumstances have been dealt out in " settled districts," whether in the colony or elsewhere. In the support of hospitals miners have ever been most forI ward, and the liberal subscriptions that have come in for their support is evidence of the feeling that is existent. There are five hospitals on the Coast, viz., one at West port,Gharleston,Greytnouth,Hokitika,aud Robs, all of which are freely contributed to and are flourishing. , More than this they are, taking them as a whole, exceedingly well conducted. They have the services of the best medical men, they have the benefit of the advice of a large number of able honorary surgeons, and they are under the jurisdiction of zealous and competent committees. Every miner, wherever located, feels assured that should accident or disease overtake him, he will be properly treated and cared for within their walls, and the consequence is that the best earned ' popularity has been gained by the hospitals. But whilst to* the fullest extent admitting their usefulness as things' are at present, it cannot, be extended as far as should be. Without doubt patients meet with every care, are treated with all skill, and have every reason to bless the .various institutions at which they are relieved. At the same time, unfortunately, the series of. sufferers follow so fast that inmates cannot all stay as long as their necessities need. Convalescents, if other pressing cases come forward, must, as a matter of course make room for them, though very possibly quite unable to go to work 1 fur their living, or be able to do anything for a subsistence. Though a patient may be so far recovered from a broken leg, for example, as to go about on crutches, or even hobble along with a stick, he cannot shoulder a pick and shovel, neither can. he go down a shaft and take hi 3 turn at mining work. If he be recovering from a fever, he is equally uuable to do such labor ; but at the same time he may have no friends to fallback on when the hospitable hospital door closes on him. It is simply a matter of degree of need, and those most wanting must in common humanity at times eject those wanting. Convalescents, as the class to which we have alluded are termed, are in their most unfortunate state of illness or accident at the time when they achieve that position. They are something in the position of Mahomet's coffin suspended between earth atd heaven. They have escaped the higher mysteries of the latter, but are not capable of making a living on the former, that is to say, if they have to exist on the work of their hands* They became truly unfortunate, and it is somewhat surprising that more energetic steps have not been laken to relieve them. In the old country,' of late years, the subject has attracted considerable attention, and ;it the present time several convalescent hospitals, or rather refuges,! have been established. Miss Burdett Coutts, now Baroness Burdeit Coutte, but beat known

and revered under the first designation, has added to her interminable list of good works by taking an active part in their inauguration ; and in England now such institutions are being rapidly multiplied. We are not aware of any such existing in New Zealand ; we are sure that nothing of the kind can be found on the West Coast of this island. If ever there was a part of country where such was needed, and where greater blea&inga would flow from their initiation, wo havo not heard of it. The prevailing ailments in our hospitals aro either broken limbs, fevers, or rheumatism, and recovery from either of these must of necessity be slow. With reference to the first, it must be veiy evident that too great anxiety to be again at work may, and indeed must, in too many instances, lead to permanent deformity. Those getting up from a fever bed are so utterly prostrated as to require the tenmerest care and nursing, combined with stimulants and nourishment that few of the laboring classes have within their reach. Victims to rheumatism, in whatever shape it may show itself/have also a dreary time to look forward to before complete recovery is effected. It is not possible for present hospitals to do justice to all these patients, and we would suggest that the public should well consider their cases, with a view, in addition to those in existence, to the establishment of a Convalescent Hospital for the Coast. The expenses of such an institution would not be very great, and in such a cause surely Westland and Nelson might very well unite. The Nelson Provincial Council is sitting now, and the Westland County Council will meet in a week or two. These two bodies, by coalescing,, as in the case of the Greymouth Hospital, could do vast good, and would, by opening a shelter of the kind, earn the gratitude of scores of sufferers, who, though too well to remain in the ordinal y hospital, are still unable, owing to sickness or injury, to earn their own living. We commend the subject to the consideration of the charitable, and hope that shortly such action will be taken as to confer on the West Coa3t of tho Middle Island the high honor of being the first to establish a hospital for convalescents within the Colony of New Zealand.