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Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1925, Page 2

Hkc.iiuunu the Public Works estimates. the vote for the Hokitika Mental Hospital in IP2I-20 was £22,UbO, ol which £lo.Old were spent. The vote this year is £7.700. but against it are liabilities for £lll3. A large budding for patients is now completed almost, lint ii is understood it will accommodate not more than about -10 patients. It is believed there must be about b 0 patients in tile old gaol quarters which have liecu m use for some time. It was hoped these insanitary quarters could lie demolished, hut it is doubtful if such a course will be possible, as there will still be an overflow of about •ill patients. It will be wrong entirely if :l .score of patients have to be boused ill quarters which are plainly insanitarv. judging by the reclining cases of lever originating in that portion of the institution. The matter is one which should have the ictite attention of the aulmritics, nmv that it is plain that the building ] rogranime as far as it has gone is inadequate. Tt would appear that there is still a good deal to he done if the mental hospital is to he found satisfactorily in accommodation requirements for both patients and stall'. The buildings provided so far are appreciated very greatly, but to meet the full demands it is imperative that more accommodation on modern lines is required very urgently.

Tin: prospect of Westland being represented by a court at the monster exhibition at Dunedin in a couple ol months' time appears to have disappeared now that the support of the local lioroiigh Council has been withdrawn from the project. '1 lie cause ol the inaction is said to be the want of funds, there being £301) only pioniised towards the representation. It was fell by the majority of the nieml.ers of the Council that the amount was inadequate to make a creditable display, anil so the earlier promise was willidrav.il. In failing to be represented at the Kshibtiun I lie district is losing one of the best opportunities which could he pr.scnled to advertise tlitv attractions ol the district to crowds of oversea visitors, who. coining to sec the exhibition, will desire to travel further a lie Id mice they arc in the Dominion. ’1 hat desire would have been (lie object of Westland to gratify, aild by putting forward its attractions a great dea.l could have been done io draw aUcntiou to the district as a unique holiday resort. It would appear it is too late now to revise the decision of the Council, hut it- is deplored certainly, hccaii.se ol die loss of a golden opportunity to advertise the scenic wares of the district, which would be in so much favour with tonr-