KUMARA HOSPITAL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2607, 14 January 1885, Page 2

KUMARA HOSPITAL.

SPECIAL MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS. Pursuant to notice given, a largely attended meeting of subscribers to the local Hospital was held in the Town Hall last evening. The object of the meeting was to receive a statement of accounts to date, and to nominate gentlemen to form a new committee of management for the Hospital for the remainder of the financial year, or about six months, the annual meeting being by the Rules of the institution appointed to be held on the first Tuesday in July. Mr D. Hannan (late Mayor) was asked to preside. The Chairman remarked that all present were no doubt aware of the nature of the meeting ; they all knew some little bickerings had taken place ; he hoped they would now forget all these, and pour oil on the troubled waters. —[Hear, hear.] He thought it would be well if a few fresh members were elected on the new committee. He would now call upon the Secretary to read the half-yearly balance-sheet. Mr L. J, Spyer (Secretary) then read the balance.-sheet for the half-year ending December 31, 1884, at which time there was an overdraft at £lO9 9s 9d ; but the September and December Government subsidies were then due, which left a credit balance to the Hospital funds of £75 Os 9d. The balancesheet was duly certified to by the auditors, Messrs J. Pearson and J. O’Hagan. In reply to a question from the Chairman, the Secretary stated that there was no report. Mr Burger wished, in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, to state how it was the Committee resigned. It was because the minority would not abide by the ruling of the majority. The only thing he regretted was the way in which he minority resigned, more particularly did he regret the conduct of the Chairman, at the opening of the last ordinary meeting of the Committee, and who was also Treasurer. It was childlike for him to resign, and leave the Committee in the way he did. It seemed to be the wish of some to throw up the management of our local institution. He believed so sure as the management was taken over by the Government, so sure would the community lose the benefits derived from a local institution, and we should have to send patients to Hokitika or Greymouth. The management had been fairly conducted, and there was between £7O and £BO to the good. He believed there were plently of subscribers present who were well able to carry on the business of the Hospital.— [Hear, hear.] He moved that the balance-sheet as read, be received. Mr Wooldridge seconded the motion. Mr Compbell said he had no intention of saying a single word, bat he thought it very much out of place for Mr Burger to make the remarks ho had. He (Mr Campbell) had been seven years a member of the Hospital Committee. As matters stood at the present time, he could see there was no other way out of the difficulty but to take the action they had, and leave the matter in the hands of the subscribers. There must be a united committee. He hoped the institution would bo carried on successfully, and hoped those present would assist in future operations. Mr Hope stated that he believed he was the first to advocate the resignation of the committee, and he had staled positively the eight majority would resign.

Tin: balance-sheet was then adopted. Mr Campbell now moved—" That it is the opinion of this meeting; that only nine members be elected to form the iueomiug committee." He thought it had beoir proved tliul liuiUseu wa»» a

very cumbersome number. Many sal - scribers had mentioned the subject to him. It was for the subscribers present to say how many should be on the new committee. Mr James Woods seconded the motion. Mr Nicholson was opposed to any alteration in the number of members. It was a very large district, and thirteen members he thought were neces- ■ sary. Mr Burger was d eeidedly opposed to alter the Rule in this respect. Let the rules remain until subscribers chose to alter them. Thirteen was a small enough committee ; especially was this noticeable when any entertainment was got up for the Hospital. He feared there "was something at work in the background, and if they were not care- , fill they would find it out too late. The Chairman did not see why subscribers could not regulate the number of the committee. He considered that if a resolution were brought forward that no committee should be elected, the subscribers present would have perfect right to say so. Mr Campbell, in reply, said that nine would be more workable than thirteen; that was the number they had in the Borough Council, and all they had in the County Council. He knew of a Hospital Committee in this colony, having thirteen members, but five constituted a committee over the others, who could be appealed to. Subscribers have it io their own hands. The motion was put and lost. Mr Janion said he had much plea* sure in moving the customary vote of thank 3 to the out-going committee. Many of them had worked well and assiduously for the benefit of the hospital in collecting subscriptions, in acting on the House Committee, and various other ways, and it would be a matter of regret if they should ever have it to say that they received no thanks. There were many who were highly deserving of the thanks of the subscribers.—[Applause.] The Chairman seconded the motion, which he thoroughly approved of. The motion was put and carried unanimously. It was then resolved that nominations for the new committee be received up to 10.30 p.m. Mr Burger moved—" That every holder of two ten shilling tickets be entitled to two votes." Mr Sellarß seconded the motion. Mr Campbell supported the motion. He did not know whose fault it was that this course was not taken at previous elections. On the motion of the Chairman Messrs Nicholson and Burger were appointed to act as Revisers of Roll to be used for voting. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. 1