The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, March 2, 1864.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 88, 2 March 1864, Page 4

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, March 2, 1864.

We regret exceedingly to see that the Hospital is not in such a flourishing condition as it ought to be. We regret still more that this arises not from that chronic disease to which charitable institutions are so often liable, viz., a dearth of funds, as it does from an utter want of care on the part of those to whom charge has been committed. In a former number we called attention to the meeting recently held at Frankton, but other matters than those we treated of at that time are worthy of being laid before our readers.

When requested, the Government willingly stepped forward to the assistance of the people of this field, and granted a handsome subsidy. There is, however, in existence au Ordinance known as the " Hospital Ordinance, 1862," by which the Government very properly reserve to themselves the right of enforcing certain rules in reference to the administration of the affairs of the building. By section 10 of that Ordinance it is, inter alia, declared that a public meeting of contributors shall be called once every year in the month of January, in such manner as shall be prescribed by the rules made by the subscribers. By section 2of the rules framed in accordance with the above enactment, it is provided that the Committee shall be elected at the annual meeting in January. And by the 15th section of the same rules it is declared that the honorary secretary shall, under the direction of the Committee, call such meeting. It is plain, under these circumstances, if the Board neglect to call a meeting in terms of the Ordinance and the rules, that they actually cease to have any control whatever over the Hospital. By not calling the meeting as they ought to have done they have virtually disfranchised themselves, and the only legal authority from the last day of January until now in the Frankton Hospital, was, and is, Dr. Pelley. There was a strange inconsistency in the somewhat intemperate manner in which some of the members of Committee held up to view, and flourished in the faces of those opposing them, the rules which they themselves had first broken, and then rendered inoperative. It must have been, in truth, a somewhat sad spectacle to see respectable men, who had given their services gratuitously at some expense, and great trouble to themselves, in such an awkward position. One gentleman called the attention of the meeting to the fact of the dereliction of duty on the part of the Board, and informed them that they had by their own actions put it out of their own power to suspend Dr. Pelley. We do not see how the thing is to be rectified, as a resignation of the whole Committee and officers would not put an end to the dilemma. We trust, however, that a meeting of subscribers will be immediately called to save any of them the trouble of appealing to the Government.

We wish it to be distinctly understood, that we are not going into a discussion as to the truth or untruths of the charges against the Resident Surgeon. Nor are weactingas that gentleman's apologists. If he has infringed the rules he is certainly deserving of censure, and persistent violation of them would unfit him to continue in his position notwithstanding his undoubted professional skill, and the extraordinary personal affection and confidence

entertained towards him by the patients. The Resident Surgeon is the head of the institution, and irregularities of conduct on the part of that officer must, of necessity, demoralize and render careless all those hold" ing office under him. In all the circumstances, we must say, that the vote of thanks to, and confidence in the Committee, was surely a practical joke on the part of its mover.