WAKATIP DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 206, 19 April 1865, Page 2

WAKATIP DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

A committee meeting of the above was held in the Board-room, on 15th April. Present—Messrs Rees (president), Hallenstein, Haughton, Aylmer, Wright, Doyle, Eichardt, M'Redmond, and Milne. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Rees read the following report of the Finance Committee: — To the Committee of the Wakatip District Hospital. Your committee, in consequence of the resignation of'the honorary treasurer, Mr Thos Hood Brown, have examined the accounts to the 15th April (this day) and find the same to be correct. The balance now in hand is £304 7s 2d, subject to certain liabilities. The Government are due the Hospital £1,225 5s 6d, of which sum they have promised to pay during this month £SOO. The accounts are now very small, the expenditure for March being reduced to £ll2 3s ll|d. The subscriptions received since the 28th February amount to £3B 16s, for one-and-a-half months. The'previous average was much higher, but the rush to the West Coast has seriously affected subscription receipts. A Balance Sheet was submitted to the subscribers to the 31st December, at which date a balance in favor of the institution then existed of £591 16s 3d. This is to-day reduced to £304 7s 2d, cash in the bank. The actual position of the Hospital may be taken as follows, although the estimate is of a rather rough nature, in consequence of all accounts not having been called for:—■ Dr. .£ ■• d. To cash in bank - - - 304 7 2 Cr. By cheques due -£7O 0 6 „ accounts due (estd.) - 10 0 0 Cash in hand - - - 224 6 8 Amount due by Government. 1149 4 0 Total assets - - 1373 10 8 The Finance Committee recommend that local efforts be made to obtain subscriptions. The accounts, books, vouchers, &c, are ready to be handed over to the hon. secretary. W. G. Rees, President. P. Doyle. Wm. C. Koberts.

Upon the motion of Messrs Haughton and Aylmer it was resolved—" That the said report be adopted and presented to the general body of subscribers." A report from Dr Douglas was read concerning the ill condition of the well; stating that the water was unfit for use. The report was referred to the House Committee. Mr Rees stated that he had received a letter from Mr Clapcott, Provincial Treasurer, regarding the money due the Hospital, and promising to pay £SOO during the present month. The clerk reported that he had not received a letter from Messrs Warren and Hartwell. The committee then adjourned for the purpose of holding the general meeting. At the adjourned meeting, after the election of an hon sec and treasurer, a resolution was proposed by Mr Haughton—" That Mr Manders be requested to act as paid clerk until next meeting." Seconded by Mr Roberts and carried.

Spcial Gbnebal Meeting. The attendance numbered fifteen subscribers. W. G. Rees, Esq., in the chair. The following gentlemen were elected members of the committee without opposition:—Messrs Wright, Worthington, Hallenstein, Milne, Frasar, Eichardt, and Brookes. Mr Haughton proposed and Mr Brookes seconded Mr Roberts for the post of hon treasurer. A show of hands was taken and Mr Roberts declared duly elected, there being no opposition. The president, before proceeding to the election of an hon sec, said that they had to consider whether they could obtain a secretary who could do the whole work without the assistance of a paid clerk. He thought, however, it would be difficult to find one who would act thus. A discussion ensued regarding the terms upon which the paid clerk was elected, and finally it was proposed by Mr Beetham and seconded by Mr Aylmer—" That the words ' shall also do the duty of collector' be struck out in Rule 14." This was not put, as being irregular; the advertisement not having stated this as portion of the business .of the special meeting. The president said they need not give the clerk the bonus to act as collector. A Voice—We will not object to his collecting money without getting a commission. The President—Just so. The clerk's retention is a matter of £ s. d., and it was for the committee to decide upon that. If they could save £IOO a-year well and good, and it would be certainly of great value to the institution if they ran short of funds. It was decided to proceed to the election of a secretary without passing any resolution on the subject, leaving the matter to the committee. Proposed by Mr Aylmer—"That Mr Worthington be hon sec." Seconded by Mr Roberts. Proposed by Mr Haughton and seconded by Mr M'Redmond— ** That Mr Broad be hon sec." A lengthened discussion ensued regarding the election of an hon sec. Mr Beetham and others stated that Mr Worthington would be unable to attend regularly as hon sec, and would require the assistance of a clerk.

Mr Haughton and others advocated strongly the election of Mr Broad, as he had several times offered to perform the work without the assistance of a clerk. Mr Manders pointed out the duties of the hon sec would be very heavy, but that they could not well refuse the offer made by Mr Broad, and were bound, on behalf of the institution, to accept it. Another objection was raised and generally concurred in, that the residence of the hon treasurer at Queenstown and the hon sec at the Arrow would lead to confusion. Mr Haughton was of opinion that the minute-book should never leave the Hospital. After another discussion, a ballot was then taken. Messrs Aylmer and Wright were elected scrutineers. The following was the result:—L. Broad, Esq., R.M., 11; G. S. Worthington, Esq., 4. The meeting, after passing a vote of thanks to the chair, then adjourned sine die.

After the above, the House Committee sat, consisting of Messrs Rees, Haughton and Wright. The report of Dr Douglas on the well was read, and it was agreed that Mr Wright should inspect it. The removal of C. M'Nevin, patient, to Invercargill was left in the hands of Mr Hallenstein.

The Escort took down from Queenstown 1,343 ounces of gold, being an increase upon the last of 23 ounces. Even this small increase is a matter of congratulation, as it was generally expected that this escort would fairly disclose the effects of the recent exodus. The average is very high, when the population—by Mr Warden Beetham's returns—are considered, and which we believe, to a great extent, are truthful. We have been unable to learn the precise quantity sent from the Arrow, but are informed that it was something over 500 ounces. A man named James Liddell, a milk carrier was brought down to the Hospital during the time the general meeting was taking place on Saturday last, suffering from a fractured thigh in two places, a scalp wound, aud various contusions. DrEvison, one of the hon. surgeons, was on the spot, and rendered, in conjunction with Dr Douglas, the resident surgeon, every assistance; and we learn that the injured man is progressing as favorably as could be expected, considering the serious injuries he has received. The accident arose through Liddell being thrown from his horse, and dragged a considerable distance by his foot being held in the stirrup. The deputation represented by Messrs Bradshaw and Shepherd were unable to do anything in town in consequence of the unsettled state of the Ministry, who have since resigned. These gentlemen were empowered to bring before the Government various wants of this district. It will be observed by advertisement in another column, that Mr Manders has consented, in reply to a requisition, to stand as a candidate for Queenstown proper at the ensuing election of a member for the same.

In describing in our last issue the intended modus operandi in working Wilson's Beach, the word "reef" was substituted for that of beach. The ground is to be worked on the same principle as that of the celebrated Criterion Company's claim. The following remarks from the *Oamaru Times' cannot be applied to this district, for though wages are high they are paid regularly:— " A working man, referring to the proposal to establish cash payments, desires us to say that unless the wages of his class are regularly paid it will be impossible for them to pay ready money for their purchases, although he admits that it would be an advantage for them to be enabled to do so; and he states that even in regard to wages the system of credit more or less prevails. This we should think must be exceptional, as we understood that wages were always paid monthly; if not, it is of coarse out of the question to expect ready money payments by those who earn the wages. In short, the proposed plan, to be successful, must be general, and must be begun on a broad basis. The Melbourne * Age' of 24th ult says:—' The New Zealand, which has arrived at Hobson's Bay, is from Boston, en route for Lyttelton. She presents rather a novel appearance, having three funnels, and being housed nearly all over. At the same time there is no mistaking her sailing qualities, which, had nothing been told of her previous exploits as a blockade runner, must have spoken for themselves. Formerly, this vessel was the Alliance, built on the Clyde, and she gained great renown for having, owing to her extraordinary speed, made seven successful trips to Charleston. On the eighth, she was hemmed in and captured off the Savannah river, condemned at Boston, sold, and sent out to Lyttelton. She is 340 tons, 175 feet long, 30 feet beam, seven feet depth of hold, draws six feet of water when fully loaded, and is propelled with paddles, by engines of 260 horse power."

The Dunedin correspondent of the ' Oamaru Tunes, 1 of the 13th inst, speaking of the prospects of Ministers and of the late Provincial Secretary, says:—" Under any circumstances, I think it is a very general opinion that it is time Mr Dick returned to his post as one of our representatives in the real Parliament of the colony; and with regard to Provincial affairs, a desire is gaining ground that the present Ministry should be turned out, and Mr Dick is looked to as the man to do it"