THE HOSPITAL QUESTION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 146, 15 December 1871, Page 5

THE HOSPITAL QUESTION.

(To tke Editor of ths blotsxt Ida Chronicle.

Naseby, 11th Dec., 1871. Sin, —If outside reports be true, there exists at the present time, among the members of the Hospital Committee, great difference of opinion as to a site tor the building. 'Some of the members are said to be inclined to the 'purchase' of an improved residence area; others .to the taking up of a piece of unimproved proved ground, and applying for it for hospital purposes. There can be no doubt that the latter mode is the better one, provided always that the site selected be an religible one. It seems, however, to me that the most available sites (bearing in mind that no resident hospital staff is contemplated) are already in the hands of private individuals either as freeholds or as residence areas. Now, Sir, there are but, two pieces of ground, in the immediate vicinity of this town, .which are at present held as "reserves," both of which are admirably adapted for the purpose of an hospital sit 3. Start not, when I in the first place mention the cricket, or, rather, the recreation ground, which is at the present time seldom or ever used for use purpose whatever, and with the use of which lor the purposes of recreation the erection of an hospital would in no way interfere. The second place to which I would desire to draw attention is the ground known as the "Camp Reserve"—in other words, the police buildings. Now, Sir, this site is, to my

mind, it he, best in the town—or, perhaps, rather the suburbs - of Naseby and why it should be taken up and occupied for police and gaol purposes I am at a loss to imagine. We all know, Sir, that police and gaols are necessary evils, but I for one cannot see why they should be allowed to hold the prominent position they at the present time do in this place. Surely there are a number of places around this town quite good enough for police purposes, and the farther out of sight the site be thebetter, so long, as it is within easy access.

If what I have stated be true, and tlie Hospital Committee are in a fix as to the selection of a site, then it is possible that my suggestion may help them out of their difficulty. To the first site - the recreation ground — there might be and, I dare say, would be objections raised; to the second—the Camp—-I feel sure there would be none, but that, on the contrary, the entire population

would hail the selection as being the very best that, could be made, while at the same time it would be had for nothing. Let the matter be properly agitated, and placed before the Government in a plain, fair, and straightforward manner, and I feeL certain, that the removal of the Camp to some equally good but less valuable site would be speedily accomplished;-—I am, &c., ON LOOKER