The Evening Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 828, 9 December 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. MONDA Y, DECEMBER 9, 1878.

There are times more propitious than others for vibrating the chord of charity which is present in the breast of almost ©very man, but which, muffled by the deadening influences and turmoil of everyday life, remains passive until aroused by some special effort of circumstance. We therefore take advantage of this occasion to announce that the new ward of the Oamaru Hospital is almost finished. Its erection has been necessitated through the increased and increasing demands upon this institution by those who are visited by sickness, and who are necessitated to seek relief within its walls. Although the expense of maintaining the Oamaru Hospital is growing apace, donations for its support are not growing in a similar ratio. The announcement that the amount of subscriptions received from all sources during the past year make a total of barely L3OO will probably be received with some surprise by the people of this district. They will wonder how so many patients as those that have been admitted into the Hospital during the year have been attended to, and that institution otherwise supported for the sum of L6OO, which is the total amount that has been received, reckoning the pound-for-pound subsidy from the Government. It has only been done through the exercise of cheese-paring that can scarcely be considered desirable although compulsory. We would not for one moment cast the slightest reflection upon the management of the Hospital Committee. It is well known that they have performed wonders with the funds at their disposal. But thoy cannot perform impossibilities ; and it would be an impossibility to work the Oamaru Hospital efficiently on LGOO a year or thereabouts. Long ago, when the strain upon their institution was not more than half so severe as it is now, they could command this sum, and the time has arrived when the Committee might be pardoned for expecting an increase of at least 30 per cent, in their income. Who are answerable for the meanness of the Hospital funds? A glance at the published list of subscriptions will afford an answer to this question. We take this opportunity of making an appeal to the public on behalf of the Hospital Committee for pecuniary aid. If those who do not now subscribe would contribute thensupport to the institution, however small their amounts might be individually, in the aggregate a sum would be realised that would enable the Committee to perform their functions more satisfactorily, whilst the donors would be sensible that they had done their'duty by rendering sweeter the bitter cup of the sick and afflicted.