ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 420, 26 April 1879, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

THE PATIENT, PETER OLSSEN. (To the Editor of the Patba Mail.) Sin, —In your issue of the 19th instant, you, in your comments upon an extract from the Wanganui Chronicle, refer to a man whose name is not given, suffering from an injury to his hand caused by a saw, whose wife has been laid up with a broken log, which he believed was badly set, and conclude thus —“Wo are inclined to-think the Chronicle, in its endeavour to do this County a good turn, has mixed np the names of places, and substituted Patea for another town.” Unfortunately, I believe the Chronicle is correct in the name of the C.pimty, as the description tallies with the case ot a man named Peter Olssen, who is well known here. I saw him about ten clays aga, and he- told me he intended to go to the Wanganui Hospital, as he did not think he was getting properly treated here. -This unfortunate

case gives greater force to what I stated at the last meeting of the County Council that I had the honor of attending, when I unsuccessfully tried to persuade the Council to close the Patoa Hospital and send the patients to Wanganui. Without at all wishing to make any reflection upon the professional skill of our local doctors, it stands to reason that patients will get better advice in Wanganui than here, for while in this County there are only two, or at the most three doctors, in Wanganui Isupposc there are a dozen, without counting those belonging to Rangitikei and Manawatu, who are often in town, and “ in a multitude of counsellors there is widom.” Besides this, by adopting the scheme proposed by the Wanganui Borough, that the Counties of Patoa, Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawatu, with the Borough of Wanganui, should all send their patients to one hospital, an institution could be supported worthy of the name of a hospital, with proper attendants, wards, appliances, &c.; while a hospital at Carlyle would be at the best only an apology, the County not having funds to maintain such an institution properly, and we should always find many patients who would, as now, go to the Wanganui Hospital instead of the one at Carlyle, The same objection may be raised, as was raised by some members of the late County Council, that it would show a great want of humanity to close our hospital, and if a poor fellow broke his leg, have to send him to iVanganui. But Ido not think this objection will stand criticism, as it is only when an accident happens in Carlyle or its immediate vicinity that a patient will not have to come some distance in a conveyance; while if an accident happens at Waitotaraor Hawera, he will have to travel about 20 miles. As soon as. if not before, the proposed new hospital at Carlyle is open, there will be railway communication between Waitotara and Wanganui ; a section is promised shortly to Waverley, and I have no doubt the line through the County will be pushed on with all possible despatch, which would reduce the difficulty of sending onr patients to Wanganui to a minimum. But until the line is opened, there are plenty of easy vehicles, as buggies, &c., that could be hired, as occasion required, to take the patients to the nearest railway station, as the short extra journey would be more than compensated tor by the superior accommodation, &c,, in Wanganui. In

conclusion, I would submit these remarks to the consideration of the Patea County Council, asking thorn to lay aside all local prejudices, and also to ponder upon the failure of the Rangitikei Hospital, before they go to any expense in building a hospital here. I feel sure of this, that if a poll of the ratepayers was taken, they would decide in favour of Wanganui.—l am, &c.,

GKO. S. BRIDGE. Waverley, April 22nd, 1879. [We do not agree with Mr Bridge with regard to the Patea County joining Wanganui in Hospital affairs. There are many reasons why wo should stand alone, the chief being that the Wanganui Borough Council made the admission of patients from tins County conditional on there being sufficient accommodation in their Hospital. Far better have our own institution than be placed in such a position, for it would not be at all pleasant, after sending a patient all the way to Wanganui, to find no room could be found. Then again, patients from Havvera, Normanby, and the Mountain Road, could not be sent such a distance—perhaps, in some cases, they could not be brought as far as Carlyle—without entailing great expense on the County, besides being a fearful torture to the sufferer who was unfortunate enough to be subjected to such treatment. All things considered, we think the Patea County Council have acted wisely in deciding to erect a suitable Hospital building, as even supposing the offer of Wanganui had been accepted, an apology for a Hospital would undoubtedly be required ; and instead of the apology, the County may as well maintain something substantial.—Ed. Mail. o WAVERLEY TOWNHALL. (To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, —Your reporter is evidently laboring under a mistake when he says there is some misunderstanding about the site for the above Hall, as it was decided at tine meeting that Mr Sicely’s offer should be aecepted. Your reporter must surely be leaning with the few who were disappointed because Mr Gallant’s offer was declined* and which few intend, I believe, to raise some objection at the meeting tomonow evening. What a pity (hey cannot all have it opposite their own door.—l am &c., SHAREHOLDER. Waverley, April 23rd, 1879.