HOSPITAL MEETING.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1078, 27 August 1883, Page 2

HOSPITAL MEETING.

A public meeting to consider matters in connection with the Hospital was held in St. Janies’ Hall on Friday evening, but at the hour appointed there, were only about a dozen gentlemen present, this small attendance being doubtless accounted for by the inclement state of the weather. Mr R. A. Adams, the chairman of the Committee, was voted to the chair, and retid the notice calling the meeting. He did not know if it was advisable to go on with such a small attendance. Of course it lay with those present to postpone the meeting till sometime next week, or proceed with the business. Mr Williams felt sorry that there was such a small attendance, still he did not think it wise to postpone this meeting, so he would move that they go on. Mr Lett would oppose anything being done that night. He. would move an amendment that they adjourn. The Chairman was in favour of going on, but he did not think it would be advisable to elect the Committee of management that night. Mr Sherwood thought they could effect a compromise in the matter. He thought that the report of the Committee could be read, also any communications that had been received. He would suggest that that being done, the meeting be adjourned for the express purpose of meeting again to elect a committee. He thought that if the report of the committee became public property through this meeting, they, would have done all they could. In taking such a course as he suggested they would not commit themselves. Mr Williams, after the remarks of Mr SherwOod, thought it would be better to carry out the ideas that gentleman expressed. The Chairman thought they could go on with the matter of keeping the Hospital open with confidence. He thought the people had responded liqerally considering the hard times they were having. The estimated revenue was £350, and to reduce it by 80 per cent would bring it down to about £250. Hehad heard a good deni about the Hospital not being habitable; so he went there and found that it was not nearly so bad as stated; The upper part was, as they were all aware, not quite finished. Hawera and other places had an idea that the hospital here was a sort of wildnerness with the wind howling through in all directions. The fault was that the timber had been used before it was properly dry, but if the walls were papered that would be remedied. The Hon. Secretary agreed that this was scarcely a representative meeting, and he thought they should stop short at receiving the report. He read as follows: REPOUT OF COMMITTER APPOINTED ON 16th July. The Committee appointed at a public meeting Indd on the 16th July last to make enquiries respecting the possibility

of continuing iW maintenance of the P,.t,t>a Hospital have now to report that hrirn>‘(li:i!<‘ steps were taken to canvass th ■ di-diLt, subscription lists having b«< n extensively circulated, ami circulars sent to local bodies and to a number of residents in the district, in addition a personal canvass has been made in Patea by Mr Baldwin which ' has been responded to in a liberal manner by nearly all who have been appealed to; the Commit lee therefore' accord to Mr Baldwin the credit of having obtained the bulk of the subscriptions, a list of which is appended. With respect to the appeal to various local bodies the only one which has guaranteed support to the Hospital is the Patea Borough to the extent of £SO. The Hawera local bodies slate that they prefer to send patients to New Plymouth ; the Patea County Council and the Waverley Town Board have not replied. Several subscription lists have yet to come in, but from those to hand it is estimated that at least £250 is now guaranteed. A telegram has been received from the Government in reply to a letter addressed to them. The favourable contents of this telegram, the satisfactory result of the canvass and the further probability that the Patea County will contribute at least a like sum to the Patea Borough, in the opinion of the committee, folly justify them to recommend that the Hospital be taken ovef as soon as possible, and placed under the management of a local board. The constitution of such board will no doubt be decided at this meeting. The committee suggest that it should comprise the Chairman of the County Council, the Mayor of Patea, and five members, to be elected in such manner ns this committee may think most desirable.

R. A. Adams, Chairman of Committee. The following telegram from the Under-Secretary was also read ; “ Thos. Eyton Esq., Patea. “In reply to yours of twentieth, Colonial Secretary desires me to say that Government will pay half the cost of maintenance and management of Hospital and no more. New committee will take over management clear of liabilities. Committee- to manage without Government interference, but Government will exorcise right of inspect ing Hospital and examining accounts at discretion, will contribute pound for pound for necessary repairs and improvements subject do plans and estimates being approved by Government. Government will not-surrender right of property in Hospital and its furniture.

“ G. S. Cooper.” A statement of moneys to come in was then read as follows : Estimated receipts : Private subsciptions, as per list, £ll4 18s 6d ; do. not yet returned, £2O ; Patea Borough Council, £SO; Hospital Sunday, £ls; Sundry Benefit Performances, £3O; Labourers on Mr Nathan’s contract, £7O; Contingent receipts: Patients, £35, County Council, £SO. —Total, £384 18s fid. With reference to the item “ Labourers on Mr Nathan’s Contract,” the Chairman stated that Mr Nathan had informed him that lie was going to employ 100 men for about a year, aiid that they would each contribute fid per week, which would make £l2O, but the committee, in their statement, had reduced it to £7O. Mr Sherwood thought that the report, taken as a whole, was a remarkably favourable one. Mr Lett proposed that the meeting should adjourn till next Friday evening, at half-past seven, which Mr Williams, jun., seconded, when The Chairman said: Before leaving— There was an omission at last meeting with regard to the Hall. Mr Mahony had given the Hall free, and he thought they should give him a hearty vote of thanks. It was an omission at last meeting for which he was very sorry. He therefore moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Mahony. Mr Williams had much pleasure in seconding the vote, which was unanimously carried. Mr Sherwood thought a vote of thanks should be given to Mr Baldwin for liis successful endeavours to get the s übscription list together. |Mr Williams had thought, of that, but. he was of opinion that it would.be better to let the matter stand over till they got a larger meeting. The Chairman thought they should give Mr Baldwin a vote of thanks that night, and perhaps they would be able to find something else for which to thank him at next meeting. (Laughter.) Mr Aitchison thought Mr Baldwin was entitled to something more substantial than a vote of thanks. . The meeting then adjourned with the usual complement to the chair. ;