The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4542, 26 July 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1883.

The Government has decided not to carry out the recommendation of its own officer in connection with the alterations which he advised should be made to the Thames Hospital, and we must admit that there is a shew of reason in the excuse given by them for not doing so. The r^eply given in the House to the question put by our representative, was to the effect that the Government would not undertake the work reported by Dr Grabham as being necessary, but if the people took st#p3 to carry it out, assistance would be given them. This seems somewhat reasonable, and those in the district should take the hint, and at the same time 1 take advantage of what the Government hay committed itself to. During the past few years the amount contributed by the: public towards Hospital maintenance reflects anything but, credit on the district,: and the support of sach an institution, very_ properly,/ should fall on the shoulders of tbase benefitted, or likely to be benefitted, by its existence. The migratory as well as the resident population should be called upon to contribute to such a work as the'provision for the relief of not only accidents likely to occur, but the many oases, of. sickness which are attended to by such institutions as this. In other towns the subscriptions to hospitals are considerable, and it is somewhat surprising that suoh neglect is betrayed here' in this matter. We certainly have not much to thank Her Majesty's Government for; perhaps it is owing to the fact that the journals in the district are not supporters of the present Ministry, or it may lie that we persist' in sending , Opposition members to Parliament, whatever the cause may be, they now return good for e?il, and 'teach the.people here a lesson in the way of self - reliance. ; It certainly does not cost much to do suoh things," but the people should be thankful, and shew a sense of gratitude by acting as the Government suggests. The Minister in whose department suoh matters are managed has committed the Government —perhaps somewhat indefinitely—to , a promise that assistance should be given, and it now remains with the people to .take action in the matter of providing a building for hospital purposes worthy of them, and of the place it is in.