The Tuapeka Times. "Measures, not Men." SATURDAY, APRIL 25,. 1868.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 25 April 1868, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. "Measures, not Men." SATURDAY, APRIL 25,. 1868.

We have before us a copy of the Tuapeka Goldfields Hospital Report for 1867, just issued; which, on a critical examination, affords matter for a few comments. The subscriptions for the year amount to the large sum of upwards of JESOO; and it must be matter of interest to subscribers to have before them a comparative statement of the amount raised by each district, as compared with the number of pa* tients sent|to the Hospital from each respective district. According to the .Report, Lawrence, including Tuapeka Flat, Gabriel's and Mun« ro's, sends 45 patients, and contributes £304 Bs. 6d. to the fund; Wetherstones, 11 patients, and contributes £78 os. 6d.; Waitahuna, 21 patients, and contributes £75 16s. 6d.; Waipori, 13 patients, and contributes £56 145.; Beaumont and Teviot, 32 patients, and contribute £21 13s. These statistics present Lawrence and Wetherstones in a very favorable Hgrit as compared "with other districts Were we to take it for granted that each district, in proportion to the patients it sends, ought to contribute to the funds of the Hospital at the same ratio'as Lawrence and Wetherstones have done during the past year —and'We see no reason why they should "not do so —the subscriptions and donations from the various districts would then stand thus —Lawrence, 45 patients, contributes L 30 0; Wetherstones, 11 patients; contributes L7B, while its . proportion is only L 73;7 3; Waitahuna, 21 patients, L 75, should contribute L 140; Waipori, 13 patients, L 5 6, soduld contribute LB6; Beaumont and Teviot, 32 patients, L2l.l3s.^hould;cbritribute L 213. Were the subscriptions in proportion to the number of patients which we have indicated they might be, we would then have a total sum of-LBOO, instead of LSOO, for subscriptions; and the generous subsidy granted by the Government, if continued at the former rate of L 3 to LI, would, as a matter of course, be considerably augmented, placing the Committee in the,satisfactory position of not only being able to carry out those improvements suggested by the Resident Surgeon, but also of effecting many, other minor improvements necessary for the perfecting of the institution.

In drawing up t&e^above comparative statement, we were quite 'nonplused to observe that the districts of the Beaumont and Teviot, while they had reaped so much advantage from I the institution during the past year, had contributed such a miserly pittance towards the funds. It is nothing more or less than a disgrace to these cjistricts to have , their L.20 lor 32 patients placed in juxtaposition with the LBQO, for 45 patients, of Lawrence, or the L7B, for 11 patients, of Wetherstones. The comparison is indeed "odious " in the extreme, and we trust it will prove the means of stirring up the residents of those districts to open their hands more liberally during the present year. Waitahuna, too, requires to be reminded of its duty to the Hospital. The subscription lists from that district, although they bear a large number of names, amount to. a small sum as compared with the demands of the district upon the Hospital, and we think subscribers there, without any detriment to their best interests, might easily double their subscriptions, and thus put themselves at least on a par with Lawrence and Wetherstones, The beneficent object of the institution, and the efficient manner In which it is conducted, profession-* ally, domestically, and financially, are the strongest arguments that can be urged upon the communities for whose benefit it exists, to exert themselves in every possible manner to contribute towards its funds and general prosperity, and we shall never feel satisfied until we see an emulation created in up-country districts, to equal, if not to excel, Lawrence and Wetherstones in their large contributions,