TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 215, 14 March 1872, Page 5

TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

- On Saturday evening last, a special meeting of the Hospital Committee was held in the Commercial Hotel. There were present — The President, and Messrs. Mears, M'Swiney, Harrop, Humphrey, Walker, Ferguson, and Dr. Halley. The business was to consider what steps should be taken to meet the present financial deficiencies of the institution. It appeared from the statement forwarded to the Government in January, that on the 31s fc of December £204 was due in Bubsidy. Since that time, nearly £100 from subscriptions and entertainments had been received by the Treasurer, making a subsidy of £300 due by the Government at the present time. The Finance Committee were instructed to draw up a letter to the Government, showing the position of the Hospital, and pointing out the absolute necessity, now that the subsidy had been so much reduced, of having it remitted to the credit of the institution regularly It appeared that accounts to the amount of £250 are due to the servants of the institution, and to tradesmen who are contracting for the supplies. Several other matters in connection with the Hospital were talked over. The President stated that the Waitahuna Dramatic Club had signified their willingness to give an entertainment in behalf of the Hospital at the Blue Spur. Several members of Committee thought an entertainment in Lawrence would answer better, as there was not a suitable room at the Blue Spur, the only place being the schoolroom, which had not the stage and fittings necessary for a dramatic entertainment. The i inance Committee were also instructed to arrange this matter. The meeting then adjourned. The following is a copy of the letter forwarded to the Provincial Treasurer :—: —

Sir,— l am instructed by the Committee of management of the Tuapeka Goldfiekls Hospital, to draw your attention to the statement of accounts of the above Institution, which I forwarded to you in January last, and to respectfully request an immediate remittance of the sum of £204 13s 6d., which was then due by the Government for subsidy up to the 3lst of December, 187 L. I have also to state that the Bank- of New South Wales refuses the least accomodation in the form of overdraft ; and storekeepers and tradesmen, who tendered for the supplies, &c, of the Institution, at what seems to the Committee almost lower than cost prices, are greatly in want of their money. Indeed, it is doubtful if storekeepers will be found to tender for the Hospital if they cannot get their accounts paid more promptly than has been the case for some time past. The Committee desire to inform the Government, that since the subsidy has been reduced, they have had great difficulty in inducing many people to continue the support they have hitherto given, and it will take every penny that can be collected, together with the subsidy, to carry on the Institution efficiently. I may mention that the new committee have reduced the working expenses of the Hospital by upwards of £400 a-year, and it will be but poor encouragement for them if the Government will not back their efforts by at least paying the reduced subsidy regularly. You will therefore, I trust, see the absolute necessity of sending a bank draft for the amount due, by return of post.— l have, &c.

Wir. Hates, Secretary.