DDNSTAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 332, 21 February 1874, Page 3

DDNSTAN.

(From our own Correspondent.)

The election of a surgeon to fill the post of Resident Surgeon for the Dunstan District Hospital, held here on Saturday -last, was one of the most exciting contests ever known in this district, resulting in Dr. Thomson being elected by a majority of 26 votes over his opponent, Dr. Stirling, the present holder of the office. There were 198 votes polled on llie occasion, out of 320 voters, and considering the farge district that is embraced, and that all the votes had to be personally recorded at Clyde, it is seen at once that the public feeling was pretty keen over the matter. Some time since I mentioned that the Conimittee had acted wisely in augmenting the funds by piitting the elejtion back, so that subscribers could qualify themselves to be voters during the interval — the rule being that a subscriber of £1 one month previous to an election has a right to vote. To this rule, and how it was carried out, hung the tide of the election. The successful candidate being the favorite of our aristocracy and squatocracy of the district, one of these mustering as many as seventeen voters, it is said, from his station ; another popular banker put m a list of 47 names. Both candidates ranked high in public estimation as regards their medical skill, buS the one was little known beyond those whom misfortune or disease had sent under his charge, and who were scattered like the four winds ; the other, without losing the respect and esteem of any class, had certainly, as was shown, gained the favor of the higher, whose influence gained him the victory. Had the Ordinance given polling places to the outlying districts, which certainly is a rule that in all fairness should be adopted, there is good reason for saying that the present result might have been different. That there should have been an election at all is a great loss to the district, for it was known that whatever way it ended, one or other of their services was bound to be lost to it, as both candidates put forth that, if not elected^ they would be leaving ; but I think with a little more judicious management of the defeated candidate, such a crisis ought to have been avoided. Rumor says that Dr. Stirling has received liberal encouragement to go to Cromwell, and not half an hour after his defeat came an offer from Roxburgh guaranteeing him £400 a year to go and practice there ; but what he is to do, or where he goes, has not yet transpired. Go where he will, he will at least carry the good wishes of many a former patient.