OPEN COLUMN.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 53, 6 January 1868, Page 3

OPEN COLUMN.

(To the Editor of the Wairarapa Mercury.) HOSPITAL. Sir, —“Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.” 1 noticed a letter in your paper of last Saturday signed “ Humanity,” in which the writer very earnestly advocates the establishment of an Hospital in this district. Some years ago, our respected Resident Magistrate, Mr Warded, represented to the Government the necessity of such an Institution, where both natives and Europeans could he treated in those cases requiring constant and untiring attendance, such as they cannot obtain under present circumstances, I believe the reply was, that they could not entertain the idea at the present. Now, Sir, since that proposition was brought before their notice, the population and commercial importance of this district has greatly, and is still increasing. If it was again brought prominently before them, they might at least devote a portion of their lands as an endowment. An hospital is a public "institution, and one which ought to be under the control of the G overiiment. I see, Mr Editor that the Government give an equivalent of two-thirds towards the formation of roads and other public requirements. Would they-not do the same for an Hospital ? I am confident that the settlers in this district would.subscribe liberally for such a charitable and important purpose. Medical meu might be invited to give statistics, of the many cases which have come under their notice, that could.have been treated in a better and more efficient manner, if the patients had been in such an institution. I believe the sum of five hundred pounds would he sufficient to establish one similar to those in the country villages at home in England. -A house of-four rooms, and having six beds would be amply sufficient for the present. 1 Trusting-Mr Editor thaf you will give publicity- to this letter, and agitate the establishment of such an important institution. I subscribe myself, PHILANTROPHIST.

(To the Editor of the Wairarapa Mercury.) Wairarapa, 30, Dec., 1867. Sir, —Some time ago an article appeared in the “Mercury” headed “What shall we do with our produce?'”) Does the writer mean when we do produce if? For .with'the;exeep-. tion of timber and wool, we do not supply the demand. The cause is not the scarcity of labor, but the high rate of wages that prevents the settlers speculating in rising produce. The writer of the article I refer to must be a wood grinder,/ or a large ,vyool grower, to recommend Tramways or Railroads to the smal} of the Wairarapa : only lower tfieYarriage from Wellington by rail, and you will have wheat at 3s 6d and oats at 2s 6d, with butter, cheese, bacon, and potatoes far lower than what they can he produced for in Wairarapa; fofilathe want of cheap labor, roads, and land available for machinery and other local improvements, which time can only develope. Stand forward stout Remutaka! Thou art the only friend and protection the small freeholder has got. If a trial of tramways is so, desirable, let the first attempt be in the right place—one from Masterton to the Moroa small farm township. It would cause its speedy settlement, and open up a large track of country, for sale. It is not railway communication with Wellington that will make Wairarapa prosperous. It is the making of Disteict Roads throughout the whole of the Wairarapa, so that the settlers can get at the trunk road and the townships, there to find what to do with their produce. But roods, for the Wairarapa, do not trouble a Superintendent, with an imbecile Executive, that acts in his own despotic way—that treats Acts of Council as waste paper—and Road Boards as the gravel, he rides his horse over. But, 1 will suggest a remedy, for you and your readers to approve of, to have a meeting convened in a central place and invite the members of all the Road Boards there to discuss the merits and means to petition the General Government to introduce a Bill giving us the management of our local affairs with a share of our. Territorial Revenue and not subject to the Superintendent’s arbitrary pleasure tor two thirds of our own land fund. I remain, sir, Tour’s &e., ROAD BOARD. (To the Editor of the Mercury.) Gtreytown, January 2, 1868. SIR, —An anonymous letter having appeared in the Mercury introducing the subject .of a Hospital for the Wairarapa, I beg to make some observations on the subject. There is of course in every district a proportion of the inhabitants, who from various reasons are unable to pay for necessary medical attendance, and when the population is very scattered this expense and bur.thpri shouldbe borne by the community, and medical men should not be constantly called upon to make long journeys or protracted attendance gratuitously on poor people. They are not in the habit of refusing when so called upon, hut the public will see that when the district is able it should no longer impose on the charitable feelings either of medical men or of private individuals who are often compelled to give their house room to the sick. Publicans have constantly to do so, and often to those having loathsome or infectious diseases. The question, where are the funds to come from may be met with another. What is the use of the Provincial Council except to raise funds for public purposes and see them properly expended ? If the Government is incompetent to do this, we are better without it. In Otago, to every third subscribed by the people, Government: adds two-thirds for public hospitals. The General Government would ! know assist if the natives share in the-advantage. The trifling cost would not be felt in this well-to-do district. Trifling^indeed! compared to the advantages bestowed on employers as well as men, ii\ fact on all. Many living far from a surgeon.br unable to procure* a nurse and attendance would pay for admission, I should like to say more on the subject, but will not trespass further on your space than to allude to a recent case where I was called sixty miles away to see a sick man without a home or friends, an operation had to be performed of a dangerous nature, immediately, without proper instrumedts and appliances which had to be roughly made in a extemporary manner ; twice I went travelling in all more than two hundred miles. Who; js, to bear the expense of this, the gentleman vffio femployed the man for a short time previously or, the surgeon? Whoever hears the burthen will confess that a hospital is required in some central place. ■ It is time the public took up the matter, for the Government cannot be expected to take the initiative, although desirous of so doing. I am, Sir, &c,, : HENRY SPRATT,