TOWN EDITION. THE Wairarapa Mercury. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1868.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 53, 6 January 1868, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. THE Wairarapa Mercury. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1868.

A very sensible letter appeared in our last issue signed “ Humanity,” urging the desirability of establishing an Hospital in this district. We are not now about to argue on the want of such, that, is unnecessary; it is already admitted by the Executive and sorely felt by the settlers, but for all that no steps have as yet been taken to establish it. We hope that in the next session of the Provincial Council this subject will be agitated and that from a motive of humanity, not to the settlers but to the aborigines a sum will be placed on the Estimates to carry out this necessary work. We do not lack for want of examples, almost daily ones, where prompt medical assistance and attentive skill are required to save the lives of those who meet with the necessarily attendant casualties of bush life which too often prove fatal. We could quote many instances where lives have been lost from accidents, which, under Providence, would have been comparatively slight, could the immediate and constant supervision of the doctor’s watchful eye be upon the patient, but if a man who is emaciated by painful disease or reduced to a comatose state by a sudden shock of the system has to bear the fatigue of a of a fifty, sixty or seventy mile journey, there can be little hope that the already exhausted frame will outlive the ordeal. Our nearest hospital is in Wellington, but unless the patient is removed there at an unusually early stage of his disease, when the jolting of the road will do him no serious harm, it is useless to us here.. This district is now very populous and returns a large revenue, and we therefore think that we can be in no wise ; out-stepping the bounds of propriety in demanding what is so urgently required. If our representatives know, as it is their business to do, how numerous : and painhil are the 'case* requiring that medical aid and attention which can only be found in an hospital, they will, not cease their efforts until-; they; have obtained one for us. Let it be understood we do not require any large sum tobevoted, We only want to see such accommodation provided-.as. humanity and phrietianity demand. A" sum’of £BOO or £4OO would meet present require-; ments. In the state of society ia which we j

now live.a sick or injured animal stands a much .better chance of being properly treated, and surely cured than do our fellow-men who come strangers amongst «i Wp.make a just complaint; ;we rely on its:justice j forredress. :