WEST COAST TIMES. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 29, 9 August 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1865.

We have much pleasure in informing our readers that this journal will in future be published three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, instead of twice a week, as hitherto, and that no additional charge will be made for standing advertisements, or in the rate of subscription, which will remain as at present, 12s. per quarter, paid in advance. This improvement would have take place earlier, but it was unavoidably delayed in consequence of the non-arrival of a large consignment of paper. As our circulation is now over 1500 per issue, it will be at once seen that the West Coast Times offers greater advantages to advertisers, both in respect of cheapness and publicity, than any other journal circulating in this part of New Zealand ; and we trust the efforts we have made to establish a firstclass paper in Hokitika — an undertaking of no" small risk and expense — will ensure i us the patronage and support of the public. The first number of our tri- weekly issue will be published on Tuesday next.

We have in former issues repeatedly pointed out the necessity that exists for'further hospital accommodation on this goldfield, and have strongly and persistently denounced the folly of the Government in adhering to the present unsatisfactory and inadequate arrangements. But our object is not as yet attained, and we return to the subject with the full conviction that by reason of its importance we shall be excused if we repeat what we have already so many times written. The population of the West Canterbury goldfield is numbered by thousands ; each vessel' that arrives adjja. j.t>quola o f passengers ; and if report speaks true, the spring of the year will bring to these shores a nralUtude compared to which the numbers at present here are small. It would perhaps be going too far to say that the climate is unhealthy or that the class of gold workings which prevail subject the miners to extraordinary hardship or danger. There is no necessity for us to show that, in order to prove our case. It is sufficient for us and for our readers to know that not a day passes over our heads that some unfortunate fellowcreature, worn down by sickness and the poverty consequent upon it, or suffering perhaps from an accident requiring surgi" cal aid and a cessation for a time from customary work, is not turned from the doors of the Hokitika Government Hospital, with the disheartening information that " there is no more room." We live in the midst of a goldfield which is yielding its treasures to a comparatively small number of workers at the rate of something like 25,000 ozs. a month, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that the only available hospital, the only lunatic asylum, the only benevolent institution, of which Hokitika can boast are to be found, strangely amalgamated Ijneath a roof and within walls which the majority of business men would consider too dilapidated to form a store for ' merchandise. For reasons which have not as yet transpired, and into which we do not cafe" to enquire, the Commissioner of the goldfield has declined to surrender to the public any part of his authority over the present hospital, although it is well known that that public would in such case subscribe a handsome sum towards the erection of a suitable building, and might be depended on, judging by what has happened on many other goldfields, to contribute more than a fair proportion towards its efficient maintenance. It is not to be expected that the Government should be at the whole charge of building and maintaining a hospital ; but, on the other hand, the public are naturally averse to contributing when they are denied all partieipa ■ tion in the management. There is something thoroughly un-English in the idea. We will take it for granted that Mr Sale has not determined on his present course of action without being convinced that it will be for the best. He perhaps supposes that otir townspeople would tire of tho work they are at present so anxious to assist him

l-d. and thai ore ?v;nr, month- - pns.-eci. | the hospital affar wnnH htc i^oUvd \ in confusion and T debt.' lie may have in his recollection an instance wheic such a lamentable state of- things were arrived at, and he may think that what, has once occurred may occur again. Such may be, and it is very probable that such is, his reason for preferring to keep the reins in his own hands. It is, however, immaterial to the issue what his reason is ; we have only to deal with these facts : — Firstly, that he has declined to allow the public a share in the management. Secondly, that the Government hospital is totally inadequate to the requirements of this goldfield. And thirdly, that there is no likelihood, unless outside assistance be given, of any improvement taking place. The course that the people have to pursue is clear. Now in the heyday of prosperity, when the diggings are but begun to be developed, they must make a strong effort to raise the necessary funds for establishing an institution worthy the name of a public hospital. There must be no shirking, no drawing back ; each must contribute according to his means, and the miners, who will benefit the most by the success of the undertaking, must be urged to do their part towards its inauguration. That they will do their best without a murmur — nay, readily and thankfully — we are assured. We may fee told that we are advocating as a novelty what has been already done — that a fund already exists and is daily increasing. Our answer is that if the thing is to be done at all, far more energy is needed than has as yet been displayed. The town must be canvassed over and over again, and active agents sent into the outlying districts to visit the men at their claims and in their tents. All the work is before us, but we have a firm belief that if we exert ourselves, there will be no reasonto regret the result. No man ever did regret having worked hard in a good cause. Let the people build a hospital that they can be proud of ; let them prove by their acts that they are in earnest and will do their part towards maintaining it in an efficient state,, and then depend upon it that assistance from the Canterbury Government will not be with-held, wh tever peculiar scruples Mr Sale himself may have' on the subject.