MEETING OF THE HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

West Coast Times, Issue 48, 23 September 1865, Page 2

MEETING OF THE HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of tho Hospital Committee was held on Thursday evening at Bracken's Hotel, for tho purposo of considering what was tho best couse to pursue in roferenco to tho funds now in hand, raised by tho lato bazaar. Thoro wore present — Mossrs Andorson, Ecclcsfield, Bracken, Munro, Eicke (chairman.) Mr Anderson explained tho objects of tho meeting, and stated that there was between £160 and £170, tho proceeds of tho gift auctions. Ho said that the Goverhmont proposed to bxiild an hospital at an oxponso of £5000 on tho south-side of the spit. Tho amount would bo tittorly insufficient to do anything hi tho erection of an hospital, and tho question was how would thoy best dispose of thoso funds in hand. Tho Chairman corroborated tho statement as to tho erection' of tho hospital by tho Government, and said that tho south side of tho spit had been found to bo tho only suitable place. Plans had already been prepared^ and sent to the Government for adoption, and no dolay whatovor would tako place in proceeding with the work. He did not wish to offer any suggestions as to how tho funds should be disposed of, but ho wished the .meeting to understand what, was about to bo done, i Boforo any moro business was dono tho following accounts wore passed for oxponses incurred during tho bazaar : — EC. Pearson, £3 ; T. Hungerford, £1 16s : C. Lucas, £1 10s ; G. O. Budd, £1 10s ; W. Bailey, £3 ; W. W. Dunbar, £8 8s ; advertising, £4 ; carfcago, £1 6s ; " West Coast Times," £2 10s, Tho following, addressed to Mr Salo, in reply to a memorial in reference to placing tho Hospital under tho control of a public committee, was read : — [copy.] " Provincial Secretary's Office, " 4th Soptembor, 1866. " Sir, — I am directed by his Honor tho Superintendent to acknowledge tho receipt of a numerously signed memorial on the subject of placing tho managcmont of the hospital at Hokitika in the hands of a local committee In reply, I am directed to state that tho experience obtained here by the Govornmont in regard to tho management of tho hospital by a public committee is altogether advorse to tho proposal of tho memorialists ; and that while the Government aro fully alive to tho necessity of providing siutablo and sufficient accommodation for hospital purposes, they boliovo thot for its efficient management it is requisite that tho Government shoxild rotain all control ; and, except in case tho larger .proportion of the expense of tho institution is subscribed by the public, as a guarautco for tho efficiency of tho suporvision, tho Government consider that tho head of tho department should bo an officor directly rosponsiblo to themselves. " I have tho honor to bo, Sir, " Your obedient sorvant, | " (Signed) Edward Jolme, " Provincial Secretary." " G. S. Sale, Esq." Tho loiter was received. Mr Munro commontcd on it, and thought that, as at prosent without Govornmont aid thoy could not go on, ho would tuovo tho following resolution :—: — " Tliat, in consequonco of this committco having failed in inducing tho Provincial Government to placo tho management of tho hospital in tho hands of a public committee, this committco is of opinion that a creditablo institution of tho kind cannot at presont bo established and supported without Govornmont aid 5 and they therefore feel justified in handing over to tho manager of tho Govornmont hospital tho balanco of the funds collected for a public hospital, and relieve themselves from all furthor responsibility to thoir constituents." Mr Andorson seconded tho motion. Mr Bracken would be happy to hand ovor tho monoy to tho Government if a proper hospital was erected. At tho same time, at presont tho public, whilst subscribing largely, had no knowledge whatovor as to how tho funds were exponded. and there was considerable cause for complaint in various ways. Thoro were numbers of men requiring aid at prosont, who could not bo relieved at tho hospital, and the question was whether it would bo better to hold tho monoy for tho relief of theso destitute persons requiring medical aid, or whethor it was bettor to hand ovor the monoy in tho manner proposed. Mr Anderson _ corroborated the remarks of tho provious spoakor as to tho need thcro was for affording assistance to persons who could not obtain holp at tho hospital. Mr Ecclesfiold spoko strongly on the conduct of tho Canterbury Govornmont in bleeding Hokitika, and giving as littlo as possiblo in return. On this ground ho thought thoy should not bo hasty in handing ovor tho money, but should rather apply it in tho manner suggested by Mr Brackon.

Mossrs. Palmor and Clark camo into the room about this timo, and tho discussion was again ronowed, though no now light was thrown on tho subject. The motion was thon put and carried unanimously. Mr Clark then moved tho following resolution :—: —

" That sinco tho Provincial Government aro determined to l'otnin tho management of the Hokilika hospital in their own hands, and havo the whole and solo control of tho expenditure of tho public monoy as woll as of voluntary contributions, this committoo, oro thoy relinquish thoir labors, venturo to oxpross a nopo that tho Government will provide sufficient and suit ablo accommodation, to meet tho increased demands on tho institution without dolay." Mr Brackon seconded tho abovo resolution, which was carried unanimously. It was moved by Mr Munro — " That tho Financo Committco, consisting of Mossrs. Andorson, Osborno and Clark, winclup tho affairs of tho Committco, and publish a statomont of tho accounts." Mr Bracken seconded tho resolution, which was carried unanimously. A voto of thanks to tho chau' concluded tho proceedings.

TnANsronTATioN to Western Australia. — The Perth " Inquirer and Commercial Nowt" of the 12th of July, publishes tho following despatch from Mr Cardwell to tho Govornor of Western Australia- :—'• In answer to tho inquiry whioh it contains, I havo tho honor to inform you that tho presont intention of tho Government is to sond out two ships, containing from 270 to 280 convicts, in eaoh of tho years 1805, 1866, and 1867, at tho end of wliiou porlod transportation will censo."