THE MINERS' HOSPITAL

West Coast Times, Issue 59, 19 October 1865, Page 2

THE MINERS' HOSPITAL

TO THE feDITOII OF IHH •' WEST COAST TIMES." Sir, — Intrust you will /deem this letter fit to publish, as I- (and I fancy the public will, too) think it high time the miners of* the West Coast looked into And saw for themselves how tho management of what they term their hospital is at present conducted, I arrived in Hokitika from the Totara just five weeks to-day, and applied to the Hospital for advice, offering to p*y for my medicine if the dootor would only presorib'e for me, as I had a trifle that would support; me a short time until I got well again, The'doctor told mo the funds were low, that he could not prescribe for mo ; * but if I put myself under his care he would charge mo but very little and make a cure of me. I did so, and he charged me for the first four.^ visits I mado him at his shop £2 2s 6d (17s 6d, 10s 6d, 7s, and 7s 6d). He then told me as my money was getting'short, I had better try to get a few pounds and pitch my tent on the Hospital ground, and he would then visit me daily with the other patients. I did as he desired, and was in hopes of soon being in health again. But tho said , doctor having found out the state of my purse, ' took liia measures accordingly, and I must say he mado short work of it. I received six visits and four bottles of medicine, for which I paid him respectively sa, 80s, 7s 6d, and 6s. My cash was at a low ebb, and then Dr Ryloy, although coming within ten feet of the tent where I lay, passed mo by for four successive days. To speak colonially, a man might die and be for aught this same doctor will put himself in the least out. I know not who has the management of tho Hospital, or Jiow it is conducted, whether the said dootor is paid a salary, or whether he is allowed to make as much as he can from these " outdoor " patients ; but this I know, it wants ft thorough revision of rules, and a medical men placed in charge who possesses some Christian feeling ior his fellow man. The shorb stay.X made there told me a man's life is valued no^ more than a rat's, and I, for one, shall be only too glad to get away from a place where it is held so cheap. From Mr Valentine and the wardsmen I experionced every attention and kindness, and deeply regret that I cannot say the same of Dr Ryley.— Youra, etc., William Davis. . Hokitika, October 16th, 1865.

Not Slow. — An exchange tells a good story of a wag, who to raise tho wind, advertised that on a certain day he would crawl into a bottle. A - large audience collected to witness the wonderful feat, then, after getting the cash into his pocket, and seeing a clear chance to make good his retreat, the performer came forward and apologised to the audience for disappointing them, but said it was impossible to perform the feat, as he could not find a boltU large enough ! Immediately after this apology ho left.