SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1898.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 8, 16 July 1898, Page 2

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1898.

If proof isreqahed that the majoiity of the membeis of the South Canteibmy Hospital and <Jhantabie Aid lioard is hosti c to the existence of the Waimate Hospital, it will be found in the repoit in the Tmiaiu Heiald of a special meeting, held on Tuesday Jast, to fuither consider the position with lespect to the standing of the Wamiate Hospital Trustees. It will be lemenibeied that the Boaid obtained an opinion from its solicitor to the effect that the Wainiate Hospital Tiubtees as a corpoiate body did not exist. The Tiustees then obtained the opinion of their solicitor, Mr W. M. Hamilton, wliich was that the Tiustees were entitled to be lecogmsed as such by the South Canterbury Hospital and Cnaiitabie Aid Boaid. Finally the Tiustees. with the concunence of ihe Waimate Oounty and Borough Councils, obtained an opinion irom Mr H. D. Bell, ot Wellington. Mi Bell gives full leasons for the conclusion he comes to. He points out that the Board's solicitors, Messis Peny, Periy and Kinueiney, had failed to note that the contributing local authoiites are eipiessly distinguished fioin voluntary contiibutors by sect. 6i of the Act of 1886, and that sums contubuted by each local authority are contributed to the District Boaid for the puipose oi being paid to the sepaiate institutions. Mr Bell is of opinion that the Tiuslees of the Waimate Hospital are duly constituted, and tnat their requisition for funds to carry on the Hjspital has been duly made. He agrees with the Board's solicitors that the Board cannot giant the lequest of the Trustees for funds for building puiposesThe Waimate Hospital Tiustees have decided to stand by Mr Bell's decision. It is pain, however, that the majority of the Board is determined to close the Waimate Hoipital if possible, and has paid a high compliment to Meigrs Perry, Perry and Kianarney , of Tuuaru,

by asking them to lepoit next Tuesday on the opinion of Mi Bell, one of the highest legal authonties in the colony. That the majouty of the Board, notwithstanding many piotests to the coutiaiy, is hostile to the Tiustees and anxious to close the Hospital, is evident even from the ineagie lepoit of ihe pioceedings given by the Tmiaiu Heiald. In his opening lemaiks the chuman &aid he had sent a te egiam to the Hon. Mi Hall Jones, advising him that some steps weie being taken towaids separation of the distiict and abking him not to commit hnnseii or do anjthmg in the matter till this Board had haa a chance of having the whole position befoie it. That, said the chanuiau, was the only " official " te egram he had sent, the implication being that he had sent telegiams, not "official" and evexyone knows what thai means. When Mr Gillingham suggests that Mr Bed's letter should be lefened to Mi Kinnerney, the chairman said if they did that, they must lose no time, as the Waimate people would go on with their legislation if the thing was hung up ; a pain indication that the chairman at least, is opposed to an Act p'aemg the status of the Tiusoees beyond cavil. It was pointed out at the Board meeting, what had been previously lemaiked at the Tiustees' meeting, that according to Mr Bell's opinion it would be competent for all the local authorities in the district to appoint Tiuslees to the Waimate Hospital. It would, however, in no fray effect the status of those who had been appointed that some local bodies, through ignorance or indifference, had failed to ap- ' point Tiu&tees. Mr Bell did not refer to that aspect of the question, because he was only asked his opinion as to the status of the Tmstees who had been appointed. Apart from the Waimate repiesentatives, Messrs Nicol and Coitman, Mr M-Laien was the only member willing to act fauly and in a commonsense manner in legard to the Trustees. He proposed, but it was not earned, that the Board should recognised the Tiusiees us

properly elected for the year. la the course of his remarks he said that, whether *ny of the 13oard had ever wished to close the institution or not, they must now recognise it, as it would be more needed in the futuie owiag to the settlement going on in the distnct. The leteience to nieinbeis having wished to ■close the Hospital is significant. It is very Ciear tnat it a public demons tiation against the attitude of the Bcaid is not at once made toy the Waimate peop'e the control of the Hospital wnl lali into the hands of the Board, and it is not diilicult to piedict what will then happen. Tne funds in the hands of the Tiusiees will soon be exhausted and the Centiai Board lefusestopaj any moie money tiu it is sati&fied the Trustees aie a duly constituted body. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones and Mr Eiatman will do all they can in the interests of the Northern part of the distiict to jpievent sepaiation, theiefoie unless strong lepiesentatiions aie made to Parliamentas to Hie unsatisfactory position of the Trustees Hud the unfair tieatment Waimate has to exjject if iaft to the tender meicies of the Boaid, mischief will be done which it may take years .to remedy. We again suggest that his Worship the Mayor call a public meeting, at which lesoiutions expressiug the opinion and •desnes of the residents might be passed and forwaided to the Government and at which a petition to Parliament might be promoted.