HOSPITAL MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 264, 5 June 1868, Page 2

HOSPITAL MEETING.

A meeting, convened by Mr Kynnersley in accordance with a requisition signed by a number of the leading citizens, was held last eveniug at the Court House. The weather was miserably wet and cold, and to this cause probably was due the comparatively small attendance that were present when proceedings commenced. Before they had terminated, however, the numbers were greatly increased, and nearly all the principal professional and business men of the town were preseut. Mr Kynnersley, in opening the proceedings, read the requisition and said that it would not be necessary for hint to make many preliminary remarks. He did not think, however, that the meeting could elect a permanent committee, the object he imagined would be to elect a temporary committee to see what had been dono, and report at some future tim what the best mode of proceeding was. He would be happy to afford all information with regard, to the hospitals on the Coast. The Hokitika hospital, the first on the Coast, had all along been managed by the Governmont aud the Government paid the whole expenses, but by a recent pi*ovision of the County Council of Westland, it was intended in future to give £2 to £1 contributed. That system would be introduced here as soon as possible. He gave a history of the various hospitals on the Coast, showing that the Nelson Government had all along as far as possible aided local subscriptions with twice the amount subscribed, and had allowed the management virtually to remain in local hands. At Grey mouth, however, the subscriptions had been small in fact the Government had paid nine-tenths of the expenses, but had nevertheless left the management in the hands of the committee. He gave many other items which wo are obliged to withhold till a future occasion owing to the late hour at which the proceedings terminated. Ho explained that the Westport hospital was only intended to be temporary, and it had beeu the intention of the Government to have erected a proper hospital on the reserve, but they did not sec their way clear to do

so at present. It was now thought it wa time to call on the public to assist in the management, for such institutions were always better managed when they were under the supervision of residents who took an interest in them. The plana tor the now hospital had been so drawn that a small wing could bo ' built and the outlay might be from £3OO to £IOOO. It would be a subject for the consideration of the public, whether it would be better to meroly drain and clear the reserve, and go on, aa at present, with the buildings now in use, added to in sue h a manner as to mako them more suitable, and send the important cases as ! heretofore, to Nebon. The expenditure on hospitals last year on the West Coast of this Province had beou £SOOO, but of this a large amount was capital in the shape of buildings, furniture, &c, which would not be required this year, and £4500, the sum placed on the estimates this year would he considered meet all the requirements. In reference to the Grey district he said, that tho proportion of sickness was double to that of the Buller, and this Was accounted for by the fact that the diggings up the river were chiefly situated in dark swampy gullies, where they did not sec the sun for two months together. The average cost per head per week of patients during the past year had been, Grey, £2 18s 7d; Brighton, £6 12s. This latter amount was caused through i the necessity of keeping up the same staff as though the hospital was full, whilst, in fact, there were twelve vacant beds there. At Charleston it was £2l3s, at the Buller, £2. The small sum for the Buller was owing to the most serious cases being sent'to Nelson. The object of the meeting that night was apparently to appoint a provisional committee, to report to a future meeting, and in the meantime to open a subscription list and suggest the most advisable mode to proceed in reference to the building. The Government would make a road up the river, and there were 180 chains from Gladstonestreet to the Hospital Reserve. He concluded by saying that he had no doubt the Westport district would, as others had done, come forward on being appealed to, and subscribe the necessary amount without hesitation. If any other information was required, lie would be happy to give it. In reply to Mr Tyler, Mr Kynneraley said the average number of patients in Westport during the last bix month's, was seven.

Mr Tyler moved—"Thatthis meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived for placing the Westport Hospital under some system of public management, and for securing to the Government a proper administration of the funds." Mr M'Dowell, seconded. Carried unanimously. Mr \V\ Pitt moved—" That in the opinion of that meeting, the best mode to carry out the objects of the first resolution would be to appoint a provisional committee, to consider the subject generally, to canvass for subscriptions, and report the result of their deliberations to a meeting to be held fourteen dayß from this date, the said committee to consist of Messrs M'Dowell, Payne, Reid, Tyler and the mover, with power to add to their number." Mr Millen thought that the gentlemen present should appoint the committee and that they should not be one man's selection. Mr Pitt was not wedded to the names ; he merely had put them down as suggested to him. Mr Kynnersley suggested that the resolution should be seconded pro forma before it was discussed and Mr Lowe accordingly seconded it. Mr Goodwin thought that the names should be omitted. Mr Neil proposed as an amendment that thf> names should be struck off and that the nomination of members of committee be left to the meeting. There was a clique in Westport and all things were thrown into their hands ; the public were nowhere. Mr Millen seconded the amendment. Subsequently the original notice with the names excluded was carried with the addition " such committee to be appointed by the meeting." Mr Munson said there was a great deal to do and little time to do it, he therefore moved that nine should be the number of the committee. Mr Neil seconded the l'esolution which was carried. The appointment of the committeo was proceeded with, Mr Pitt declining to act on being nominated. The following gentlemen were elected:— Messrs Somner, Munson, Eeid, O'Connor, Campbell, Goodwin, Brown, Neil, and Cotterell. The meeting then separated.