WELLINGTON HOSPITAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11225, 24 March 1897, Page 6

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL.

[Per Press Association.! . WELLINGTON, March 23. The Hospital Trustees waited on the Colonial Treasurer and the Hon W. C. Walker to-day to ask for a subsidy towards the erection of a proper operating-room at the hospital. . Dr Ewart said that the operations' had mounted from twentyone in 1886 to six hundred last year, and sometimes there were twelve and fourteen in a day, The present room was too small and unsuitable, and it was difficult to keep it disinfected. Some of the trustees said that the hospital was becoming a colonial institution, as people came from all parts of the country to it. The cost would be. .£ISOO to £2OOO, aud they had no means of getting the money. The Colonial Treasurer, Mr Seddon, said that the'necessity for a new room had been proved, but ho pointed to the example of Wanganui, and told the trustees that they ought to go to the wealthy people of the place for assistance. The history of the city did not reflect credit on the philanthropy oh its rich citizens. The trustees had the sympathy of the Government, and if the inhabitants would not do their duty they must come to Ministers again ; hut nothing could be done during the recess, as the money must he voted by Parliament, The hospital, however, was no more a colonial institution than others. It belonged to the community here, and not to the Government. The Hon W. C. Walker also took the same view, and said that pressing representations had, been made to the Government to erect a hospital on the northern goldfields, but after what had been done by the Wanganui people, Government could not see its way to do so.