TAURANGA AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18172, 18 August 1922, Page 8

TAURANGA AFFAIRS.

THE NEW HOSPITAL.

SITE QUESTION SETTLED. [BZ TZVEQB.JLBH. —OWN COHKESPONBENT.]

TAUBANGA, Thursday. The Hospital Board yesterday debated the question of dividing the Tauranga Hospital district, which at present comprises the County of Tauranga, the Borough of Tauranga, and the To Puke Town District. Mr. Daily, the Te Puke member, moved, that the Maketu and Te Puke Ridings of the County of Tauranga and the Te Puke Town District be constituted a separate hospital district. Mr. Lockhead said it would be farcical to cut up the district into such small areas as was suggested. Mr. Lally's motion was lost by five votes to four. After further discussion the chairman moved that the board meet the Health Department's representatives and agree as to the site for the new Tauranga Hospital, and that tenders be called for the erection pf the same as soon as possible, and that any further building at Te Puke be held over until after the next election of county members for' the Hospital Board. Mi-. McNaughton moved au amendment, • " That pending the decision of the Health Department as regards a division of the hospital district, no further steps be taken in regard to the building at Tauranga." Mr. Lally seconded the amendment, and said there was an application to the Health Department from certain ratepayers for a division of the district. The chairman said there was no communication bearing on a division before the board. He ruled that Mr. McNaughton's amendment was out of order. The chairman's motion was earned by five votes to : four, western members voting for it, and eastern members against it. The Borough Council, at a special meeting last night, adopted a resolution to the effect that in view of the letter from the Hon. J. G. Coates to the Bay of Plenty Development League regarding calling for tenders for the railway line from Tuapiro to Tauranga, Sir William Horries and Mr. W. H. Gifford be asked to form a deputation to. wait on the Government to ascertain fuller particulars; also that they be asked to urge upon the Minister for Public Works the importance of expediting the work. According to a statement made to the Borough Council last night by Mr. E. Mandens, borough engineer, regarding the charges for electric current in Tauranga, the average price per unit sold is almost the lowest in New Zealand, though the revenue per head of population is the highest for any town in the Dominion, being approximately £4 per head per annum. Mr. H. W. Johnson, technical inspector to the Department of Health, arrived from Wellington to-day, and met the Hospital Board on behalf of the department. He recommended the purchase of Crowley's land adjoining the present hospital avaa as the site for the proposed new hospital at Tauranga. After inspecting the site the board decided to purchase the land from Mr. Crowley, approximately four acres, the price being £2100. The board's architect was also authorised to prepare sketch plans for the new hospital and submit the same personally to the depart ment.