WAIMATE HOSPITAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIV, Issue 10290, 1 November 1909, Page 2

WAIMATE HOSPITAL.

FORMAL PRESENTATION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) A large number of people gathered in tlie Hospital ground on Sunday afternoon, the attraction being a formal presentation of a eoucli and invalid s chair to the Hospital and an open-air concert bv the Brass Band. air W. Lindsay, of Studliolme, in opening the speech-making, stated that several of the ladies from his district having experienced the benefits of the Waimate Hospital, and to .mark their appreciation of the invaluable usefulness of the institution, had made a canvass of tlie Studholme and Morven districts and collected about £lO, to which was added the Government subsidy of 24s to the £l, and with this amount an invalid's chair and a folding couch had been purchased; both were of local manufacture and would be found verv useful by convalescents. On behalf of the ladies and contributors ' lie had pleasure in formally presenting them to the Trustees. Mr Lindsav made passing reference to the Hospital Bill before the House, but was understood to say that he withheld expression of his personal opinion at the present juncture. Mr J. Sinclair (Chairmail of the local Board), in accepting the gifts, stated that they would prove verv useful, and the thanks of the trustees were due to the ladies who had so energetically canvassed for subscriptions. Mr Sinclair touched briefly on the past history of the Hospital, and dealt at length with the probable extinction of the institution as a result of the proposed legislation. Their present average number of patients was 140 per annum. The Hospital was aboon and a necessity to the district, and he trusted Parliament would not leave it at the mercy of Timaru. Dr Barclay addressed the gathering and expressed the opinion that any fear that the new Bill would injuriously affect the usefulness of the Hospital was ungrounded. .He believed that both the Minister and the Inspector General took a keen interest in their institution and would not consent to any proposal which would militate against the success of their efforts for the relief of the sick and suffering. During the twenty years that -he had the honor of beiug its surgeon the Hospital had grown from a small staff of three handling about 70 cases a year to the present fine organisation, which during the last twenty years treated 238 cases. He thanked one and all for the, loyal maimer in which they had supported the Hospital, and especially the ladies responsible for this,- the most recent, but he trusted not the last, of many presents the Board had received. Mr E. J. Atwill mounted'the temporary rostrum and stated that he had, after twenty-nine years visitation, presented the Hospital with a flag which they now saw flying in the breeze. Mr liberty wafting in the breeze. Mr Atwill then recited a short piece, after which afternoon tea wds dispensed by the staff.

The chair bears a silver plate engraved "Presented by the ladies of Nukaroa, Morven, and W-aitaki Village Settlement, and the natives of Morven to the Waimate Hospital." During the afternoon the Brass Band, under Conductor Wills', played the following programme: —March, "Bushranger" ; ' fantasia: "O Lovely Night"; cornet'solo, "Love-Me and the World is Mine," Bandsman T.L. Wood ; cornet " and euphonium duet, "Life's Dream is O'er," Bandsmen Wood and Keen; overture, ' 'Austral"; march, "Pile Arms."