The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1893.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume I, Issue 59, 6 October 1893, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1893.

There is in Pahiatua an institution, little known as yet, which is deserving of some measure of public support and countenance. We refer to Mrs Baker’s private hospital. The necessity for a hospital in some central part of the Bush districts has been demonstrated over and over again, but no move has been made towards supplying the want or making it easier for victims of sickness or accidents in our district to obtain admission to hospitals in other districts. The Masterton hospital, for instance, has received but scanty assistance from the Bush, and although we believe that patients from here are always readily received it cannot be expected that the authorities would receive with fullest cheerfulness patients from a district which contributes so insignificant an amount towards the support of the institution. The distance, too, is a very great drawback, and in extreme cases it becomes an impossibility to cover it. Under all the circumstances, therefore such an establishment as that recently opened by Mrs Baker deserves some attention and financial help. At one time there was some talk of establishing a cottage hospital in our midst. There is no house in the Borough more suitable for such a purpose than that occupied by Mrs Baker, and we have the authority of Dr. Gault for stating that Mrs Baker is well fitted for the position of matron or nurse. What we would suggest is that the Borough and County Councils should consider the advisableness of granting some subsidy towards the institution or arranging in some other way to assist in keeping the place open. At present a charge about equal to that for board and residence at a decent hotel is made for the patients in the hospital, but of course, owing to its private nature, it is not nearly self-supporting; while, to add to the difficulty, patients have been found ungrateful enough to depart without paying anything for the care and attention they have received. This would doubtless be avoided or remedied if the place were under even the indirect supervision of the Councils. In the ordinary course of events some provision will have to be made ere long for caring for the sick and suffering of our district, and in the absence of a public institution we commend Mrs Baker’s establishment to the consideration of the governing bodies and the public generally.