THE KUMARA HOSPITAL COMMITTEE IN ACCOUNT WITH THE HOKITIKA HOSPITAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 2509, 16 April 1877, Page 2

THE KUMARA HOSPITAL COMMITTEE IN ACCOUNT WITH THE HOKITIKA HOSPITAL.

{To the Editor.)

Sik, — As there exists considerable misapprehension in reference to the claim preferred by the Hokitika Hospital Committee against that of Kdttfafa', and which the latter so unfairly ffejnifHa'tcQi an explanation of the cifcdrtista'iices 6'n which it is based will show clearly its justice. It was some time after the, Kumara had been opened before a Local Committee on that gold,-field was formed, and the present shell of a shelter provided for tb.e.Kuma'ra sick. Indeed it was not tiil November last that any steps were tdken to' this end. Prior to that tjffi«j patients rfeedirig hospital care were forwarded from Kumara to Hokitika, where they met with all I heedf '?l treatment, and as a necessary consequence entailed considerable expense dv this hospital. On the Kumara Committee being formed, KirPiirkisa and myseif were appointed delegates to the Kuiiiara to confer with its hospital representatives in reference to the expense thus incurred, and on other matters. We had an interview at which* though no formal promise was made, it was at least understood that the previous expenditure on the Kumara patients ..shouid be recouped to the Hokitika Hospital. A very careful list had been kept and an account prepared, by which the the Kumara Committeeinen could satisfy themselves that none but bdna fide Kumara patients were charged to them; It must also be bonle in mind that only orie-third of the detail cost of ths'se patients was debited to the Kumara, the other two-thirds being borne by the County or Government^ call it which you please. Uiic-third of such positive cost amounts to £114 odd* after giving credit for cash received from paying patients; arid now the Kuiriaia Committee refuse to recognise or liquidate the claim ; in point of fact, they wish to saddle the people of Hokitika with the cost of their local sick. The collecting tickets even were calculated to mislead subcribers, for the old Hokitika ones were used, with such additions as would mate them read "■ Hokitika and Kumara Hospital," thus ignoring the fact in the coolest manner. The Kuinara Gomniittee flisowri any liability previous to their entering an independent existence, though they are. not handy enough to deny the accuracy of the" Statement of expense gdne to' by Hokitika for the relief of their local residents, and I would ask any one if such extraordinary repudiation is not discreditable to any public body ? As a bright contrast to this course of. action, I may say that owing to the exodus of miners and traders from the Stafford district 6ti the outbreak of the Kumara rush, the Local Committee became disorganised, and, indeed, virtually dissolved. During what may be termed the interregnum, patients from that locality were taken in as usual* but on the committee being re-constituted the members promptly recognised the claim made for their treatment during the interval. All that has been received from, or on account of, the Kumara patients by the Hokitika Hospital since the rush set in, has been £18 15s. Such are the plain facts. I leave your readers to draw their own conclusions as to the conduct of the Kumara Committee, arid as to the equity of burdening bur already impoverished institution with their resident sick without contributing anything to their cost. I might in conclusion point but to the miners and others of Kumara, that beyond making the hospital there a mere receiving house till patients can be forwarded to some hospital with proper staff and appliances, such an institution can but very imperfectly, fulfil its requirements. It is hardly likely to obtain any Government subsidy, and the cost of patients will nol be much less than £4 10s per week per patient. This is out of all reason, and it is highly improbable that subscriptions to meet such heavy expense will be raised. With reference to the alleged debt on the part of this hospital to that ot Kumara, your readers will see that that is all moonshine—the boot being on the other leg. Indeed other charges are now owing by Kumara which would more than counterbalance the mythical £3 7s that the hon. secretary of that hospital so singularly alleges to 1 be due from here. I aia sorry

to trouble you at such lefigth, but I trust the occasJldfi HF. m wilting will be my excuse, ahd that by this explanation the the suhscflbers geflefitlly' hny fully comR[,eh(# bM Sro?ißK 011 tyhi <* differences Hbtweferi ttife confiuHittees nave arisen I &V,UJ$ c*e* ™Ll m Grey HospitalsTiduia hi»e a tdrn ndlvj and I have no Ooubt that the GFJS County Council will be most happy to subsidise Westland's patients'. I am, &c., A. SoMbfeyiLLE} Secretary Hokitika Hospital Committee. i