Charleston: Its Rise and Decline/Chapter 20

by Irwin Faris

Chapter XX.

THE HOSPITAL—MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

HOSPITAL.

FEW records are available and dates given are approximate. It was situated upon the Hospital Reserve, off Darkie’s Terrace Road; was erected in 1867 at a cost of £400, and closed about 1910, the building being let, then sold, and later destroyed by fire.

An official report of October, 1867, says: “The hospital at Charleston is just about finished, and will soon be ready for the reception of patients.”

The cost of the building, and of its staffing and maintenance, was partly met by public subscriptions, fees, and the proceeds of public gatherings, concerts, etc., arranged for the purpose (e.g., the sports-picnics and the side-shows thereat) and partly by Government subsidies. Some of the Provincial Council or Government subsidies to “Charleston and Brighton Hospital” were: 1869—£900; 1870—£750; 1872—£580; 1873—£600; 1874—£550; 1875—£500; 1876—£336/13/4; 1877—£333/6/8. In April, 1877, the Colonial Secretary intimated that the subsidy would be paid until June of that year, but that legislation would be introduced “handing hospitals over to the control of Borough and County Councils.” In December, 1877, the Hospital Board was informed that subsidies would, “pending legislation,” be on a £1 for £1 basis.

In the year 1876-1877 the average weekly number of patients treated was 3+¹⁄₈. From the beginning (1867) an annual subscription system was arranged whereby subscribers received free accommodation and treatment when required. It is said that a few regularly “took a rest” there, in order to get some return for their money. The subscription fee was one guinea. The tale is told that at one hospital down the Coast, a subscriber, who had outstayed his welcome, was visited by an undertaker, who wished to take the patient’s measurements for a coffin, and enquired whether he would prefer white- or red-pine. In reply to the patient’s protest the caller explained that the doctor was going to try a new and drastic course of treatment and “one could never tell the result.” That night the patient was missing.

The Inspector of Hospitals’ report of 1881 shows that the district then served was from the Totara River to the Razorback, including Charleston township, and that it was a general hospital with one sleeping-ward of eight beds for males only. In this year subscriptions amounted to £181, patients’ fees to £37, the Government contributed £228, and the County Council £234, the total income being £740.

The Inspector’s report of 1883 showed that 12 beds had been provided for males and 2 for females. During this year there had been 63 male and 7 female patients, while outdoor relief had been given to 45 patients. The total cost had been £373, of which £129 had been found by the Government. The Inspector had visited the hospital on 4th November, 1883, and found it “untenanted save by the steward. There had been no in-patient for upwards of a fortnight, and the number at any one time since his previous visit had not exceeded two. The buildings were clean and in good order.” He added, “payment is expected from patients at the rate of £1 per week, but is not often received.” A report, as late as 1903, shows “two dormitories, with beds for 12 males.”

Secretaries: A. Bryce Bain, January, 1868; G. Chas. Bowman, 1869; Hugh Jones, 1875; N. M. Elliott, 1876; Ernest Strachan, 1877; T. Dollman, 1882-1885; C. H. S. Clifford, about 1885 to 1888 or later; G. M. Powell; J. H. Powell about 1906.

Boards or Committees: 1868—G. W. Lightband (Chairman), C. Gasquoine (Chairman); Messrs. Alexander, McCarthy, Neale, Dwan, Masters, Hennelly, Connelly, Hugh Jones, Chas. Mirfin, Beveridge, Kennedy, Allan.

1869—Chas. Gasquoine (Chairman); Messrs. T. G. Macarthy, Alexander, G. C. Bowman, Hugh Jones, H. Masters, J. Behan, F. McParland, McCoy.

1875—Joseph Giles (Chairman); Messrs. T. G. Macarthy (Treasurer), Grant, W. W. Sutton, E. Perrett, T. Crumpton, W. Thompson, P. McCarthy, R. Gilmer.

1877—In May of this year Mr. Wm. St. Geo. Douglas was appointed “Permanent Chairman of Hospital Committee” and Mr. W. G. Collings, Honorary Treasurer.

1881—Roger Walker (President), S. J. Brookfield (Treasurer); Messrs. G. Patterson, W. Henry, A. King, B. Shepherd, R. Birch, T. Butterworth, M. O’Sullivan, J. P. Mitchell, W. Brown, T. J. O’Leary.

Medical Officers: —. Rooney, 1868; —. Morton, 1868; W. K. McMullin, 1868; —. Bennett, 1868; P. J. Bruen, 1869; W. H. P. Dakers, 1875; Joseph Henry, 1876; James Simpson, 25th August, 1878; T. J. Galligan, 1910.

House Stewards: J. A. Richardson, May 1868; R. B. Stewart, 1868; —. Quinlan, 1868; Charles Challis, about 1877; Cato Dickenson, 1881-1888 or later; P. Fleming, 1896; Jos. Mills, 1910; J. O’Donnell, 1910.

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AT CHARLESTON.

The first list of Registered Medical Practitioners was published in the N.Z. Gazette in 1868. From it and succeeding lists are extracted the following:—

1868—Wm. Henry Philip Dakers, L.S.A., London, 1855; M.R.C.S., Ireland, 1858. (Went to Collingwood in 1875.)

1876—Joseph Henry, L.R.C.S., Ireland, 1862. (Went to Tauranga in 1877.)

1877—George Henry, L.R.C.S., Ireland, November, 1867; L.S.A., London, March, 1869.

1878—Wm. Forbes Keating, L.R.C.P., Edinburgh; L.F.P. & S., Glasgow. (Went to Wellington in 1878.)

1878—James Simpson, M.B., Ch.M., Edinburgh; L.R.C.P. & S., Edinburgh. (Went to Westport in 1908.)

1909—Floyd Collins, M.R.C.S., England; L.R.C.P., London. (Went to Collingwood in 1909.)

1910—Thomas Joseph Galligan, L.R.C.S., Ireland; Lic., Midwif, 1906. (Went to Karamea, 1910.)

1911—John Campion Grinling, M.B., 1883; M.D., 1900, Durham. (Went to Waverley, 1912.)

Although this list shows that Dr. Joseph Henry went to Tauranga in 1877, it is believed that he practised at Westport for some years (he represented Buller in the House of Representatives from 1876 to 1879), went to Wellington in 1881, and died there in 1884.

In addition to the foregoing, the following names appear in various records:—

—. Moise, Main Street, 1867—name in N.Z. Directory of 1867.

Joseph Lee, M.R.C.S., England, mentioned in Charleston Herald of 1867.

—. Trenery, “at Hanney’s Hotel,” 1867.

—. Bond, “at Hanney’s Hotel,” 1867.

—. Rooney, advertisement in Charleston Herald, 3rd November, 1868, as “Surgeon to Charleston Hospital and The Camp,” and as practising “in premises opposite to Rooney’s Hotel, Prince’s Street.”

—. Worrall, advertisement in Charleston Herald of 3rd November, 1868, as being in practice at United States Hotel. This hotel was on Section 251 in Camp Street.

W. K. McMullin, January, 1868, “practising at private residence opposite to Q.C.E. Hotel.”

—. Morton, 1868. Was in partnership with Dr. O’Kelly in 1869.

—. Bennett, 1868.

P. J. Bruen, M.D., in charge of Charleston Hospital, July, 1869.

—. O’Kelly, in partnership with Dr. Morton, 1869, “in premises next to Melbourne Hotel.” In 1873 practising in “residence near to Bank of New Zealand.”