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The community at Tibooburra were then well advanced in the process of
considering the construction of a hospital, and at a meeting in early August
1890 it was "decided to have plans drawn up at once for the building
"(Tibooburra Telegraph, 19 August 1890:2). It seems the community may
already have contributed money to a building fund, and the Telegraph
suggested that 'the Government may perhaps allow a special grant for
building purposes... (but) The present time is a very favourable one for
collecting money. Shearing has just started and our experience in other
parts teaches us that shearers are perhaps the greatest supporters of such
institutions' (Tibooburra Telegraph 19 August 1890).
Although the July 1890 letter indicated Milparinka was to obtain a hospital,
it seems the approach used by the latter town was a little different to that
of Tibooburra. 'Mopoke' wrote in the Tibooburra Telegraph with a number
of small references which may afford an explanation. At the time the wave
of shearers' strikes had just begun to affect the far west of New South
Wales. The history of that industrial campaign is outside the scope of my
research, but it seems the unrest also extended to the mining company
operations in the district, and perhaps this activity slowed the flow of funds
which might otherwise have been available. It may also be that the
Milparinka committee entrusted with the hospital project chose not to seek
funds from the 'working classes', at the time being idealistically opposed to
them. 'Mopoke' wrote that
'Mr. William Mercer, from Stringers Hill (a Mount Browne locality), better
known as Bawly Scotty was brought into town very ill and was sent down
to Broken Hill Hospital by Mr. George Blore. The poor fellow, who is well
known and liked here, was suffering from a complication of disorders and
his recovery is considered doubtful.
'That last par reminds me that nothing more is heard about that five
hundred pounds grant for the Milparinka Cottage Hospital. People want to
know why a meeting has not been held, or something to start matters...
'Tonight being the first Thursday in the month, a progress committee
meeting should have been held. Perhaps the rain prevented but I begin to
suspect that all Milparinka institutions are progressing crab-fashion'
(Tibooburra Telegraph, 7 April 1891:3).
The Tibooburra Telegraph ceased publication on 7 April 1891, and with
that demise the story of Milparinka Cottage Hospital ceased to receive
newspaper attention. Some year later, however, an article appeared in the
Sturt Recorder (31 January 1896:2). This article is informative, and in my
opinion the story of The Milparinka Cottage Hospital typifies the town and
the attitudes of its residents.
In summary, the community at Milparinka, at a meeting presided over by
the then Police Magistrate (Walterus Browne, former editor of the
Wilcannia Times) in April 1889, 'formed a committee of gentlemen to bring