Dunstan Dlstrict Hospital.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 402, 21 January 1904, Page 5

Dunstan Dlstrict Hospital.

The annual statutory /meeting of contributors to the above hospital xnß held at Clyde on Thursday last, when MrT.Jefiry'preiidedy^ ; '"'' : ;'_!-•.' The chairman stated that ■as the amount of contributions was. less than one sixth of the expenditure, the contributors were only entitled to elect two trustees. The whole of the trustees, therefore, resigned. ' The fcustees'report and the balance* sheet for the year ending 31st December were read as follows ;

«We have the honour to' again lay before yon our. annual statutory report of the proceedings of the board of trustees, together with the balancesheet which on reference will be Been to be satisfactory, inasmuch as, besides covering all liabilities, leave a satisfactory balance in hand, which, together with the customary subscriptions, and the subsidy on same together with the moiety to be due by the' Central Otago Hospital Board will enable our successors to carry oh the institution, X During the year the additions to and repairs effected to the surgeon's residence have, been completed, and the grounds have been generally sorted, thus giving to the institution and its surroundings a more comfortable appearance than hitherto. .This work entailed an expense of £173 19s 8d The internal waterworks of the hospital, through the severe frosts of the past winter, was the cause of no little troub'e and expense through.the burst ing of many of the pipes and taps. The troub'e, however, has been remedied, and it is to be hoped so effectually as to prevent a recurrence. To join the hospital by pipes with the Clyde waterworks has been commenced at a cost of close on £3O, and it is to be hoped our successors will be abl-, with the assistance of the Otago Central Hospital Board, to complete the junction during the coming year. During the year there have been changes in the internal working staff, and we now think a better staff could not be got together, and a cordial vote of thanks is due to them individually and collectively for the active interest they take in the affairs of the institution.

Up to the present time the Board of Trustees has been elected and the institution generally governed under the Hospitals and Charitable Instate* turns Act 1885, questions from time to time have arisen as -to whether the Board of Trustees was legally constituted, and to make sure of the point the opinion of Mr Hasting (of Kenyon and Hosking, solicitors, Danedin) has been taken. This opinion, which will be laid before you, is that since 1885 the mode of election has been irregular, and that, instead of the contributors electing six trustees, they should, as the voluntary contributions do not amount to one sixth of the total amount required for the maintenance of the institution (including repairs), elect only two (section 34 of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act 1886). Accordingly to meet the difficulty your trustees resign as a whole their trust into your hands. The following is the balance-sheet for the term ending 31st December, 1903:

£sd £ a a & balance in hand 5 14 7 Government subsidy 128 1 11 0 O Hospital Board 618 14 8 Maintenance Monies 64-5 3 Subscriptions ... 102 15 6 Miscellaneous Receipts 4 0 814 11 4

820 5 11 Debit by salaries 338 17 0 Rations and Stores 113 6 6 "Fuel and Light ... 35 3 6 Medicines ... 26 210 Medical Comforts 6 14 Bedding and Clothing 9 6 Furniture and Repairs 12 19 0 Advertising and Printing ... 15 13 0 Bents and Insurances 615 6 Burials ... 4 0 0 Water Supply ... 38 14 3 Completion additions to Burgeon's residence 173 19 8 Grounds and Fences 16 12 0 Petty Cash and Miscellaneous ... 414 0 Credit Balance ... 26 17 10 820 511 ASSETS. Credit balance .... 26 17 10 Since received subsidy 60 4 2 Subeoriptions ... 810 6 Subsidy say ... 10 0- 0 105 12 6 LIABILITIES. Ace for December 75 13 0 Arthur, water works account ... 5 9 0 Collector's commission say . ... 10 0 0 Credit balance ... 14 10 6 105 12 6 On the motion of Mr Pitches, seconded by Mr Campbell, a vote of thanks was passed to the retiring trustees and also to the staff of the institution for the manner in which they had carried out their duties during the past year. . _ A ballot for the election of two trustees was then taken, and Messrs O O Hutton and I Barry were declared duly elected. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.