NAPIER HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3516, 14 October 1882, Page 2

NAPIER HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

The regular monthly meeting of the above was held in the Council Chamber yesterday afternoon. Present: His Worship the Mayor (chairman), Messrs Douglas McLean, H. A. Banner, J. A. Smith, H. H. Wall, M. R. Miller, C. L. Margolioutb, and H. Williams. CORRESPONDF.NCE. The following inward correspondence was read: — From the Town Clerk, notifying the appointment of Mr Margoiiouth aa a representative of the Borough Council on the Committee vice Dr. de Lisle. From Captain S. C. Anderson, of the Defence Store?, Wellington, stating that he was unable to comply with tbe Committee's request repecting a hospital marquee, as he had not such in stock. One could be obtained, however, from the War Department, England. THE MAINTENANCE QOEBTION. A letter was received from tbe ColonTaf^'' r Under-Secretary, stating that a voucher for £1036 17b Id had been passed for payment, and that is was a mistake to suppose that a promise had ever been made by the Government to defray the whole costof maintenance of any hospital, but that on an account being furnished of all receipts for the quarter commencing after the 3 Lat of March any indebtedness of the Napier Hospital would be refunded. The copy of a reply to the above forwarded by the Chairman on tbe 23rd ultimo, was read as follows: — Napier, 23rd September, 1882. To G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under Secretary, Wellington. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 4018, under date 6th September, and to thank you for passing voucher for £1,036 17s Id, of which we are awaiting receipt. By direction of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary I enclose copy of financial statement for pi'esenfc year, discussed with him on his visit to the hospital yesterday. Our present accommodation has proved itself inadequate for our ordinary cases, and in view of this our Committee have had plans and specifications prepared for an additional male ward, &c, which will in all give some twenty more beds (making a total of fifty) at an estimated cost, furnished complete, of about £1,600. A special fund is also being raised to erect and furnish children's wards at an estimated cost of £1000. It is the earnest wish of tho Committee to utilise their savings for these purposes, for which they have been collected and husbanded, and they will provide in all towards building and maintenance the sum of £3000, against a sum of £3000 to be contributed by the Government; further, the Committee propose to commence the year 1883----1884 free from debt, and to then resume, if the Government so enact, the system of £ for £ subsidy, The proposal in short is, the Government to give £3000, the Committee finding a like amount, during the current financial year. Trusting on the return of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary to Wellington to receive a favorable reply. —I have, &c, W. I. Spencer, Chairman Hawke's Bay Hospital Board. visiting committee's report. The report of the visiting committee for the month was read and adopted. The following extracts from it may be interesting to our readers : — In the hospital we observed patients, two males and one female from the Waipawa County who appear to have been admitted without the order of the visiting committee, which is required under bye-law _To. 2. We examined the kitchen, pantry, scullery, lavatory, closets, and urinal, and found (with the exception of the latter) all in good order, but would recommed dry ashes or earth to be used in the closets instead of saw-dust, which is the present custom. As regards the urinal, this requires a little alteration to prevent the wet from dripping on tho floor, keeping the place in a mess. We alfo recommend that the scullery and kitchen be enlarged, and a full-sized range be) fixed, the present one being unequal to the requirements of the hospital cooking. We found the building generally clean and in good repair, also grounds and garden in good order. Wo. would recommend that a lawn mower (cost about 90s), should be purchased. We regret to find that nearly all the trees that were planted in the winter are dead. We find the new matron carrying on the duties of the hospital in a methodical manner, and her general attention is giving very general satisfaction. H.WiL™ , S ,} VisitingC ° mmittee -

MISCELLANEOUS It was resolved that a wardsman be appointed at 10s per week; that the wards be distempered; that wooden battens be placed round the walls; that three dozen pairs of slippers be ordered ; and that the upper square windows in the wards be made to open. The secretary was direcfed to acknowledge Mr Lascelles' gift of trees, and to thank the dramatic amateurs for the £16 net proceeds of the entertainment in aid of the library fund, also the promoters of the Scandinavian concert, which latter realised £5 9s 6d, to be applied to the children's ward building fund.

Messrs Banner and Margoliouth were appointed to administer the £16 raised for books for the library.

The hon. treasurer was instructed to open a separate banking account into which all moneys received for the building fund should be paid. J A list of instruments required for the institution was laid on the table, but the Chairman stated he wished to make a few additions to same, and he would bring it forward at the next meeting, Messrs Miller and Margoliouth were appointed aa a visiting committee for tbe month.

The month's salaries were passed for payment, but the other accounts were held over, the Government subsidy for March not having been received, The committee then adjourned.