DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 604, 14 November 1873, Page 2

DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of Management, adjourned from the 3rd instant, was held in the Committee Room, Town Hall, Clyde, on Monday last, at 8 p, in. There were present : James Hazlett, Esq., President, in the chair, and Messrs. I. A. Pieshaw (Cromwell), W. U. Burke (Blacti’s), Rt Calder (Alexandra), Naylor, Simpson, Cambridge, Auckland, Holt, Christophers (Honorary Treasurer), and G. “ache (Secretary). "‘■'The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The inward conrespondence was read and received, including a letter from the Resi. dent Surgeon, Dr. Stirling, tendering his resignation, the reason assigned “private grounds.” The outward correspondence, including a letter from the Secretary to outside members of the Committee, requesting their attendance at the meeting, to consider the resignation of Dr. Stirling - and intimating that, as far as can be gleaned, the “private grounds” were dissatisfaction with salary and a desire for an increase. Read. Mr. Simpson said, as far as he could see, a misconception had been conveyed in tho letter to the outside members of Committee. The letter of the Surgeon purely conveyed his resignation, and the Secretary had no business to impart into his letter anything about salary - . He knew nothing about salary, and he would move, That the outward correspondence, with the exception cf the letterjof the Secretary, be adopted. The proposition was carried. The Secretary said he desired to explain how it was that he had written the letter at all. Some days after the receipt of the letter conveying ihe Surgeon’s resignation, the President waited upon him, and requested that letters be sent to the outside membeis of Committee, explaining the whole matter of the resignation, and urging upon them to attend the meeting. Previous to this, however, he had been shown a letter by Mr. Naylor, from the Surgeon, in which he said he would bo willing to retain the position on his salary- being u • creased to 350/- The Secretary, in continuation, said : Now, as he was aware that some five or six members of the Committee residing in Clyde were aware of tho contents of this second letter from the Surgeon, lie considered it was not only fair, hut it was his duty to acquaint the outside members of Committee with the same. With all due deference to the opinions expressed, he considered he had acted right, mid, did a like circumstance occur, would do the same.again. After some further conversation, which I throughout was rather heated, Mr. Sfmpson proposed ami Mr. Preshaw seconded. That the letter of Dr. Stirling, conveying his resignation be published with tho proceedings of the meeting. Carried. The following is a copy- of ths letter above referred to : “ G. Facbe, Esq. “Dear Sir, — “ I would wish to tender, through you at the next monthly meetii g, my resigns-, tion of this post. 1 may state that my decision has no reference to any past oc- : cuneucts, but has been determined by aff_irs of a private nature, which nocessi- ! tate my return to Ireland. | “ My resignation is to date from the Ist | of November next. “ Trusting you will kindly comply with my desire in the matter, “ I remain, dear Sir, “ Very truly yours, “ROBERT W. STIRLING. “Dunstan District Hospital, Clyde, Cot. 13, 1573. “ In case of my leaving, would the Committee give reasonable value for stable erected ? Also, 1 have some few articles of furniture, which would be useful to furnish tbe house (partially I) in case of another medical officer being elected. However; these are matters of a secondary nature, and can be arranged bve-aud-bv. “R.W.S .’’l Proposed by Mr. Naylor, seconded by Mr. Burke, That the resignation of Dr. Stirling be accepted. Carried, The President said the next question for consideration was tho fixing of salary for Dr. Stirling’s successor. The Secretary read letter from the Secretary to the Wakatip Hospital, stating that the Surgeon’s salary is 250/ per year, 1 with everything found (liquors excepted), with private practice, and 20/. extra for attending at the gaol. Also one from the Naseby Hospital, stating the Surgeon's salary is 150/. per annum, and private ’ practice. The Treasurer stated, in reply to the [ President, that Dr Stirling's salary at the [ outset was 150/. per annum. It has since been increased to 250/. ami hoard, which was equal to 300/, per annum. Upon looking over the year’s receipts and expenditure, ( lie found there was about 100/. in hand at the present time, aftei liquidating all liabilities ; that the receipts were about the 1 same as last yeur ; and concluded by saying " he did not think tho Committee could afford r to give a greater salary. D Mr. Naylor called on Mr. Preshaw and 1 Mr. Calder to give an expression of opinion of the views of their districts. Mr. Preshaw said that Dr. Stirling had the full confidence of the district, hut he thought the Committee were unable to give ■IOO/. per annum. , Mr, Calder shbl similar views Sverc'enf tertainod in his district. , Mr. Christophers proposed and Mr. Simpsen seconded. That applications be iautwl

for the office of Resident Surgeon, at a salary of 300/., with private residence * private practice allowed. Moved by Mr. Preshaw, seconded by Mr. Holt, That the salary be 350/. Mr. Naylor proposed 400/. He said he thought the Committee might., save themselves a great deal of trouble by giving Dr. Stirling tbe amount now proposed. Messrs Christopher, Preshaw, -.Colder, Simpson, Holt, and the President spoke to the motion, J.veatttally tbe original motion was declared carried. Resolved, „bat tbe President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Mr. Simpson he a sub-com-mittco to advertise for a Surgeon. The Visiting Committee’s report, recommending payment of accounts amounting to 70/. 12s. 2d., was read and received, Tbe Treasurer’s report, as follows, was read and adopted : :*;ft C;v >■" f ’RECEIPTS ' f ''- - ’* ■ Per Cromwell Local Committee : Ball, Kawatau Gorge, perT.Tait £l9 0 Bendigo Gully, per J, Ritchie •••" B 7 0 Do,, per Working Manager of Cromwell Quartz Mining Co. 710 0 Cromwell per Messrs Preshaw and Taylor . . ... 7~C 0 ft Campbell, Esq., Wanaka 10 0 0 Albert-town Hospital' Race, won by Mr. M ‘Kav ... 400 Quartzville, per Mr. Bennett 12 15 0 Butcher’s Gully, per Mr.M’Ginuis 1 5 0 Clyde ... . ••• f0 0 Do.,'balance of Cromwell Ama- i teur Dramatic Entertainment 4 15 0 £54 17 6 Government subsidy last quarter . 219 15 0 Balance from last report .. 107 10 4 £432 210 DISBURSEMENTS. Accounts paid ... ... £223 10 0 ASSETS. Balance in band ... .. £l5B 12 10 Government subsidy, last quarter 54 17 0 £213 10 0 LIARn.ITIER. Passed accounts unpaid ...£10,3 0 7 The burgeon’s report, as follows, was read and received ; Patients admitted during month 7 Discharged ... ... ... B Died 1 Rcmainingin Hospital... ... 4 Daily average in door patients ... oj, ■Out-door patient attended to ... 1 Attendances on name .. .... 0 In letter from Surgeon, conveyirg his resignation, ho refered to his household furniture and to /stable erected by him. and asked if the Committee would purchase them in tlie event of his leaving. Conversation enfued, and it was eventually arranged that the stable should be purchased, and- Jiat the Visiting Committee bring up a report respecting the furniture at the next meeting. Mr W. L Simpson was elected a member of tbe Visiting Committee, vice Mr. J. U. Cambridge, who retires. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.