DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 625, 10 April 1874, Page 3

DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

— o— usual monthly* Hireling of tha Committee; of .Management was hold in the Committee Hoom, Town-hall, Clyde, on Monday, the fltli inst., at 8 ji.m. There were present: James Hazlett, Esq,, President, in the chair, and Messrs. Coleman, Book, Holt, Cambridge, Stevens, Clark, Hastie, Christoplmrs (Treasurer), and George Facho (Secretary). , , minutes. The mintes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. J ' CORRESPONDENCE. J ' The inward corresjjpudenoe, including letter from Ur. Thomson, Resident Surgeon, to the effect that, during his absence in Dunedin, attending the Supreme Court, Dr. Scott, of Queenstown, would act tor 1 him. The outward oorcespoudence was read, received, and accepted, VISITING COMMITTEE. The Visiting Committee’s No. 1 report, recommending the purchase of new bedding to accommodate the large number of patients, was read and adopted. Report No. 2, recommending payment of accou' ts to the amount of 1511. 7s. lid., supplies, salaries, medical comforts, and other expenses for the month Of March, was read and adopted. ft was explained th.it the following items to swell the past month's expenditure so much above the ordinary ; namely, paid to 4)r. Stirling for stables, 21)/. ; painting Surgeon's residence, 11/. ss. ; insurance, 10/. 18a. 9d. treasurer’s p.epoet. The Treasurer's report, as F.llowa, was received and adopted : Receipts: Hospital Race, Black’s ... £4 0 0 Proceeds of Mr 11. Clapcott’s Lecture, Alexandra ... 2 12 6 Campbell and Low ... 10 0 0 Paying Patients ... ... CISC £2B 11 0 Balance from last report ... 303 10 3 £327 1 3 Disbursements ; Accounts paid ... ... 128 111 £IOB 19 4 Assets : Bakuwe £l9B 19 4 Government subsidy for the past quarter ... ... 213 8 C £412 7 10 Liabilities : Passed accounts unpaid ... 172 14 3 surgeon’s report. The fallowing is a brief resume of tbo Surgeon’s report;— Number of patients in House March 1 11 ~ Since admitted ... 19 ~ Discharged ... 0 ~ Died ... 1 ~ RemaimnginTTou.se 3! of Mai eh ... 20 Daily average attendance ... .. 15J The patients admitted were : From 8.-.miocklmru, 3 ; Cromwell, 2 ; Garrick' ton, 4 ; Kawarau Gorge, 2 ; Paddy’s Gully, 1 ; Clyde, 1 ; Manuherikia, 3 ; Black’s, 2 ; Teviot, 1. Number of out-deor patients Treated 8 The report embraced the nanus and residences of the in and out door patients, and the quantities of wines, spirits, and beers used during the month, and generally dealt with the Institution, its requirements, and its conducting, and intimated that during the month two extra servants had to bo engaged. The Visiting Committee were empowered to engage an extra servant for a month. TTic Secretary said there wercjseveu eases of fever in the Institution. Hie Visiting Committee were instructed to arrange with the patient Brichlcy, who had been acting as attendant during his c’mvalescenee ; also to arsange with Mrs. Duffy. HOSPITAL grounds. The Secretary was instructed to interview some of the farmers, with the object of getting them to plough the Hospital Grounds. ELECTION. Mr. Joseph Hastie was re-elected member of the \ isiting Committee, MOTIONS. Mr. Christophers brought up his notice ■of motion, That, in the opinion of this Committee, the paid medical officer of the Institution should ho elected by the Committee of Management, instead of by the subscribers ; that tlia Committees of the various up-country Hospitals be invited to express a similar opinion ; and that Messrs. Hazlett and M’Kellar be asked froiii their seats in the Council to move the amendment of the Hospital Ordinance accordingly. Seconded by Mr. J. E. ttevena, Mr. Christophers said past "experience had proved to him that the present system worked badly. The subscribers as a whole had no knowledge of the working of the Institution and took hut little interest in it, and when the time came for them to elect a medical officer their votes were gi\en, not from any particular knowledge they had of the capabilities Jof the candidates, but because they were told or asked to vote as one or two interested parties might tell them ; and again, the election Mas in the hands of the one who laid out the most money on it. In support of what lie had said, on one ’occasion fifteen out of sixte n of the Committee Vo ted for the dismissal of the Rcfti|enft} Surgeon. This necessitated an election, and brought into the field the old surgeon and some five or six others. The contest, however, lay between the old doctor and one other ; and y e L in spite of the expression of opinion given by the Committee of Management, e lesuit uf 11.6 poll was a tie, and at the

second election the old doctor was only defeated by one. If liia (Mr. Christophers’) motion was carried, he proposed to bring forward other motions that may somewhat meet the views of the mover of the amo"dmcnt, to the effect, That, in each centred population a local committee bo elected, from whose number one for ever) twenty-live subscribers be an exofficio member of the Committee of Management, and entitled to attend and vote at meetings. Amendment by Mr. Coleman, seconded V>v Mr. Hastie, That, in the opinion of this Committee, the paid medical officer of the Institu'ion should he elected by the subscribers who have paid their subscriptions of not less than 20s. at least three months before the day of election ; that the Committee of Management he empowered to appoint polling-places for the election of medical officer in each centre of population in the district; that the Committees of all up-country institutions be invited to express a similar opinion ; and that steps he taken to have the Ordinance amended accordingly. Mr. Coleman said he could not agree with the argument adduced by Mr. Christophers, being of the opinion that the subscribers take great interest in the In statu - tution and in its [working ; anil further, that,'* ben any question of great fmportance crops up, they made themselves particularly acquainted with the subject. He held that, to take away any of the privileges from the subscriber, would be to lessen his interest and make him withdraw his support. Corrupt practices had been advanced as a reason lor taking the election out of the hands of the subscribers. The three mouths’ qualification would prevent the like, as it was not probable any eketion would he procrastinated over that time. Air. Cambridge said, the the question was one of moment, and, with the object of obtaining an expression of public opinion, he world propose that the further consideration of the question stand over fur one month. Mr. Facile could not r sce what was to he gained by delay. It was not to be thought that, necause either one proposition or the other was passed,jby the that it became law. The other up-country Hospital Committees had to express their opinion,’amlgaftorwards it had to go before the Provincial Council. He was in favor of obtaining an expression of opinion at the present sitting, and to submit the same to all the other Committees. The President said, if it was desired to do anything during the coming Session of the Provincial Council there was no time to lose. During the Session, the Hospital Ordinance was certain of amendment, as it was desired by some to put the Duucdiu Hospital on the same footing as up-csuutry hospitals. Had the matter not come before the Committee, he had iutcnlcd moving himseif in the Provincial Council. Several other gentlemen spoke, after which the amendment w'as put to the meeting, and declared carried. The meeting thou closed, with the customary vote of thanks.