DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 929, 6 February 1880, Page 3

DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

The Annual Meeting of subscribers to the above Institution was beM in the Library Hall, Clyde, on Saturday the 31«t January, at 6.30., p m. MrJ U. Cambridge, who was voted to the Chair, having stated the object of the meeting, called upon the Secretary to read the report of the retiring Committee. The Secretary (Mr Fache) then read the report, as follow* : Gentlemen : Your C unmittee have the honour to lay before you their customary Annual Report in which it will be endeavored, in as concise and lucid a manner as possible, to expose the transactions of the Institution for the past pear, and they trust their endeavors to maintain the usefulness of the Institution will meet with your approval. By the Surgeon’s report it will be seen that 63 patients have been treated in the Institution during the year, of whom 50 have been cured or relieved, three died, three were transferred to Dunedin Institutions as being mourab'e, or were suffering from diseases that could not be successfully treated here, and seven remaining in the hospital. The districts from which the patients hailed are also shewn. While treating on this subject, your Committee desire to express their utmost confidence in Dr Leahy, the Resident Surgeon, and would ask that a special vote of thanks be accorded him, his attention to his duties being unremitting, and nothing but the kindest expressions made of him by the patients under his care. The other officers of the Institution haa r e also given every satisfaction to the patients and Committee alike. The Treasurer’s report deals minutely with the financial operation of the Institu tion, shewing in detail the sources of revenue, as also the expenditure. The report so clearly explains itself, that we will not take up your time in reiterating the figures, merely referring you to it. With respect to the sources of revenue we cannot be silent as the subject is one that not alone demands special notice at our hands, but calls for distinct and definite action from you, as it is painfully apparent that the public generally, year by year, are getting more lax in their efforts to maintain the usefulness of the Institution, or even to keep its doors open. At first blush this statement may appear harsh, but on reference to the balance sheet, that shows the districts that do, and those that do not give, it will be seen to be wanted. There is no danger, however, of the doors being closed, as under existing laws the County and the Borough of Alexandra have to contribute any deficiency between the receipts an 1 expenditure, but your Committee disagree with such a course. During the past year Vincent County and the Borough of Alexandra gave in all the sum of L 55, which, together with the subsidy, materially assisted your Committee in tiding over the difficulties that beset the u. As was before said, the question of revenue is one that more than ever demands attention at your hands, and your Committee hope that in your wisdom you may devise some scheme whereby future Committees may be relieved from the harrassiugs incidental to an empty exchequer. To those gentlemen, however, to wh iso individual efforts goodly sums were raised also, to those districts that did contribute, thanks are due Your Committee during the past year have held IG general and special Committee meetings, at which the attendance of members was fairly averaged. When your Committee took office, it will be remembered the buildings were but partiallr re-erected after their compulsory removal necessitated by the flood, in 1878. We have pleasure now in stating that the building is finished, and that its general arrangements give satisfaction to the patients, and is found by the Resident Surgeon and servants to bo most convenient. The fences have also been repaired, and the planting of trees, so far as was possible, has been continued. Your Committee carnes tly hope their successors will extend ' this wmk of planting, ns the trees not alone tend to beautify ihe place and its aur-

roundings, but in the course of a few years | will be a source of revenue. In conclusion your Committee beg to thank the subscribers for their kindly support and consideration, and with these remarks beg to tender their resignation. Mr Stevens (Hon. Treasurer) read his report as follows ; RECEIPTS. £ «. d To balance in hand from last year 54 5 10 To Subscriptions, Donations, &c. Clyde ... ... 70 8 5 Blacks ... ... 15 7 0 Alexandra ... 13 10 0 Mauuherikia Brewery ... ... 730 Duustan Common. 2 16 0 Tinkers ... 10 13 0 Butchers ... 312 0 Chinese . . 411 6 Sunlriea ... 3 12 0 Earnsclengh Station 10 10 0 Ida Valley Station 15 15 6 Galloway Station.. 23 16 0 Matakanui Station 715 0 To Hospital Races. Clyde ... 6 6 6 Blacks ... 5 7 0 Alexandra ... 7 6 0 Dryhread ... 7 0 0 To Entertainments. Lecture at Clyde by Rev T E Ash.. 3 7 0 Lecture do d 0... 9 10 Lecture at Alexandra by do ... 515 0 Concerts at Clyde and Alexandra by Ophir Variety Troupe ... 24 1 6 To Grant from Vincent County Council ... ... 50 0 0 To Grant from Alexandra Buro’. Council ... ... 5 0 0 To Grant from Duustan Flour Mill Company . 10 0 0 To Paying Patients ... .. 96 14 6 To sale of old iron .. 18 0 To Government Subsidy .. 204 12 11 £745 0 8 EXPENDITURE. £ S. d. By Sundries for 1870 ... 45 15 3 By Hospital Buildings ... 137 8 10 By Salaries, Supplies, &c , for 1879. Salaries—Staff ... 315 0 0 Do Special Nurse 6 0 0 Auditors’ Fees ... 4 4 0 Nations ... 160 10 8 Fuel and Li-ht ... 50 12 0 Medicineami Medical Comforts .. 34 17 10 Furniture and Repairs ... 32 12 4 Stationery, Printing, and Advertising ... 22 3 6 Water and Waterrace ... 40 6 0 Bedding ... 9 o 6 Burials ... 5 n 0 Sundries ... 11 4 0 Insurance ... II 7 6 703 11 4 Less Accounts unj paid ... 142 5 7 By Balance in hand ... 0 10 10 £745 0 8 ASSETS. £ s. d. Balance in hand ... ... 010 10 Government Subsidy due ... 83 2 0 Debit balauoe ... ... 58 12 9 £142 5 7 LIABILITIES. £ S. d. Passed Accounts Unpaid. October ... .. 40 0 0 November ... ... 63 15 2 December ... ... 33 10 5 £142 5 7 The Surgeon’s report, as follows, was then read. Gentlemen : Li presenting the usual annual report of the Dunstan District Hospital, I will take the opportunity of making a few rein irks on the state of ilio [ is itution, so fur as my department is concerned. With regard to the servants of the Institution under ui , I am highly satisflei, as the Ward.small and Matron are most attentive in their duties to the patients ; also, have been most orderly and respectful iu tu ur conduct, and iu all cases have been contented to abide by the rules of the Instituti ui. The water supply of the Hospital has been very irregular, and 1 may say that, practical!' the Hosoical race is useless to the Committee as a means of supnly ; because during dry weather the water is unable to reach nearer than within a mile of its destination, an i in wet weather our tanks are qu te sulS dent to keep up a. supply I can safely say that fur the last three months not one drop of thn Wai Puna water has reached tiie-e grounds, so I would respectfully commend this subject to the cousi'le ari m of the incmiing ComI mittee, and hope that it will pro uprly aril range for a steady constant supply of race water, otherwise I shall certainly decline to be responsible for consequences which j may result from a continuance of the pre- ; sent unsatisfactory state of the water question. I would respectfully suggest that a Committee should he at once appointed to inquire into and report on the present state of the Hospital furniture, he Is, bedding, cooking utensils, chairs, fee., for the pur- : .pose of enabling the new Committee to sec 'in what we arc'in need, and to provide what, are most urgently reqn red, at least, before winter sots in.

Patients admitted, during the year— Clyde, 17 ; Ophir, II ; Ida Valley, G ; Alexandra, 4 ; Dry bread, 4 ; Tinkers’ Gully, 6 ; Bald Hill Flat, 2: Conroy’s Cully, 1; Cromwell, 1 ; Chatto Creek, 1 ; Devonshire Gully, 1 ; Eamscleugh Station, I ; Lauder Station, 1 ; Galloway Station, 1 ; Evans’ Flat, Tu ipeka, 1 ; Wakouarti, 1 ; Dunedin, 1 ;in Hospital at beginning of year, 3 Total treated during the year, 63. The reports having - been received and a looted, on the motion of Mr Bell, seconded by .Mr Geo Clark, a vote of thinks was recorded to the retiri ,g Committee ; also, to Mr J. B. Stevens (Hon. Treasurer) for their valuable services rendered to the Institution. The following gentlemen were tlrnn nominated and declared elected as the Committee for the current t ear—V. Pyke, Esq, MUR., (President) B Naylor, Esq., (Vice President) Major Jackson Ked lell, J. E Stevens, G. Clark, W. Auckland, A. Joss. A. A. Oliver, G. F rche, J. Holt, F. J. Wilson, W G Rees, (Galloway Station) N A. Anderson. Butchers’ Point ; C. P. Beck, Alexandra ; W. M‘Endue, Blacks; M. Satnmon, Tinkers. The first meeting of the new Committee fixed for Monday the 9th Inst. Tire meeting then closed with the customary Vote ot thanks to the chair.