DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1033, 3 February 1882, Page 3

DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Tito annual meeting of subscribers to the above institution was held in the Clyde l.ihr.ary Hall, on Saturday last, the 231h of January idt. About twenty persons were present, of whom iM rJ. E. Stevens was voted to the chair. The Chairman having stated the object of the meeting called on the Secretary to read the report of the retiring Committee, Mr G. Facile, (the Secretary) then read the report of the retiring Committee ; also Surgeon’s and Treasurer's reports, as follows : BEFoKT OF COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT, FUK THE YKAK 1881. The te r m of office of your Committee for the past year having now expired through the effluxion of time they heg now to place in your hands a report of their proceeding's. Domestically and internally the affairs of the institution have been carried out in the customary satisfactory manner, no complaint in any shape or form being made or brought under the direct attention of your Committee, H wever, in regard to one case vhieh terminated fatally in the institution, there were certain rumors abroad, and ns these rumors without a distinct and definite challenge- and contradiction is officially made me likely to leave an irroneous impression on the minds of the pub ic, we, deem it but justice to the servants of the institution an t your Committee also, that a brief reference should be made to it. The ease was as follows:—A patient from Alexandra, named Patrick Cotter, ■was broug l l into the institution, suffering from low feyrr. liming the time ho was an inmate. Dr Leahy, in response io a subpoena from the .Supreme Court, had to visit Dunedin, previous, however to his departure, he arranged with Dr Stsckpolo of Cromwell, and Dr Hyde of Backs, to attend tlie institution whenever cal'e i upon, and he further distinctly and definitely instructed the Wardsmau in the event of any change taking place in the condition of any of the patients, that one or other or both doc ors should lie at oner telegraphed for. As was and ts to he much regretted, Mr Cotter t-.ok a turn for the worse at about 7 o'clock one morning. Both doctors weieimmediar.ely telegraphed for, and further, a messenger . n horseback was sei t to Minid re Million, where it was though' Dr Hyde might possi ly be at the time. B ith iiuctnrs, however, were professional c -gaged over delicate and dangerous cases, and could not at once answer the call made en them on the instant. Dr Hyde, however, put in an appearance at 11) o’clock and Dr Stuckpoln about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, iheir efforts m relieve Mr Colter weie unavailing and he succumbed, and ae coming to their diagnosis of the case to Typhoid fever. On account of the ihiutor being absent the comp aint is made, but from the 'hove it will be seen that everything was done that un er the viienmstances ii u'd have been, ami they think yon cannot lut agree with them that no fault is attachable to Hum. or to the institution for the untimely am s id death of the poor young man who was but 23 years of age. During the year the offices of Wardsmau and Matron through the retirement of Mr and Mrs Hns-ed, who were appointed to the Dammit Hospital became vacan;, and Mr and *l's Knox were apiminted, and according to the Surgeon's npott whieh will Im submitted to you in duo course give every satisfaction.

Financially your Committee regret to say the institution is not nourishing. The full details under tint head, however, will bo found embodied in the Treasure's report, which will be raid and laid on the table. As the institution cannot be carried on without means, the question is one demanding special attention at your hands and your Committee will ask you to consider it To account for the great falling off of subscription" your Committee cannot. An urgent appeal, however, must he made, and your Committee think that if it comes directly from you it is the more likely to be responded to than if it comes from the Committee.

During Ihe year your Committee have he.ld sixteen meetings, at which the attendance of members lias been fairly averaged. Vnnr Committee hope, however, in the se'eotion of a Committee for the ensuing year that you will see lit to seleda greater number for tho body ot miners than has hitherto been, as it is thought, if they are more liberally represented their Bid-scrip-tic-s may possibly be in the same ratio. In conclusion, your Committee desire to thank those su-scribers who have responded to the call for assistance ; at the same time would express the hope that their successors may be the more liberally supported in their efforts to maintain the usefulness of the institution. On behalf of the (hnnmitte. (Signed) flKorifiE Fachs, S-‘c - a-y and Collector. SniiOF.OK'n tiEPORT. Number of patents in the Hospital January 1, ISSI Ale lical, 1; number admitted during the year, medico,!, 21) ; an “picul, 10; number cure-1, medical, IS; surgical 14; number relieved, 7; surgical, 1; number died, medical, 0 ; surgical 1 ; total tie -ted during the yea -IG Places from which patients were admitted, Clyde, 13 ; Alexandra, (’> ; Blacks. 6 ; Bald Hill Flat, 5 ; Bannockburn, Blackst-me Hill. Dnnstan Flat, Eativtcle.igh, Little Valley, Morven Hide, Seven Mile Brack, Cambrians, Clyde Gaol. Cromwell, Galloway, Mannorbur-, Mmitere, Tinkers, Wai lien Kni V all y, one each.

The Secretary explained that the patients «n ler the heading Clyde were not necessarily residents there, though admitted on Clyde tickets; for himself he had given a nmuher of tickets to perfect strangers, in fact, travellers with no settle I home, and they were all debited against' Clyde, and he had but little doubt others had done the same.

The Chairman pointed out the great dift' rence between lh-am- unis of subscriptions received from many places, and the number of patients s-n in ; he said it was a most unfair proceeding ; th■ ■ onus of keeping up the institution .involve-! upon the station masters an 1 Clyde, and would stiggist that the m-w Committee take the whole question in hand and see if some menus could not be iit-.-isi-iI, so that tlnburdem bem-m-n liberal y distribute I. Mr Sims thought that, each member of Committee should in his own immediate locality make a house t • house canvass. After some further dis mssion the reports as iea-1 were received, an I a vote of thanks be recorded to the retiring Committee. ’I he Chairman said the next business was the election of a new Committee lor the ensuing car. Mr Cambridge proposed, and Mr At,(field seconded—That (dr J.E. Stevens be elected I’resident, Mr St evens said he would prefer some gentleman ahonl I occupy the position, who would have more weight out of doors than he ha I MrFache proposed, Mr A. Joss seconded That Mr W. G. Bees he elected President. Mr Stevens said he would willingly retire ’ii favor of Mr I fees, whom he felt

assured would be more u-efnl in the chair than he could possibly Le. Mr W. G. Bees ..as unanimously elecie 1 President. Mr Stevens was elected Vice-president. The following members of Committee were then elected.—Geo. Fuchs, J. S. Dickie,.!. Holt, C. Attfl Id. J. U. Cambridge. G. Cl.-iik, of Clyde ; T. Sims, DimStan Flit; J. Crawfool, Clyde Commonage ; C. P. Peek and J. Allen. Alexandra ; A. Munity, Tinkers; W. Greenback, Drybread ; J M Ginnis, Eariisolengh ; John Butler, lUM Hill Flab Tie first meeting of the newly-elected Committee of Management wa< lived I< r Monday, February (ith hist.., at 8 p.in , in the Committee room, Town Hall. The meeting then closed with the customary vote to the chair, j

Treasurer's Report. RECEIPTS. f. s. D. Tn balance from last year 19 17 3 Subscriptions— Clyde 47 10 C Dunstan Commonage 1 1 0 Concert, 1.0 (I.T., Civile 4 0 I)<> (Jlirlsly MinstrelsCly<1« A 0 0 A.O P . 1 ' 1 y• I <3 49 17 G Alexandra ... 11 1 0 •’larks 5 0 0 Tinkers 5 0 0 Tevi.it Road 1 0 0 Galloway Station (per Mr W. G. Krs) ‘21 0 0 Do. (per Mr A. A. Oliver) 9 17 0 Ida Valley Station (per Mr T. F DennOt.-'ii ... 11 8 4 M.itnk'Mmi Station (per Mr .1. Stronaclj) G 18 0 Mont ere Station (per Mr R. Tnri.hidl) (i a 0 Earns*, den i'll Station (per Mr \Y. Fraser) fl 5 0 Do .''hearers, 1889 1 1.) I) Linhnrn Stitiou (o e r Mr McLeod) 1 1 n Hospital Races, Alexandra ... 8 4 0 !)o. Do. Clyde n 9 G Do. Do. alatakanui ... 9 13 G Paying patients *7 ‘2 11 5 CoverUiueUi. subsidy 21G 15 9 Toll 1G 8 EXPEXDIT U R SaHrics 329 0 0 Radons etc. 81 G 11 Fuel a i i liolio 22 4 0 Medic vl comforts and medicines 7 1G 0 Fnnddiinos i 0 9 Ba ance on contract ID 0 0 Bnriaia 1 7 G Frintimjj ami advertid n<j 5 3 ID Sr.ad uery... ’! 2 0 Cheque hook and exchange .. 0 4 G To balance in Bank .. 74 11 11 — 1541 10 8 ASSETS. To balance in B mk 74 II 11 Government subsidy due 132 9 M 207 1 9 LIABILITIES. Unpaid accounts 127 S 3 Ur Leahy, subsidy on AO r. subscriptions ... 4G 17 G Credit balance. 32 15 10 £2 :i 7 1 2