HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1292, 3 December 1886, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

A meeting of the newly-elected Board hr Central Otago was held in the County Council Chambers, Clyde, on Wednesday last, at 2p. ns -f- .. . The Board consists of the following : Messrs S. M'Culloch, Jas. H. Pre ton, Henry Anderson, and John Ewing (repre seuting Msniototo County) ; Messrs W. Fraser, J. Pitches, D Mackellar, and J. E. Stevens (representing Vincent County); and Bev. J. Lothian (representing the Boroughs of Naseby, Cromwell, and Alex andra. 'Of these Messrs Fraser, Pitches, vl ‘Cnllooh, Preston, and Lothiau were in attendance. . ■ . The Rev. Mr Lothian was voted to the chair. He said the first business was the election of a permanent chairman, Mr M'Culloch said Mr W, Fraser hal experience of the Act and'a good grasp of thi subject,, and would propose him as Chairman.—Seconded. by Mr Preston, mad c.r.ied. A letter from Mr Mackellar apologising fori his absence was read.. , air j. S. Dickie was elected Secretary of t'e Board for the ensuing twelve months. The minutes of last meeting of old Board were read ah I confirmed. ' Resolved—Tnat the salary of the Secretary be L3O per annum. < , , The Chairman pointed out that in terras of the Amendment Act, ilSSfi, Separate institutions wpnld receive government sub* sidy only on the amount of 'voluntary contributions.; The ' contributions by ' the District Board would acecpd ingly be greater, than in the past. He explained, that he drew special attention to’ this rt> that the Board- might' not reckon r: their coming 1 ability, prerteK, • ' . Statement of receipts and expenditure of the old Board up to date’was,read and received, -

The Rev. J. Lothian g»id under the Act oMBBS. see. 31, .the Dimrict Board had the power of establishing branch institutions. The Wanaka, which wan a part of their district, was much in need of snob an institution; and ho was.aaked to bring the matter under the notice of the Board; While not desiring to add to the institutions in the district,.-,yet he was of the opinion that-it was quite within the functions of the Board to supply in the oat district referred a branch institution, '• The Chairman said it was no part of the duty of the Board to initiate any scheme. It was for the districts requiring assistance to approach the Board with some'scheme for its consideration. However, the majority of the' residents of the Wanaka district were in the Lake or Southland district, and if anything were done it would hive to be done jointly by ths two Boards. Two accounts from the Dunedin Hospital Trustees for LI 16s and L2l7s respectively. for treatment of two patients residents of this district, were presented and passed for payment.. The Chairman said he had written requesting that in future eare be exercised before admitting patients from out districts to ascertain their bona fides. A reply was read that in future, except in cases of emergency, no cases wonld be ad - •mifted except on the recommendation of the Chairman of each separate Institution, or on the, certificate of the local surgeon that the case could not be dealt with locally. - A. letter from the North Canterbury Hospital Board re the admission of delirium trevtent patients into hospitals. The opinion of the Boa d was that the North Canterbury people did not understand the position of the hospitals in Central Otago. -ind the Chairman was requested to reply generally. , Resolved—That three form a quorum of the Board. The question of the travelling expenses arose. The expressed opinion was that it was derogatory men to have to comply with the terms of the Act and make a statutory declaration of tho bona fides of any claim made for travelling expenses. It was perfectly understood that the legislature h»d an ori/ct in their mind's eye when the clause was framed, but it was thought not right that the majority should suffer for the misdeeds of the few. Eventually it was decided that each member send in his account to the Chairman iu the ordinary way. Tha Chairman said he did not'know of any special reason for calling a meeting •until after the separate .institutions had furnished the.ir estimates of receipts and expenditure'in march next. Should, however! an emergency ari«e, a special meeting could be called. Resolved—That th«) next regular meeting be held on the second Wednesday in April next, in the County Office*, Clyde, at noon. Tne meeting then closed.