HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 968, 14 August 1903, Page 3

HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Tho monthly meeting of the above was held yesterday afternoon, there bemg present Messrs J. Macfarlane, A. H. Wallis, J. A, Harding, A. Dewing, and It. Johnston. In tho absence of the Chairman, Mr Macfarlane was elected to the chair.

Tho Registrar of Old Age Pensions advised that £3 was due to the Board on behalf of F. C. Hallows.—Received.

Tho Borough Council wroto drawing attention to the damago being caused to Aberdeen road through tho large pine trees abutting thereon, and requested that they be cut down, if possible, so as to allow the roadway a chance of drying in wet weather. The Chairman moved that the matter be left to tho incoming committe.— Carried. MONTHLY REPORT. The monthly, report showod that 27 patients remained from last month, 20 admitted since, 23 discharged, and 24 remaining at date. TREASURER’S REPORT.

Tho above report showed: Receipts £824 6s 3d, disbursements J 6620 3s 9d, balance in bank, August 13th, £204 2s 6d. Accounts presented for payment £llO 2s lid. Memo—Government subsidy accrued £B7 10s lOd, District Board requisition, due 81st July, £IOO. RESIGNATION.

Mr J, Warren wrote tendering his resignation as a trustee owing to a want of time.

The Chairman said that Mr Warren had been a trustee for a Jong time, and he I would like to seo his name placed on I rocord. He moved that the resignation be accepted with regret. Mr Harding seconded the motion, and remarked that Mr Warren had been a valuable member. Tho Chairman said his knowledge had been of groat assistance to tho trustees. I* was also resolved on the motion of tho Chairman to write to the County Council and inform them of Mr Warren’s resignation. VISITING COMMITTEE.

Mr Dewing, on bohalf of tho Visiting Committee, reported that everything was going on satisfactorily. WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE.

The following report was furnished by a special committee:—“Wo beg to report that we have enquired thoroughly into the Hospital requirements for water supply and sewage, and we now submit the following for your consideration : Water Supply : In our enquiry we have kept in viow the extrome inconvenience occasioned at tho Hospital last summer

by tho insufficiency of tho elevated tankago in connection with the hot water supply, an inconvenionco which cannot but be

still more severely folt in tho coming and future summers if effectual measures are not promptly taken to secure a supply adeguato to the requirements of the steadily increasing number of patients under treatment in the institution. In April last, when framing their estimates for tho year, tho trustees decided that a further supply of water for this purpose should be provided. The plan then under consideration was for further tankage to be placed undor tho roof of the kitchen, and provision was made in the estimates for the cost of this work, which would necessarily be very considerable. In viow, however, of tho necessity of providing

lifting power in connection with the water supply for the sewage system to whioh we shall refer presently, wo recommend that the plan formerly suggested be abandoned, and that in place of it an underground concrete tank of 5000 gallons capacity be built. This would providq a much larger supply than could possibly be obtained by any additional elevated tankage that is practicable under existing conditions. For pumping tho water from this and from the other underground tanks now in use, we recommend that a gas engine of not less than two horse-power be procured; this engiuo to be used also for pumping in connection with the sewage system. Sewage : Any earth closet system in connection with an hospital is extremoiy objectionable, and that in use at the Gis-

borne Hospital leaves much to be desired,

It is as good a system as the Trustees could obtain in the past, but now that the working of septic tanks has become an as-

sured success we are of opinion that a septic tank should be provided for treatment of the hospital sewage, and that a water carriage system should be installed to replace the oarth closets now in use. Additional accommodation in this direc-

tion is required. We therefore recommend that a septic tank, with filter beds, bo built in accordance with the plan furnished by the Chief Health Officer, Dr Mason, and that into this tank the whole of tho sewage bo conducted by four inch pipes with cemonted joints. The effluent would discharge into tho river at high water mark. To provide for flushing in connection with the water carriage, well water must be used; the well to be bricked and cemented and to be about twelve feet deep by five feet in diameter, with brass pump affixed. An elevated corrugated iron tank of 1500 gallons capacity will bo required, into which to pump the well water by means of the gas engine. Old Drains : We recommend that the old drains be allowed to remain as they are. They will serve to carry,off any ex-

cess of rain water and such of the laundry water as may bo largely mixed by anti-

septics. Fever stools should, we think, be removed and cremated as at present, in accordance with Dr. Mason’s advice. We recommend that the plans of the septic tank and filter-beds be submitted for the approval of tho Public Health Department. We estimate that the works recommended will involve a total outlay of £350, and having before us a statement of the hospital accounts since tho beginning of the year, and in viow of tho fact that no part of the sum voted for water supply has yet beon expended, we are of opinion that the Trustees are in a position to carry out the work without unduly straining their finance.” The Chairman said there were several points in the report which required to be submitted to Dr. Mbsod.

Mr Harding considered that the whole of the report should bo submitted to the Health Department. Tho Chairman moved the adoption of the report, subject to the approval of Dr. Mason. He would not be in favor of in-

stalling a large tank, as the bacteria would starve for the want of material to feed on.

Mr Harding said the Chairman would be in favor of the tank, and also Mr Tuoby. Mr Wallis considered no one would object to tho tank, except on tho score of funds. WAYS AND MEANS,

Mr Harding said he had gone into the ways and means of the Board, ond considered they would have to put their shoulders to tho wheel in order to get in subscriptions, as the Government were about to do away with the subsidy of 24s in the £. There was a matter being arranged for next week that would bring in £2O or £3O.

The Chairman said It had been suggested to him that as Messrs Williams and Kettle’s woolshed was cleared up for the Military 7 Ball, they should hold a function in order to get in funds for the Hospital. Mr Harding said that Mr W. Webb had a proposal in hand to hold a skating carnival, and was about, to make arrangements with tho owners of the rink. A number of members were in favor of a dance and social. It was decided that a committee of the whole Trustees should act with any outsiders to arrange a function for next week, while the woolshed was available.

The committee, consisting of the Chairman and Messrs Macfarlane, Harding,

Dewing, and Wallis, who furnished the report on tho water supply and sewage, were instructed to submit the plans to the Health Department.

We love the dear old Union ’Jack, We love the Motherland ; Our help she will not ever lack, But by her side we’ll stand. In peace' or war, what it may be, No love could e’er be truer ; We’ll build our health from colds so free, On— WOODS’ GREAT PEPPERMINT GUSBa - ..