HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1444, 2 October 1878, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The Board held its weekly meeting at the Hospital yesterday at 7 p.m. Present —His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch (chairman), Mr G. Booth (Mayor of Sydenham), Dr. Turnbull, and Mr J. E. March (secretary). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. The Secretary read the following letter, which he had sent to the Government by direction of the Board : Christchurch, September 26th, 1878. Sir,—The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board have had under their consideration the necessity which exists in this district for establishing a benevolent institution for the aged and infirm. As you are probably aware, the Hon. the Minister for Immigration kindly placed at the disposal of the Board for the period of three months the immigration depot at Ashburton, but this building is found altogether unsuitable for the purpose of a home. At the present time forty-one inmates are in the Ashburton Home, and twenty-one in the depot in Armagh street. The Board, after careful consideration, are of opinion that the Orphanage at Lyttelton should be converted into a home for the district, and that a more suitable building should be erected for an Orphanage. The extent of ground attached to the present Orphan Asylum is very limited, there being little or no room > for recreation. The Board think that institutions of this kind should be made as much as possible self-supporting, and to accomplish this a larger extent of ground is absolutely necessary. The Board also desire to point out that there is a very large expenditure at the Christchurch Hospital and Orphanage for butter, milk and vegetables; and they are of opinion that if a suitable block of ground could be secured for an Orphanage, these articles might bo obtained at a very much cheaper rate than they are now. The Board have therefore the honor to request that the Government will favorably consider this subject, and be good enough to place on the supplementary estimates a sum of money as a grant in aid. I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, H. Thompson, Chairman Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. J. McKerrow, Esq., Secretary Crown Lands. HOSPITAL COLLECTOB. The secretary reported that the Hospital collector had resigned his appointment. The Board gave the secretary the necessary authority to fill up the appointment, A letter was received from the gatekeeper, containing notice of his intention to resign his position at the end of the month. A discussion took place respecting an application which had been made to the Government by Mr Bayless, late master of the Selwyn Old Men's Home, for employment. Mr March stated that he did not know of any opening suitable for Mr Bayless at present. Ho had tilled his late post for the last four years in a satisfactory manner, and he considered him to be trustworthy. After some conversation the matter was allowed to drop. Tho acting house surgeon reported that there had been eight admissions and nine discharges at the Hospital during the week ending Sept. 28th. HOUSE Sl/liaEUN. An application for the appointment of i house surgeon was received from Mr C. •' Grimes, enclosing testimonials and papers.

It was decided to lay them before the Hospital staff for their consideration. oephanagk. The secretary reported that the receipts at the Lyttelton Orphanage Bince August 23rd amounted to £135 3s Bd. The number of boys at present in the institution was fifiyeight, and girls forty. OBPHAN GIBLS. A number of applications were received for the services of girls from the Orphanage in the capacity of domestic servants. The Board decided for the future to keep the girls in the Orphanage until they were about fourteen years of age, up to which period they will be trained in the kitchen and laundry under proper supervision, so as to qualify them for future employment outside of the institution. At the same time the labor of the girls while being trained will obviate the necessity of keeping up a staff of servants in the Orphanage. A number of applications for charitable aid were considered and dealt with.