HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1456, 16 October 1878, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Tuesday, October 15. The usual weekly meeting of this Board was held at the hospital, at seven o’clock. Present, Mr Booth (in the chair), and Dr Turnbull. Mr March (the secretary), said the report on the alterations and improvements had been submitted to Dr Turnbull, and forwarded to Wellington. Dr Turnbull said this was not correct. The only report which he had seen was purely in regard to the professional accommodation of the hospital, which report, so far as that accommodation was concerned, he, as chairman of the hospital staff, had approved of. As a matter of fact, the report with regard to the kitchen and other alterations had not yet been made. After some further remarks, Dr Turnbull moved, “ That Mr Hurrell be requested to lay before the Board his report and estimates of the alterations and improvements required to be done to the present hospital buildings.” The matter of these professional improvements was arranged by the staff long before the Board was in existence at all. The motion was agreed to. Dr Turnbull said that Mr Hurrell had told him that his estimate for the whole of the improvements was £IBOO. An application was received from Maurice Chiltern, who had just arrived at Wellington in the ship St. Leonards, and who proffered his services as house surgeon to the Christchurch Hospital. The applicant inclosed testimonial. An application was also received from Dr. Ross, of the ship Waitangi, for the same post. Dr. Turnbull said the Hospital staff would have the right to see the papers and testimonials of the applicants, though the appointment lay with the Board. It was resolved—“ That the applications and testimonials be forwarded to the Hospital staff.” . „ It was resolved—“ To inform Drs. Ross and Chiltern that their applications and testimonials had been forwarded to the Hospital staff for their report.” A letter was read from the Under Secretary, stating that a list of surgical instruments required by the Christchurch Hospital, had been forwarded to the Agent-General to execute. Dr. Turnbull said the list included about £2OO worth of instruments. It was resolved to ask the Government to supplement the list with several other medical appliances, principal among them being a patent galvanic battery, by Weiss, and two water-beds. It was resolved— f( That when the house surgeon was appointed, an inventory of the whole of the medical appliances in the Hospital should be made out.” A letter was read from the Secretary of the Young Woman’s Association, asking that members of that society might be allowed to visit the womens’ convalescent ward of the Hospital once a week or fortnight. It was resolved to consider the matter at a future meeting. The Chairman said the Young Men’s Christian Association had a meeting in the mens’ convalescent ward every Sunday between 7 and 8 o’clock. With regard to the ministers visiting the Hospital, the Union to which he had referred only met once in the month. The matter would be brought up at the next meeting, which would be held on the Ist of next month. The Hospital returns for the week show that 8 patients had been admitted, 9 discharged, and 3 died. The Steward stated that a man cook had been engaged at 30s a week. He was a good man, who had served his apprenticeship at Q-unter’s, in Jjondon. It was stated that the gatekeeper wished to withdraw his resignation. Withdrawn accordingly, though he was warned that he must not trifle with the Board again. The Steward stated that a great _ many of the books were quite unfit for circulation among the patients. They were in a very bad condition, and sadly wanted repairing. It was resolved to defer the matter. It was resolved to make enquiries as to the possibility of having manufactured in Christchurch Sayre’s apparatus for the treatment of spinal curvature. It was resolved to telegraph to Mr Thomson (who is now in Wellington), asking him to confer with the other members of the Board with a view of getting the Q-overnment to proceed with the alterations in the Hospital as soon as possible. The Board then proceeded to consider a number of matters in connection with the Orphanage and Charitable Aid, after which it adjourned for a week.