HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1497, 3 December 1878, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The Board held its usual weekly meeting yesterday at 3 p.m. Present—The Mayor of Christchurch (chairman), the Mayor of Sydenham, Messrs W. Montgomery, J. E. Brown, Dr. Turnbull, and J, E. March (hon. sec.). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. HEPAIE3 TO HOSPITAL. The Chairman read a telegram, which he had received from the Government, re the repairs to the Hospital, desiring the Board to communicate with the resident engineer with respect to their telegram to the Colonial Secretary, and stating that instructions would be sent to him by the next post.

HONOEAEIUM. A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary, stating that a voucher for £6O as honorarium to Mr Pridgeon for his services as acting house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital for the past seven months had been passed for payment by the Treasury, ADMISSIONS AND DI3CUAEGE3. The number of admissions for the past week was eleven and discharges eight. The House Surgeon reported that two boys had been admitted, suffering from an accident they had mot with at the railway station. The secretary was instructed to make enquiries as to whose employment the lads were in when they met with the accident. OPHTHALMIC DISEASE. The following letter was read from the clerk to the Carlisle County Council, Patea: — Dr. Powell, Christchurch. Sir, —The bearer of this letter has charge of the blind man, Jordan, who Dr. Warren wrote to yon about some time since. I believe Dr. Warren informed yon that the Council wou'd be responsible for his maintenance while in your Hospital. As Dr. Warren has loft this district, and his successor has not yet been appointed to the Hospital, would you kindly inform the chairman what you think of Jordan’s case, whether he is likely to bo cured or otherwise. Dr. Turnbull said, for the credit of the Hospital, they were indebted to Dr. Powell for the cases of ophthalmic diseases which had been admitted into the Hospital and treated successfully, and it would bo a pity to take any steps that would tend to check admissions of eye-diseaee.

Ib was decided to inform the County Council that the patient had been received, and the charge for his maintenance would be £2 2s per week.

HOSPITAL CONCERT. A letter was read from Mr Chiltern, asking the Board’s permission to organise a concert, to bo held in the Oddfellows’ Hall about Christmas, for the purpose of raising a fund for the benefit of persons leaving the hospital in a destitute condition, and likewise for the establishment of a fund to supply slippers and dressing-gowns, augmenting the library, and the general promotion of the comfort and well being of the convalescents. Dr, Turnbull said the matter had been brought before the hospital staff, and they intended to hold a meeting to consider the matter.

Mr Montgomery moved —“ That the Board approve of the scheme, and consent to act as patrons of it.” MEDICAL STUDENTS, Mr Chiltern wrote stating that an application had been received from Mr Paid Neck, requesting permission to bo allowed some practical work in the hospital in the capacity of a student for the purpose of keeping up the knowledge he lias already acquired. The matter was referred to the hospital staff, HOSPITAL WORKS, The Chairman informed the Board that since the Board had been sitting ho hud received a telegram from the Q-overnraent stating that a portion of the proposed additions to the Hospital was agreed to, and that full particulars would be shortly sent. Ib was resolved that the Chairman should confer with the Engineer of the Public Works, with a view to having the works commenced immediately. INSANE PATIENT. The Board instructed ttie secretary to write to the brother of a female patient, who since admission had developed insanity, desiring her immediate removal. COLLECTOR. The secretary reported that the collector of accounts to the Hospital wished to resign the appointment. His resignation was accepted. An application was read from Mr Harold Baxter for the situation, the terms to be a commission of 15 per cent. Dr. Turnbull suggested the appointment of a committee to inquire into the whole question of collecting the Hospital accounts, and report upon it. Mr Montgomery said he was perfectly willing to submit the question to a committee, but he pointed out the hardship of imposing a prospective heavy debt on a patient who might be a considerable length of time in the Hospital, from the consequences of an accident. In the case of a patient without means, the Board generally agreed with Mr Montgomery. Mr Brown thought that when a patient was in a position to pay, payment should be exacted, but in destitute cases, he thought that when the patient left the Hospital, the debt should he wiped out. The Chairman said it was not fair that in the case of a single man, who earned good wages and squandered them before ho needed the charity of the Hospital, that when he went out cured and able to earn good wages again, that ho should be held to be exonerated Ironi payment. Dr. Turnbull said the charitable nature of the place should not be forgotten, but they must not suffer themselves to bo loafed on. It. was decided that Mr Harold Baxter should bo engaged as collector at 15 per cent, per annum.

CONSTITUTION OP THE BOARD. Dr. Turnbull raised the question as to the status of the Board, whether (ho members satin their individual capacities, or whether, if any member held an official appointment, ho eat in virtue of that appointment, and his membership would cease on the termination of such official position. The Chairman saida letter had been writ ten to the Government, suggesting the desirability of gazetting the appointment of the members, but no answer had been received. The question was temporarily disposed for discussion in committee. HOSPITAL CLEANERS. Mr Brown, alluding to the question of employing girls from the Lyttelton Orphanage, which had been already discussed at a previous meeting of the Board, and the first member who visited the institution delegated to report thereon, said he had visited it last Saturday, There were only two girls who, from their age, were eligible, and they were employed in the kitchen, learning things to their advantage; and as they seemed so happy, contented, and comfortable, it would ho a pity to take them away, especially as their interests would be better consulted by letting them remain where they are. In this matter the Board agreed with Mr Brown, and the mutter was allowed to drop. The Board then went into committee, and adjourned at six o’clock until Tuesday next, at 7 p.m.