HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1514, 23 December 1878, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Saturday, December 21. A meeting of the Board was held at the Hospital at seven o’clock in the evening. Present—Messrs H. Thomson (in the chair), John Evans Brown, G. Booth, and Dr. Turnbull. The Chairman said a reply had been received from the resident engineer, stating that tenders had been called for the repairs to the Hospital. Ho (the chairman) had received the “ Gazette” from the Government notifying the appointment of members of the Board as recommended by that body at one of its former meetings.

The Secretary stated that he had written to the Mayors of Chi istohurch and Lyttelton notifying the holding of the present meeting, the time and place. Ho also stated that, in accordance with a request from Mr Rase, the Collector of Customs, he had furnished that gentleman with a list of the names of the seamen and the ships to which they belonged, who were inmates of the Christchurch Hospital and the Lyttelton casual ward.

The secretary was requested to make an application to the railway authorities for sufficient carriages for eighty-five of the Orphanage children to travel between Lyttelton and Christchurch on Boxing-day. A letter was read from the master of the Orphanage, stating that he had received a communication from Mr Hayes, the secretary of the Good Templars, who wished to know if there was any objection to their being allowed to spread the principles of Q-ood Templarism in that institution. Mr Booth, with all his love to Good Templarism, could not sanction a Good Templar lodge among the children in the asylum, but he had no objection to a Band of Hope being established among them. It was resolved to write to Mr Sopp with a view of eliciting more definite information on the subject. The sum of £5 was granted for fruit, Ac,, for the children of the Orphanage for Christmas Day. A letter was read from the master of the Old Men’s Home at Ashburton, asking for certain improvements to that place, and stating that arrangements had been made to provide for a good Christmas dinner for the inmates, which would be kindly furnished by the Mayor of Ashburton. The secretary was requested to inquire the price of a cooking stove for the institution in question. In reference to Charitable Aid expense, Mr March said he was sure there was only one way to reduce the expenditure, and that was by the establishment of an institution at which persons in distress could obtain their rations under proper supervision. The Chairman agreed with Mr March that some change was required. Last month ho had signed for £142 for rations alone, £6O for money payment, £4O for keeping children, and likewise some extras, the whole coming to about £3OO for the month. Still, under the present system they would not bo able to make any very groat improvement. Mr Brown did not think the matter ought to be discussed now, as a committee had been appointed from the Board to consider the matter, and bring up a report. The Chairman said the committee appointed was only to consider the question of the establishment of a Benevolent Home. Mr Brown moved —“ That the Chairman and Messrs Montgomery and Booth be appointed a committee to consider the present method of dispensing aid, to inquire specially into each case, and to make suggestions with a view of an improved mode of dealing with this question in the future.” Seconded by Mr Booth, and agreed to. A form of indenture was then considered. It contained a number of suggestions that had been introduced by the Solicitor-General. In considering the question of charitable aid, Mr Brown said it would be a very good thing if the public would send loft-off clothing to the Armagh street depot, for the use of the children and the poor. Mr March agreed with Mr Brown, and it was resolved to notify to the public that articles of clothing for distribution to tha poor would be thankfully received at the depot in question. In tho case of a woman who applied for charitable aid, and who had five children, it was stated that botli the father and tho eldest son had cleared out to Sydney, in order not to bo compelled to support their relatives. The father had gone first, and the son followed directly ho know ho was liable to have to keep his mother. The Chairman said he should like to have 1 the hanging of such a son. It was resolved that in future Dr. Guthrie should bo requested to furnish a short report on all oases admitted into the Akuroa Hospital, and the circumstances connected with their admission.

The Chairman said ho did not hoc the use of them revising the hospital rules when it was evident from the “ Gazette " that they wore only a temporary body.

Mr Chilton furnished his weekly report, which showed ten admissions since the last report was presented. The house steward reported there had been ten discharged during the week, and four deaths.

It was stated that a gift of books had been received from W. M. Ollivior for the patients. The gift had boon duly acknowledged. The Board adjourned until Monday, 30th inst., at 3 o’clock.