HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1657, 12 June 1879, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of this Board was held yesterday at four o’clock. Present— The Chairman (Mr Thompson), the Mayors of Christchurch, Sydenham, and Lyttelton, Mr J, E. Brown, Dr. Turnbull, and Mr Montgomery, The minutes of the last meeting were read. HOSPITAL EXPENSES. In answer to Dr. Turnbull, The Secretary stated that steps were being taken to submit a statement of the cost of maintaining the Hospital during the year. Dr. Turnbull also suggested, as a matter worthy of consideration, that care should be taken to see that patients did not stop longer in the Hospital than necessary. The number might thus be decreased, in view of possible increase in disease. VACCINATION. Mr Brown stated that complaints had been made about the practice of vaccinating children in the Hospital. He did not think it was the proper place, even if the Hospital had the necessary conveniences for them. However, he thought it was a mistake, on the ground alone of children being allowed to scamper about the Hospital, thus being liable to catch disease. BEEENE’a CASE, The Chairman stated that a letter bad been sent to the Government giving an account of Breene’s case, as directed by the Board at its last meeting. The Secretary read the letter referred to. The Chairman said about two days after the letter had been sent he received an enclosure sent by Dr. Chilton, but subsequently he returned them to the Colonial Secretary, who wrote for them, having in the meantime received the letter of the Board. matron’s salabt. The Chairman pointed out that no decision had been arrived at as to what salary should bo paid to the matron whom it was proposes, to appoint. It had been suggested iu a conversational way that the salary should be £SO a year. The House Surgeon, in reply to a question from the Chairman, said he knew a lady who would, he thought, come for about £SO. In St George’s, London, tho matron received £BO a year, and in country hospitals tho matrons received about £65 per year. Mr Brown thought £IOO was not more than sufficient for a person in the responsible position of matron to the Hospital. By 1 offering a fair sum like that superior persons would be induced to apply for the situation. Mr Booth suggested that they should offer [ from £BO to £IOO per year. Ho had no | doubt there were many ladies in large cities ; at home who devoted their lives to this sort of work, and with whom salary was not eonl sidered so much an object as the mere fact of . benefiting their fellow-creatures. ! Mr Montgomery suggested they should put in this way—“ Not exceeding £100.” I Dr. Turnbull suggested that tho Board ) should offer £4O towards the passage money. 3 It was resolved that a salary not exceeding i £IOO per annum bo paid to the matron of the ■ Hospital; that the term of the engagement 1 bo for twelve months ; after that period the j engagement to bo cancelled on three months’ e notice on cither side; and that tho sum of t £ 10 be allowed towards passage money; the

i salary to commence on her arrival and enterup cn her duties at the Hospital. TIXK OBPHANAOB. The report of the Orphanage committee was road as follows : The orphanage comaiitt-'e beg to report that they paid a vhit of inspection to the institution on Saturday last. The committee found that the first suits of clothing which have been made at the gaol are of very good quality, well made, and the price charged (.£1 psr suit) appears fair and reasonable. From inquiries made it has been 'ound that suits of rho same material supplied in large quantities cmiid not be furnished under the price charged by the gaol authorities. The charge for jackets (made of a different material from those of the best suits) was 10s each, as per agreement, but this has since been reduced to 8s fid per jacket. 'I ho committee would, however, recommend that in future all clothing for the hoys should be made of the same material that the best suits are made of. With respect to hoots, the committee have caused inquiries to be made with the view of ascertaining if the same quality can he obtained, also where, at a cheaper rate than that charged at the gaol. The committee finds that certain alterations are ncces: ary to the drainage. _ A supply of water is also needed to the urinals, and the asphalt in several places requires repaving ; the estimated cost is about £ tO, and the committee recommend that the works bo carried out, and that a letter be written to his Worship the Mayor of Lyttelton, asking him to allow the foreman of works to the borough to superintend the improvements. The committee recommend that Miss Kissel’s application for an increase of salary bo approved, and that she be allowed at the rate of .£7O per annum, on condition that Miss Kissel obtain a certificate as a qualified teacher at the first examination to be held by the Hoard of Educate n. Tho Chairman suggested that the Government should be asked to al'ow clothing to be obtained from the gaol at the cost of the material, Mr J. E. Brown pointed out that there was a sort of rivalry between the different gaolers in the colony, and it had been ascertained that only one gaol in the colony actually paid expanses. Dr Turnbull remarked that the orphanage was carried on to a certain extent with private money, and the Government were bound to charge. The Chairman admitted that, but contended that they need not charge so much as they did. Mr Booth moved, Mr Ick seconded, and it was carried that the report be adopted, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS. A letter was received from tho Colonial Secretary’s office, forwarding invoice and bill of lading for a case of surgical instruments, shipped by the Agent-General, per ship Adelaide, for Lyttelton. inspector's expenses. On the motion of Mr Allwright, it was resolved that Mr Restall's expenses be paid, HOSPITAL BURGEON'S EEPOBT. Dr. Chilton reported that there had been twenty-two admissions during the past fortnight ; also that there had been two cases of erysipelas, the infection having taken place in the Hospital, and made recommendations in reference to the provision of extended protective measures. Several matters of detail in connection with the Hospital management were dealt with, among them a complaint from Dr. Chilton that the salaries of the Hospital servants had not been paid on the Ist of tho mouth. This the house steward explained as being due to a clerical error on his part. Other matters were referred to the Hospital committee to deal with. With reference to the case of Amos James Tudball, the House Surgeon reported that in his opinion the prisoner’s state was not precarious. Other correspondence on the subject was read. Dr, Turnbull could not understand why all that correspondence had arisen. It was, ho thought, a work of supererogation to have entered into a discussion of Tudball’s position as a criminal. They had admitted prisoners to the hospital over and over again, and they should be treated ns any other patients, Mr Brown, who had looked up the law on the subject, said the gaoler was clearly responsible for tho safe custody of the prisoner. PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL. The House Steward reported that there were seventy-two patients in the hospital and twenty-four discharged. VACCINATION, Mr Brown moved, and it was carried, that the hospital committee be requested to inquire into and report upon the subject of public vaccination in tho hospital. Tho Board then went into committee.