HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1875, 26 February 1880, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The usual meeting of this Board was held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Present —Messrs H. Thomson (chairman), the Mayor of Christchurch, the Mayor of Sydenham, Mayor of Lyttelton, Messrs Booth, Montgomery, Hawkes, and Dr. Turnbull. Mr Booth moved—“ That this Board, deeply sympathising with Mr J. E. Brown on his recent sad bereavement, desires to express their earnest and sincere condolence with him under such a severe visitation.”

The Mayor of Lyttelton seconded the motion.

Mr Montgomery, in a few words, expressed the deep sympathy he felt, a sympathy shared by all members of the Board, with Mr Brown in his affliction.

The motion was agreed to unanimously. A letter waa received from Mr Brown, resigning hia seat at the Board aa a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, intimating the appointment of Messrs J. T. Brown and J. G. Hawkea as members of the temporary Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for the Canterbury district.

The following letter was read from the Colonial Secretary. February 18th, 1880. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the secretary to the Board, dated the 12th inst., in which he encloses the following resolution passed at a meeting held on the same day :—“ That a copy of the resolution of the Board referring to Dr. Turnbull's absence from the Board meeting, together with a copy of Dr. Turnbull's letter of this date he forwarded to the Colonial Secretary, with the remark that this Board was not aware that the Government contemplated removing Dr. Turnbull’s objections to the present Board by appointing new members.” Mr Hall regrets that the Board should have placed such a remark upon their books without further ground for it than really exists. He is not aware whether the additions recently made to the members will have the effect of enabling Dr. Tnmbnll to resume his seat on the Board. Ho has had no communication with Dr. Turnbull on the subject. But that the additions were made by the Government for the purpose, as is implied in the resolution forwarded in Mr March’s letter, of enabling Dr. Turnbull to resume his seat in a perfectly gratuitous assumption, for which there is no foundation in fact.

I have, Ac., G. S. Cooper, Chairman Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

The Chairman said that it was unfortunate that the mover and seconder of the resolution were absent, as they were not aware at the time that the Government were going to appoint fresh members. Therefore neither they nor the Board meant that the resolution should bear the construction the Government had put upon it at all. Mr Hawkes objected to the letter going before the public, aa he did not think that they should stir up dirty water more than was necessary. The Mayor of Lyttelton urged that the latter was a public document and should go before the public. Mr Montgomery said he for one thought that the letter should be published, still ho did not see any good in doing so. The Board decided that the letter should he handed to the representatives of the Press.

The Hospital committee reported that during the past fortnight thirty-one patients had been admitted into the Hospital, and thirty-six discharged, leaving seventy-seven patients in the institution. During the same period there were four deaths. A letter waa read from the Kaiapoi Borough Council with reference to the claim of the Board made for maintenance of one Tyndall, in the Old Men’s Home, a written guarantee having been given to the secretary by the Kaiapoi town clerk. The matter was referred to the hospital and charitable aid committee.

On the motion of Mr Booth, Mr Hawkes was appointed a member of the orphanage committee in the room of Mr J. B. Brown resigned. The Mayor of Sydenham was appointed as a member of the Ashburton Home committee.

It was resolved that tenders be invited for supply of drugs for charitable aid for Christ* church and Ashburton > The Board wenc into committee to consider the applications for the posts of dispenser and matron.

It was resolved that the applications for post of dispenser bo referred to the medical staS to select three for recommendation to the Board for final selection.

It was resolved that Miss Esmond be appointed as matron. A special meeting of the Board was fixed for Saturday next, to appoint the dispenser. The tender of Mr Porter for whitewashing at the Ashburton Home was accepted. The statement of the receipts and expenditure for the half-year ending Slat December of the charitable institutions under the control of the Board was laid on the table : - Christchurch Hospital—Receipts, £241 7s 3d ; expenditure, £2563 13s 5d ; number of patients in hospital on Ist July, 1879, 82 ; admitted from Ist July to 31st December, 1879, 304; number of patients discharged during same period (including deaths), 310; remaining in hospital on 31st December, 1879, 76 ; number of deaths during six months, 37; daily average number of patients in the hospital during the half-year was 73; daily average cost of each patient, 3s 9id. Orphan Asylum— Receipts, £ll3 14s; expenditure, £100414s 6d. The average cost per child was 7s7id per week, but repayments reduce this to 6s BJd per week. Number of children in the institution on Ist July, 1879 —boys, 60; girls, 37; total, 97; admitted during the half year, boys, 6; girls, 6; total, 12; total, 66 boys, 43 girls; grand total, 109. Apprenticed or withdrawn by relatives during half year, 4 boys, 3 girls ; total, 7 ; remaining in the institution on 31st December, 1879, 63 boys, 40 girls ; total, 103. The highest monthly average was in October, 105 ; the lowest in July, 96 7. The average number for the half year was Xol's. Hospital Cottage, Akaroa —Receipts, £72; expenditure, £2BB 10s 6i. Number of patients on Ist July, 1879, 35; admitted from Ist July to 31st December, 1879, 31; number discharged during half-year, 33; remaining in hospital on 31st December, 1879, 33. Casual Ward, Lyttelton—Receipts, £2l; expenditure, £72 3s sd. Number of patients in ward on Ist July, 1879, 1; admitted from Ist July, 1879, to 31st December, 1879, 6; total, 7. Discharged during half year (including one death), 6; remaining in the ward on 31st December, 1879, 1. Ashburton Home—Receipts, £7; expenditure, £463 9s lOd. Expenditure in charitable aid for half year, £4268 3s 7d. Total receipts, £459 15s 3d; expenditure, £8660 18a 3d. The Board then adjourned.