HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2054, 23 September 1880, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the above was b.9ld on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Present—Mr H. Thomson (chairman), Dr. Turnbull, the Mayors of Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Sydenham. The hospital committee reported that during the fortnight twenty-three patients had been admitted and twenty-five discharged, leaving 147 in the institution. The house steward reported that the laundry chimney and furnace wore in an unsafe condition and required rebuilding. He also reported as to the cleaning and distempering of No. 6 ward. After soma discussion, the matter of the ohimney was referred to the hospital committee, to take action if necessary. An apology was received from Mr Montgomery for non-attendance. The matter of the distempering of the wards Noe. 4 and 5 and building a coal shed was also referred to the Hospital committee to tako action. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, authorising the Board to procure the twelve months' supply of drugs for the Hospital from Messrs Elliott Brothers, of Sydney. The Chairman said that he had forwarded a letter to Messrs Elliott Brothers asking them to forward the drugs as soon as possible. A letter was read from the Colonial Treasurer, in reply to one from the Board, urging that, as tho Hospital employes were lower Daid than any others in New Zealand, that the ten per cent, reduction should not apply. The reply was as follows : Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 16th Sept., 1880. Sir, —I have tho honor, by direction of the Colonial Secretary, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, nrging the Government to re-consider the qnestion of the 10 per cent, reduction in the salaries and wages of the persons employed by tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and _ giving certain reasons which you are of opinion justify such reconsideration.

In reply I am to express regret that, while fully admitting the efficiency of the employes, your request cannot be complied with, as carrying it into effect would involve the same rule being applied to all the Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums, Ac, in the colony, and would thus derange the calculations of the Government. With regard to the alleged inequalities in the salaries paid at the different Hospitals, I am to inform you that the Government contemplate making inquiry on the subject. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper. H. Thomson, Esq., Chairman of Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Christchurch. The following correspondence was read relative to fever cases in the Hospital:— Local Board of Health, Christchurch district, Hereford street, 15th September, 1880. To the Chairman Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.—Sir, —A letter dated September 7th from the house surgeon of the Hospital reports three cases of fever as having been admitted into the Hospital. Clause 28 of the Public Health Act only provides that a householder mnßt givo notice to the Board of Health if it be within his knowledge that any inmate of his houße is Buffering from " small-pox, cholera or any other highly infections disease dangerous to the people." I do not wisW-to. .give the health officer unnecessary trouble by asking him to visit the premises where caßes coming within the category in clause 28 do not exist. I shall, therefore, feel obliged by your instructing the house surgeon to inform me as soon as possible whether the cases reported, as above-mentioned, are properly designated "as highly infectious and dangerous to the people." If not, there is no need tint he should report them. May I ask you also to instruct him to report whether the cases are cases of typhoid fever ? I have. &c, R. J. S. Harman, Chairman. Christchurch Hospital, September 16th, 1880. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you, in reply to your letter received this morning, the three cases reported on September 7th were of the following character : Thomas Gleason, diagnosed by visiting physician, typhoid fever. Elizabeth Wright, diagnosed by visiting physician, typhoid fever. Mrs Drummond, diagnosed by visiting physician, simple fever. As you are doubtless aware, I am only complying with instructions received from the Board to report all cases of fever. I have. &c, W. R. Davies, House Surgeon. H. Thomson, Esq., Chairman Hospital and Charitable Aid Board-*

Some discussion ensued, the opinion of the Board, being that the resolution passed at a recent meeting as to the house Burgeon reporting cases of fever to the Local Board of Health should be adhered to. The Secretary stated that on the 6th July a letter was sent to the Board of Health, informing them that the house surgeon had been instructed to report all cases of fever to the Board of Health. It was resolved to reply to tho effect that the Board having passed a resolution instructing tho house surgeon to report all cases of faver of whatever description to the Local Board of Health, sees no reason to depart from this course, fearing that it might lead to a recurrence of the misunderstanding which has already taken place between this Board and the health officer. A letter was read from tho Colonial Secretary, stating that tho Government were reducing the salariea of immigration officers throughout the colony by one-half, and that Mr March's services for half his time would be at the disposal of the Board, if they desired to pay the other moiety of Mr March's salary, amounting to £3OO odd psr annum. The representatives of the local bodies expressed their views that the matter should be brought before the local bodies, as the payment of such a sum yearly, and the relieving of the Government of a certain amount of responsibility, was a most important cubjeot. After some discussion it was resolved to hold a special mooting of the Board, to consider the question, at 4 p.m. on Friday, October Ist. A report was read from Dr. Macdonald on the state of health of the inmates of the Orphanage, also reporting that some improvement was needed in tho ventilation of one of the dormitories. It was agreed to refer tho matter to the orphanage committee. Tho Board, after disposing of some oharitable aid applications, adjourned.