HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2148, 13 January 1881, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the above Board “ was held at the Hospital Wednesday afternoon 1 at four o’clock. Present—Mr H. Thomson * (in the chair), the Mayors of Christchurch 1 and Sydenham, Dr. Turnbull, and Mr J, G. 1 Hawkes. The following report from the hospital committee was read : ' The hospital committee have the honor to report that during the past fortnight twenty patients have been admitted into the hospital - and twenty-eight discharged, leaving fifty-nine patients in the institution. Daring the same period four deaths occurred. In consequence of continued ill-health the house snrgoon has been compelled to ask the committee to accept the services of Dr. Mickle for the remainder of his term. The committee, having learnt that the staff do not offer the least objection to this arrangement, recommend that the application of the house surgeon be granted. The report was adopted. A letter was read from Dr. Irving, returning thanks to the Board for placing him upon the medical staff. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary’s ofiioe, Wellington, acknowledging receipt of the Board’s reply to tho letter containing Dr. Skae’s report. The following letter was also road :—“ To tho Chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Government in answer to a complaint from the medical staff in reference to the action of tho coroner in transferring a post mortem to an outside practitioner. While admitting his power to do so under the Act, the staff think that he made an improper use of his power in not inviting the surgeon under whose charge the patient was while in the hospital, to be present at the examination. Not only was he not invited, bnt after hearing that the post mortem was transferred the visiting surgeon called on the coroner and was told that he could not be present without his (the coroner’s) permission. This was never granted. — l have, &0.. Jambs leting, M.D., secretary to medical staff.” Tho Chairman remarked that the Coroner was absent from the colony, and he did not think the staff wished to pursue the matter further. In reply to a question, The Chairman said that the surgeon who had charge of the case was present at tho post mortem, although without invitation. Dr. Turnbull thought that the matter had better drop. The report from the Orphanage for tho month of December last was then read. It stated that during that period three children bad left and two had been admitted into that institution. The number of children in the Orphanage on January Ist was—Boys, 53 ; girls, 45 ; total, 98. The Secretary reported that, in accordance with the Board’s resolution, he had visited Waimate and made all necessary arrangements for taking over all charitable aid cases in that district, viz,, the county to continue relief until January 15th, when all cases will be discontinued; fresh applications to be made to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board; the Inspector of Police to make all necessary inquiries ; Mr Gibbon, the clerk to the Waimate Borough Council, to perform the duties in connection with the administration of charitable aid, for which it was recommended that a gratuity of £5 a year be given him. The secretary’s action was approved. On the motion of Dr. Turnbull it was resolved—“ That the Government be requested to furnish a return of expenditure in connection with the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Orphanage, Old Men’s Home, Armagh street depot, &0., and also a return of the amount contributed by each borough and county for the above object.” Several applications for charitable aid were considered, after which the Board adjourned.