HOSPITAL BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2401, 15 December 1881, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday afternoon at four o'clock. Present—Mr H. Thomson (chairman), the Mayor of Lyttelton, the Mayor of Sydenham, the Mayor of Christchurch, Messrs B. C. J. Stevens, W. Montgomery, J. G. Hawkes and Dr. TurnbulL

The following report wu read from the Hospital committee: — The Hospital committee has the honor to report that daring the fortnight ending 10th December thirty-one patients were admitted into the Hospital and twenty-six discharged, leaving seventy-two patients in the institution. During the same period one death occurred. For the corresponding period of last year there were sixty four patients in the Hospital. The committee has duly considered the applications received for the appointment of matron. None of the applicants being trained nurses, the committee has deemed it advisable to invite applications for a housekeeper, at a salary of -860 per annum, with board and apartments. Beport adopted.—Letters were read from the Government approving of the appointment of Dr. Bobinson as house surgeon and of the appointment of Dr. Hogg as oharitable aid officer at Timaru. —Hospital staff—Thirteen applications were received for appointment to the honorary medical staff. The following gentlemen were appointed by ballot:—Drs. Brittin, Prankish, Nedwill, Anderson and Prins. Three applications were reoeived for the position of medioal officer in connection with the oharitable aid.— A ballot resulted in the appointment of Dr. Doyle.—lt was reported that there were only two patients in the Akaroa hospital, and no inmates of the casual ward.—The master of the Orphan Asylum reported that no ohildren were admitted during the month of November, one boy and one girl were withdrawn, and the number of inmates at present in the institution was—boys, 47; girls, 42 ; total, 89. The following tenders for snpplies for the year ending 31st Deoember, 1882, were accepted by the Board, on the recommendation of the respective committees, viz. : Ohriatohuroh Hospital—Bread, William Thomson; meat, F. Hopkns and Co, ; groceries and medical comforts, Grinsted and Co. ; milk, F. A. Fisher ; fuel, B. Dyaaon ; linen, Hobday and Co.; interments, H. Fuhrmann.

Casual Ward, Lyttelton—Bread, W. E. Sbepbeard; meat, Langdon and Judge ; groceries, A. H. Blake and Co. ; fuel, O. IC. Curtis.

Canterbury Orphanage—Bread, W. Gr. Sbepheard ; meat, Garforth and Lee ; groceries and medical comforts, Harvey, Hawkins and Co. ; milk, William Mitchell ; fuel, C. B. Curtis. Asbburton Home —Rations and extras, Orr and 00. ; medical comforts and fuel, IViedlunder and Co. ; medicines, 0. J. H. Neald ; interments, T. A. Grates. CHABITABLK AID DEPARTMENT. Christcburch—Bations, extras, and medioal comforts, Grrinsted and Co ; fuel, B. Dyason; medicines, J. Sterens ; interments, H. F'uhrmann. Timaru—Bations and extras, Taylor and Bowie. Oxford—Bations and extras, F. A. Waterman.

Mr Allwright brought under the notice of the Board a matter connected with tho death of the man named Steele, who entered the Hospital on tho 25th November, and wan found drowned in the bath on the 27th. The executor to the deceased, Mr Parsons of Lyttelton, wrote to the Hospital authorities for any money and effects which Steele bad left, and received in reply a letter from the house steward, stating that 22s had been found in the purse of deceased, of which 21s had been retained for Hospital expenses, and the balance was forwarded to Mr Parsons. Be (Mr Allwright) thought the house steward should have banded over the whole of the money, and that the Hospital should have stood in the position of an ordinary creditor of the estate. It was not light that a puree should be opened in that way and money taken out. —Mr Montgomery agreed that in sueh cases the money should only be held in trust until handed over to the executor. —Mr Stevens thought the matter should be referred to the Hospital committee with the view of framing a regulation applicable to such oases, if none already existed. He was of opinion that the Hospital expenses should be a first charge upon any. funds left by deceased patients. The matter was referred to tho | Hospital committee. After disposing of some charitable aid cases, the Board adjourned.