HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2424, 12 January 1882, Page 4

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held on Wednesday afternoon, at 4 o’clock. Present —Mr H. Thomson, M.H.R. (chairman), the Mayor of Christchurch, the Mayor of Sydenham, the Mayor of Lyttelton, Dr. Prins, Dr. Turnbull, Mr E. O. J. Stevens, and Mr J. G. Zfawkei, A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary's office, notifying the appointment of Dr Prins as a member of the Board. The fallowing report was read :

The hospital committee has the honor to report that doling the fortnight ending January 7th twenty-three patients were admitted into tho hospital and twenty-one discharged, leaving fifty-nine patients in the institution. During the same period five deaths occurred. Per the corresponding period of last year exactly the aame number of patients were in tho institution.

The secretary read the following letter : The House Steward, Christchurch Hospital. 3ir.—l herewith enclose .£8 I Is, hospital charges, and £.l subscription to hospital, and return my sincere thanks to the nurses and officials for the great care and kindness shown to my late daughter, Mary, while in the hospital.—J. McdEsaoK.

A letter from the house surgeon, urging upon the Board the desirability of providing a servants’ hall for the accommodation of the servants, &c,, was referred to the hospital oommittee.

A communication was received from the Mayor of Wellington asking to be famished with information as to the manner in which the hospital was conducted and supported. The secretary was instructed to supply the particulars asked for. A letter was received from Mr R. Baird, tendering his resignation as clerk to the Beard on the ground that the remuneration was small, and that he had a number of other calls upon him. The question of the appointment of a successor to Mr Baird was referred to the charitable aid committee, who were .instructed to report at next meeting.

The committee appointed for the purpose submitted revised hospital rules and regulations. Those prescribing the duties of the housekeeper were read and passed seriatim. The Mayor of Sydenham moved—“ That the rales and regulations be submitted to the medical staff, whose attention should be called to those portions affecting themselves, and that they be asked if they have any suggestions to offer with regard to the others.” Dr. Turnbull seconded the motion. The Mayor of Lyttelton moved as an amendment that all the words after “ themselves ” be omitted. Mr Hawkes was of opinion that only those rules should be referred to the staff with which they were directly concerned. If they reported on general matters he was afraid it might lead to such a collision between the staff and the Board as had occurred on a previous occasion. Mr Stevens thought it would bo better to refer the rules as a whole to the staff, as it would not be desirable to imply that they were more interested in some rules than in others. After some discussion the Mayor of Sydenham withdrew his motion, and substituted one to the effect

—“That the rules and regulations bo sent to the staff for their report.” The Mayor of Lyttelton said he would press his amendment that only those portions be referred to the staff which affected themselves. The amendment was negatived, and the motion of the Mayor of Sydenham oarried. . Before proceeding to the appointment ot committees, which was the next business on the paper, the chairman said he desired to resign his position as chairman of the Board. He had filled the office now for throe years and a half. The duties took up a great deal of his time, and he would be glad to be relieved of them. He was strongly ot opinion that the chairman of the Board should be elected every year, and hoped a provision to that effect would be contained in the new Bill it it became law. After some discussion, during which several members of the Board pressed upon Mr Thomson to retain his position, the chairman consented to withdraw his resignation. The following committees were appointed : —Hospital—The chairman, the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr Hawkes, and Dr. Turnbull. Charitable Aid—The chairman, the Mayor of Christchurch , the Mayor of Sydenham, and Dr. Brins. Orphanage—The Mayor of Lyttelton, the Mayor of Sydenham, and Mr Stevens. Ashburton Homo—Messrs Hawkes and Montgomery, and Dr. Brins. The master of the Orphanage reported that during the last month five boys had been admitted into the institution and one girl withdrawn. The number in the institution on December 31st was 52 boys and 31 girls ; total, 83. Daring the quarter ending December 31st, £sllos 4d has been paid for mamtenance of certain children. The school was examined on January sth and 6th by Mr Bestell. Situations were wanted for four boys, aged from fourteen to fifteen years, who were fit to place out. The following report was read : Lyttelton, 9th January, 1882. To the Chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Christchurch. Sir,—l have the honor to inform the Board that during the last quarter the health of the children at the Orphanage has been very good ; any cases of sickness that did occur wore rather of a trivial or chronic natnre. Mr Oatterick has so far recovered as to be able partially to resume duty. I have, Ac., H. Macdonald.

The report from the Ashburton Home showed that there were 42 inmates on June 30th, 1881; from July Ist to December 31st, 1881,16 additional patients were received, and during the same period 21 were discharged. There had been three deaths. The total remaining in the Home on December 31st last was 34. It was reported that there were three patients in the casual ward at Lyttelton and none in the Akaroa Hospital. The Mayor of Sydenham moved—“ That the Orphanage committee bo authorised to institute inquiries as to the possibility of obtaining a training ship for Lyttelton in connection with the Boys’ there.” This matter had been under the consideration of several gentlemen, who thought that if the proper steps were taken it would be possible to procure a man-of-war for this purpose. It had recently been reported that a man-of-war had been presented to Sydney by the Home Government, and possibly something might be done to provide a training ship, which would enable the boys of the Orphanage to become fitted for duties which they would afterwards be called upon to perform. He only asked that the Orphanage committee should make inquiries. The Mayor of Lyttelton had stated that the Government promised a training ship some three years ago. Several members agreed that the motion was a desirable one, and it was carried unanimously. This was all the business, and the Board adjourned.