HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2448, 9 February 1882, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Hospital ancE Charitable Aid Board was held on Wednesdayafternoon at four o'clock. Pre rent —Mr H. Thomson, M.H.B. (chairman), the Mayor of Sydenham, Messrs E. O. J. Sfevens, J. G. Hawkci, and the Mayor of Ohrutohurch.

The Secretary apologised for the absence o£ Dr Frins, and the Chairman for the absence of Dr Tarnbull.

The hospital committee's report was read as follows : The hospital committee have the honor to report that during the fortnight ending February 4th 24 patients were mltri ted into the) hoepital and 23 discharged, leaving 68 patients in the institution. Dnring the same period two deaths occurred. For thj corresponding period of last year there were 43 patients in the hesp ital. 'J he committee having ascertained that no part of the hospital is insured, would recommend that wards 4. 5, and 6 should be insured for JEIOOO each, £3OOO ; furniture in each ward at £looeach,£3oo; thocorridorat £500; theoffioea and private apartments at £ 1000; the furnitnre, drags, apd fittings, at .£500; on the old building, JSIOOO; on the furniture, JSIUO; on the laundry and fittings, £50(1; total, £7200. If this recommendation is approved, the committee would recommend that the Government be communicated with immediately as soon as the rates of insurance have been atcertiined.

Mr. Hawkea moved that the report bo adopted. It was estimated that the incurance of the buildings would not involve a larger annual charge than about £SO. If the build* inga were destroyed it would be difficult to induce the Government to place on the Estimates an adequate sum to replace them.—The motion was seconded by the Mayor of Sydenham, and agreed to. A latter was read from Dr. Frankish, chairman of the Hospital staff, from which tho following is an extract: —" The staff," after carefully inspecting the Hospital grounds, unanimously resolved that it would be imprudent to erect a contagious disease hospital near the Christchurch Hoipital, for the following reasons :—(1) A very large area im already covered by the present buildings. (2) Not more than sufficient ground is at present set aside for the use of convalescent patients. (3) The only available site is now in ute as a garden, and being close to tiHe new ward and in close proximity to the Lincoln road, would prove in every respect unsuitable. (4) The staff believes that a contagious disease hospital should be removed as far away as practicable from a general hospital. The staff desired me to suggest & conference between the Board of Health and the Hospital Board on the subject."—Oa the motion of Mr Stevens, seconded by the Mayor of Sydenham, it was resolved—- " That the Board seek a conference with the Board of Health on the general question of the establishment of a contagious disease ward."

The following letter,. dated fche 25th January, was received from the UnderSecretary :—" I have the honor to acknowledge the reeeipt of your letter of the number and date quoted in the margin, on the subject of procuring a training ship in. connection with the Lyttelton Orphanage, and to inform you that tho matter will receive fche> consideration of the Government.'• The consideration of the letter was deferred until next meeting. The following letter was received from tho Colonial Secretary's OfSoe :—" Sir, —I' have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the number and date quoted in the margin, forwarding copy of a resolution by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in favor of the chairman of the hospital staff having a seat upon the Board. In reply, I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to inform yon that the chairman of the hospital staff, Dr. Prins, was made a member of theBoard a few weeks ago; but the Government cannot undertake to appoint the chairman each time a naw appointment is made by the staff, and indeed consider the Board sufficiently numerous at at present constituted." Dr. Robinson, the house surgeon, wrote intimating his intention of applying for the post of public vaccinator in the place of Dr. Ned will, who had recently resigned. As the publio vaccination station for Ohristchuroh was at the Hospital, the duties- of house surgeon need not interfere with the efficient fulfilment of the duties of both office*, and be trusted his application would receive the approval of the Board.—On the motion of Mr Hawkes it was reiolved—" That the Board have no objection to Dr. Robinson's application for the office of public vaccinator."' —ln answer to Mr Stevens, the Chairman stated that the Hospital was the only station for public vaccination for the Ohristchuroh district, and that there was no station for Sydenham. The secretary read a memorandum in reference to a paragraph which appeared in the " Lyttelton Times " of December 26th, in which some oomplaints were made abont the management of tho Akaroa Hospital, and in. which it was stated that" a girl in a precarious state of health had to remain in the building alone during the whole night, with a dead, body in the next room." The secretary alio read some correspondence which had been received from Akaroa on the subject, including letters from. Dr. Singleton, medical officer to the Akaroa Hospital, Mrs Smart, matron, and Hannah Dilton, the patient alluded to. The Board considered the- explanations offered satisfactory. The Mayor of Sydenham reported that Mr C. W. Turner had handed over for the use of the Orphanage and the Lyttelton Naval Brigade a vessel that was now lying in Lyttelton harbor. He would suggest that the Orphanage committee should be instructed to inspect the ship and obtain the advice of Captain McLellan, the harbor-maater.—Mr Stevens asked how it was intended to utilise the ship. Was it proposed that the boys should live on board ?—Mr Joyae did not think that would be possible. The Is aval Brigade had promised to fit the vessel up.— It was agreed that the members of theOrphanage committee should inapoot the ship. The master of the Orphanage reported that during the month of January, two girls were admitted into the institution, and four boys withdrawn, leaving ninety-one children in the institution, namely, forty-eight boys and forty-three girls. It was reported that there were thirty-four-inmates in the Old Men's Home,, Ashburton, and two in the Akaroa Hospital. After disposing of some charitable aid cases, the Board adjourned.