HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2472, 9 March 1882, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the above woe ) held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Bresent—Hi* ( Worship the Mayor of Sydenham, hie Wor- ■ ship the Mayor of Christchurch, Dr«. Prina ! and Turnbull, Mr Montgomery, Mr E. O. J. Stevena, and Mr Hawkes. Hie Worship the Mayor c£ Christchurch, in the absence of the chairman, was voted to the chair. The report of the hospital committee was read as follows The hospital committee has the honor to r port that during the fortnight ending March 4th twenty-four patients were admitted into the hospital and twenty discharged, leaving sixty-seven patients in the institution. During the same period three deaths occurred. For the corresponding period of last year there were fifty patients in the institution." The Secretary read an extract from the Government Gazette, appointing Mr Robinson, house surgeon of the Hospital, as a public vaccinator. The recommendations of the hospital committee as to leave of absence to be granted to the nurses, &c., were read. The report as read was approved. A telegram was read from the Government with respect to the Charitable Aid Board granting relief to destitute persons in the county of Amuri, stating that as the county paid part of the charges of the Christchurch Hospital the Board should grant relief as asked. The Secretary stated Shat the hospital committee had arranged for the relief being given. The action of the committee was approved. The return from the Akaroa Cottage Hoa- ; pital showed one patient in the institution. The return from the casual ward, Ljttelton, stated that three patients were at present in the ward. A letter wee read from Mr J. P. Sestell ashing that another examination be held into the state of the Orphanage School, on which Mr Habeas, the Inspector-General, had already reported. The Secretary stated that he had written to the Government asking for the InspectorGeneral’s report. Mr Montgomery said that he thought if they granted the request of Mr Bestell, and had the- school examined at once, no good would come .of it. After some disensaion, it was resolved—- “ That the further consideration of Mr Bestell’e letter be postponed until the report of the Inspector-General was received.!’ The following letter was read from the medical staff:— Staff Boom, Christchurch Hospital, February 22nd. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from year Board, enclosing one from the Colonial Secretary, relative to the appointment of the chairman of the Hospital staff to a seat on the Hospital Board. I have to inform you that the Colonial Secretary’s letter was laid before the staff' at a meeting held this day. The following resolution was unanimously agreed to: “ It is desirable that the staff'should be represented upon the Hospital Board by its chairman, and the staff therefore respectfully asks the Board to again request the Government to appoint Or. Frankish to a seat on the Board." The staff believes from the Colonial Secretary’s letter that the Government were under the impression that in appointing Mr Frins they were appointing the chairman of the staff, whereas Mr Frins had ceased to be chairman of the staff some timo before he was gazetted a member of the Board. I have, &c., J. D. Frankish, Chairman of the Hospital Staff. Dr. Turnbull thought that there was no difficulty in the matter. The chairmen of the staff should be gazetted as chairmen of the staff and not as individuals. The chairman of the staff when he retired 'from the chairmanship, like the mayors of boroughs, &0., would have to retire, unless the same person occupied the position of the chairman of the staff twice. The Chairman said that there was- no- recommendation from the Board- for the appointment of Dr. Brins. The Secretary said Dr. Brins had bean appointed by the Government- without the Board knowing anything abont it. The Chairman said he thought tho- Goverament were afraid that the Board wonld ba too large, because the chairmen of the staff, when once appointed, declined to retire. [Daughter.] Mr Hawkes said that Dr. Turnbull sat there as chairman of the staff.’ Dr. Turnbull denied this. Both Mr Thomson, who was Mayor of Christchurch, and himself, were appointed in their own individual capacities. The City Council declined officially to have anything to do with the matter, and Mr Thomsen and' himself were put on the Board as individuals, and not from the offices they held. Mr Hawkes said with regard to their chairman (Mr H. Thomson), there was- no doubt that it was understood he occupied- the position as a member of that Board on account of his being the Mayor of Ohristcharoh. Dr. Turnbull denied that this was so. Both Mr Thomson and himself were appointed, not on account of their official position, but as individuals, and they were gazetted as Mr Henry Thomson and Dr. Turnbull. Some further discussion ensned, and ultimately The Mayor of Sydenham moved—" That the letter of the chairman of the Hospital staff be forwarded to the Government with a request that the chairman of the Hospital staff be appointed during his term of office as a member of the Hospital Board.” Mr Stevens seconded the-motion. Mr Montgomery thought that the letter to the Government should point out that Dr. Brins was not appointed as the chairman of the staff, but in his private capacity, and that it was very important that the- chairman of the Hospital staff should have a seat on the Board. The motion was then put and carried. The report of the Ashburton Home waa read, stating that thirty-one inmates were at present in the Home. One inmate had been discharged. After the transaction of some charitable aid business, the Board adjourned.