HOSPITAL TRUSTEESHIP.

Kumara Times, Issue 2989, 2 June 1886, Page 2

HOSPITAL TRUSTEESHIP.

The ordinary meeting of the Hospital Trus-.ees waa held in the Town Hall last evening; present—Mr Burger (in the chair), Messrs Voysey, Maloney, Payne, Ziegler, Wooldriclge, and W. Morris. There was a large attendance of the public, who manifested much interest in the proceedings. The minutes of the previous meetin« were read and confirmed. * The outward correspondence was read and approved of. Mr Burger, as a member of the House Committee, reported that u

miner named Smith, a ticket-holder, had been admitted to (he Hospital on Monday, .md that Dr. Davy hadivfused to attend him, statins; that Ins term of office (as Surgeon Supeiimendenl) had expiied. Th<> patient was attended to by the Wardsman and Matron, who did all in their power to relieve him of pain. He (Mr Burger) also authorised, the Wardsman to call in Mr Evison to his assistance, if necessary. Notwithstanding the efforts of the Wardsman and Matron, the patient became gradually worse, and died at about three o'clock on Tuesday morning. According to the agreement on his arrival in Kuuiara, he considered the doctor either terminated his engagement at the end of April, or he had to stay another three months. He then read an extract f>om the minutes of a meeting held on the 2nd of June, 1885, to shew that Dr. Davy was to be installed in hia duties at the Hospital on the fol- . lowing day (3rd June); the year for which he was engaged would, therefore, not expire till the 2nd June (to-mor. • row). He believed an inquest would be held on the body of Smith tomorrow, and he thought the Trustees should appoint one of their number to represent them at the inquest. The Wardsman, being present, was here interrogated as to Mr Burner's statement, which he corroborated. Mr Maloney, who said he was pre--ent during Mr Burger's visit to the Hospital, also testified as to facts related. Mr Morris said he did not know whether it would be right for the Trustees to interfere in the matter, but he considered the man who had refused to attend the patient should not be the person to hold an inquest on the body. He regarded the action of Dr. Davy in •efusing to attend the patient Smith as a slur on the Trustees and the community.—[Applause from the body of the ball.] He (Mr Morris) held that Dr. Davy's term of office did not expire till the 2nd of June. He considered that some stringent measures should be taken to show that this action of the doctor's could not be regarded with impunity; in f actj j le understood that a doctor could he struck off the Registrar's list of the colony for such conduct.—[Applause.! Mr Ziegler said that just prior to the admission of Smith, there was only one patient; but there were out-patients and at times during the past month there had been no doctor to attend to them. He asked the Secretary to turn up the minutes as to when Dr. Davy tendered his lesignation. Letter read, as follows : The Chairman Hospital Trustees' Board. Dear Sir—l acknowledge the receipt of your letter informing me of the resolution of the Committee. The year of office expires for me at the end of May and also the month from the date of my tirst letter to the Committee, with the addition of a few days. My former notice" was erroneous, and I now advise you that I shall bring my duties here to a close at the expiration of the iuterval mentioned. I am, dear sir, sincerely yours Kumara, May Ist, 1880. Mr Voysey said that as Dr. Davy's term o f office did not expire till 2nd June, he was both morally and legally responsible for inattention. The doctor h id personally told him that his sentiments of humanity would not allow him, in case of sedous accident or illness, to leave the hospital till someone arrived to take care of such patients. He considered the doctor had shown "feat want of humanity \ n this case He moved that Messrs Morris, ZiegJerj and Burger be appoiuted to attend'the inquest on Wednesday, on behalf of the Hospital Trustees. The motion was seconded by Jf r Mortis, and carried. In furtherance of opinions already expressed, Mr Morris then moved that a telegram be forwarded to Dr. Giles early on Wednesday morning, statin* that a man named Smith had died iu the Hospital under unsatisfactory cir cumstancHS, and that the Trustees hoped that if a post mortem were necessary he (the Coroner) would kindly appoint some medical man other than Dr. Davy to make the post mortem, as he (Dr Davy) had refused to attend deceased.—i [Applause.] Mr Wooldridge seconded the motion which was carried. ' The Wardsman's Report for May was then read. It showed that durinthe month there were only f our j ri D patients treated, of whom one had been discharged cmed, one had died, leaving two in the Hospital or. the night of the dlat. Samuel Balderson was cured of wounds and contusions, and discharged • Samuel Hughston, suffering- from hemiplegia, succumbed to the disease; and Carl Kag<-lon,cher, suffering from a fractured leg, and IV.er Smith, of whom "no di.igr.osii" «•.« give.;' i«. maiued iu the hospital on of .he 31st ult.-TUe was received,

The Secretary was instructed to apply to the Grey District Charitable Aid Board for payment of the amount of 0. Kagelmacher's maintenance, he having come from the Grey district. With regard to the late S. Hughston's maintenance, Mr Morris reported that he had received a sum of £6 from the friends (Messrs M'Fetrich and Caldwell) of the deceased, and moved that this amouut be received, with thanks, in fall payment for the maintenance of Hughston.—The motion was seconded by Mr Maloney, and cirried. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Westland Charitable Aid Board for the payment of the first quarter's subsidy. The Treasurer (Mr Ziegler) acknowledged the receipt of £l2 10s Id from the Government, being the remaining third of the subsidy due for the quarter ending December 31, 1885. Accounts to the amount of £37 Is 6d were passed for payment. The following tenders were then opened for clearing and grubbing a portion of the Hospital Reserve. Sec. A Sec.B Sec. 0 £ a. £ s. £ s. Jas. M'Redmond. ... 36 6 P. Corrigan 49 0 J. Gukert and Co. 35 0 38 0 55 0 H. Korman ... 66 0 Hope and Murray 33 0 38 10 49 10 J. Cairns ... 59 0 A. W. Quy 39 0 49 15 M. Ryder ... 39 0 H. Healey ... 50 0 M'lnnis and party ... ... 70 0 It was resolved that Messrs Hope and Murray's tender for section A, Mr James M'Redmond's tender for section B, and Mr P. Corrigan's tender for section C be accepted; and that Messrs Ziegler and Maloney sign the contracts on behalf of the Trustees. Mr Maloney was elected on the House Committee, vice Mr Burger, retired. The House Committee was authorised to make any necessary arrangements for medical attendance at the Hospital. Receipts were handed in as follow : By Mr Voysey, £4; Mr Morris (on behalf of the late Mr Hughston's maintenance) £6 ; Mr Wooidridge, £4 ; the Wardsman, 10s; total £l4 10s. This concluded the business of the meeting. WESTLAND RAILWAY LEAGUE AND MR. SEDDON, M.H.R. [From the West Coast Times, June I.] A public meeting was held in the Town Hall last evening for the purpose of discussing various matters that had taken place in connection with the East and West Coast Railway. His Worship the Mayor, who occupied the chair, said the meeting had been called in deference to the wishes expressed at a meeting of the League held in the County Council Chambers on Saturday night. He read the following telegram from Mr Seddon, which explained itself : Midland Railway : Menteath's question re diversion, need cause no alarm. House alone can alter ; the majority in favor of present route and no delay ; the danger of interference with mining operations now being averted by legislation. Agitations favor loop to Kumara and branch to Rocky Point, and asking for survey and data cannot possibly be detrimental to progress of either or both works. The connection with Kumara means six miles nearer Rocky Point, 20 far as explained at present; concessions asked for by Syndicate are reasonable ; the difficulty re auriferous lands being removed ; intention to the best of my ability to further the early commencement of the great national work. He considered the telegram was eminently satisfactory; it had been thought necessary to censure Mr Seddon for his action, he now considered it would be more fitting to move a vote of thanks. Mr Jack came forward and said he •was very pleased Mr Seddon had explained himself in the way he had. It certainly looked as if he had been acting prejudicially to the interests of the line, but now things wore a different aspect. He had much pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Seddon for his telegram, and for the assistance he was rendering the line. Mr Seddon had no inlention of hindering the work. Mr Michel seconded the lesolutton, and in doing so differed from the previous speaker, inasmuch as he. thought all the time Mr Seddon was doing what he con Id for the lir.-o. Whatever Mr Seddon aiight do, r_o matter how he rni^ I .t opr'Oii- Uk: GoV3rnment, he certaiu'y w-mid .i-'t c'o *. on the railway onei-.tiori. Ko dll not ask for a devhulon, only for r; lii.o \\u Kumara to Rocky Point. The Mayor ;hen redd iLc U;]<:, t ,,,;. find resolution, and invited expressions of opinion from the meeting. Mr Hudson said he was i.scoi.islicd at the sudden chaise of oninion exhibited by some present in that. room. Oa Saturday night thi-y .ve;'; bunv.nr;

with indignation against Mr Seddon, and now they were equally wauu in his praises. There was no mistake about Mr Seddon's change of front. It had not only been renin kej by the local press but also by the papeis throughout the colony ; they had only to go to the rending room in that building to see what w*s said. It was unwise to agitate for a deviation or for a new line until the present one was safe. They had already experienced the fruits of Mr Seddon's attempts at deviation, but for which the GreyHokitika line would have been finished. Mr Park supported the resolution because he thought Mr Seddon was doing his best for the district. He thought it far better if we connected with Greymouth and the Christchuich lii e via Rocky Point than if we hud merely the line along the beach He did not think, if the. one line was constructed, we had much chance, of a connection with the main line. Mr Jack wished to explain that Mr Seddon did not ask for a deviation but only for a survey of :i line to connect us with the Christchuteh line. In view of the allocation of a million and a half loan, it was desirable to have the surveys and estimates ready. The Mayor then put the resolution, which he declared carried unanimously. He also put a motion, expressing thanks to the member for the district, Mr Bevan, for his exertions, and one directing him (the Mayor) to telegraph to Government ro railway matters, which weie declared carried unanimously. The meeting then separated.