HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1119, 10 August 1882, Page 2

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

The regular meeting of the Hospital Committee was held last evening. There were present: Ven. Archdeacon Williams (Chairman), Rev. J. McAra, Dr. Pollen, Messrs T. Chirisp, E. K. Brown, and H. McKay.

Mr E. K. Brown was elected as Hon. Treasurer, and Mr H. McKay as Hon, Secretary. Both gentlemen were complimented for the efficient manner in which they had in the past performed the duties of their respective offices.

It was agreed that the Committee should meet on the second Wednesday in each month.

Messrs Brown, McKay, and Chrisp, were appointed a committee to draw up schedules for tenders for Hospital supplies, such tenders to be in by noon on. Wednesday August 23rd. The wardstnan’s report having been read, Dr. Pollen proposed, “ that the Secretary and Treasurer be requested to procure for the next meeting of the Committee, a statement of the relative expenditure of the maintenance of the Gisborne Hospital during the 12 months ending July, 1881, and that ending July, 1882, also the number of patients treated during each of the above years, and their relative per head. This was seconded by Mr E. K. Brown and carried.

Suggestions from Mr. F. J. Piesse the auditor, as to the method of keeping the accounts were adopted. Captain Tucker sent in the following letter to the Committee,

Gisborne, August 9th, 1882. To the Hospital Committee. Gentlemen, —Many very serious mis-state-ments of facts, and false and malicious libels on myself having lately appeared in a paper published in Gisborne, called the Poverty Bay Standard, I have, with a view to ascertaining who is telling the truth and who the falsehood, offered the writers in that paper to forfeit any sum from £lO to £5O to the funds of the Hospital, if it be proved by arbitration that the falsehood is mine, provided that they will do the like ; and as I have made the same offer in many cases, the forfeits in the aggregate would amount to a good round sum, I mention this fact to you, gentlemen, because in helping me to get a fair enquiry and fair play, you must also certainly largely augment your funds, and benefit a public* institution. —I am, eto„ W. H. Tucker, Whilst it was considered most desirable to have the funds of the Hospital added to, the Committee could not see their way to compel the writers in the Standard to attend an enquiry, and the Secretary was instructed to intimate the same to Capt, Tucker.

It was decided that Kauri should be substituted for white pine as lining in the fever ward.

In reference to pauper burials the following communication was read :—•

Colonial Secretary’s Office, Wellington, July 11, 1882. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the number and date quoted in the margin (1073, 7th inst.), asking whether the Hospital Committee are liable for the burial expenses of pauper patients, and if they are not, who are the proper authorities to look after such matters.

In reply, I am directed to inform you that tho the Corporation should bear the charge of these interments.—Yours, etc., G. S. Cooter. E. K. Brown, Esq., Hon, Treasurer Poverty Bay Hospital.

It was resolved to recover by process of law fees, due by patients. The annual Hospital Fete was fixed for St. Andrew’s Day (Nov. 30). A resolution was passed that the the clergymen of the several churches should be requested to devote the collections of one Sunday in each year to the Hospital funds.

The Treasurer announced there was a balance of £77 17s 4d to credit, and that he fully expected that an additional contribution of £lOO would shortly be received from the Government.

Several accounts were passed for payment. Messrs Chrisp, Butt, and Brown, were appointed the visiting Committee for the coming month.