MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THE HOSPITAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1325, 5 July 1883, Page 2

MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THE HOSPITAL.

Tnv annual meeting of subscribers to the Hospital was held in the Public School Room The meeting was but sparsely attended, about 50 being present. Archdeacon Williams was called to the chair, lie stated the objects of the meeting were to receive the General Report, tho Treasurer's Report, the Medical Officer's Report, to elect officers for the ensuing year. The minutes of the last annual meeting was read and confirmed. The following report was read by the Secretary : General Report, Your Committee, in presenting the annual report, have to express their thanks for the very liberal support accorded to the institution by all classes of the community. The amounts received in subscriptions and from all other sources, compare favorably with the contributions obtained during any of the preceding years. Tliemexns placed at their disposal have enabled your Committee to carry on the work entrusted to them without resorting to the Government for any special aid outside the usual subsidy. This cannot but be considered as highly creditable to the ! inhabitants of this district, and, especially 1 so when it is borne in mind that the expense* of management of like inntitutions, in larger j and wealthier towns are almost entirely pro. ; vidrd for out of the consolidated fund. 'I his ! is admittedly an injustice ; but in the absence i of any legislative enactment making general provision for charitable aid, it neoeasarilly will devolve upon members of a community to generously contribute to so worthy an object. Judging from past experience, your Committee have no reason to apprehend any falling off in the subscriptions tor the next year ; otherwise they should ask for an expression of opinion at this meeting as to the ; advisability of handing over the control and ' responsibility for maintenance of the Hospital to the Government. At present they ; see no necessity for such a step, but would, , nevertheless invite discussion on the sub- | ject. As to the general management, a few par- | ticulars supported by the figures contained | in the Treasurer’s statement, will explain clearly the operations of your Committee during their term of office. The receipts for the period amount to £1142 7s sd, being £l2l 10 lid more than last year, while the expenditure (including the sum of £287 9s 4d for the new building) amounts to £1,141 3s 9d, leaving a small credit balance of £1 3s Bd. The liabilities to date amount to £196 9s 4d, against which there is a sum of £139 3d Id. payable to the Treasurer, which, when deducted from the liabilities leaves a deficit of £57 6d 3d. As regards the ox-

penditure, there has been a strict supen vision of each Item, The ordinary disbursements certainly do not eycetd ths usual average for the number of patients treated, Outside of this, however, therl has been what may be termed extraordinary expenditure, incurred for sanitary improvements and in permanents works. This putlay, although included in the accounts presented, will not recur for some years, and should not properly speaking be chargeable to the period now closed. The works undertaken were the renovation and distern* poring of the interior of both wards of tne old building, repairs to the roof, and ad* ditions to the spouting j also, extra Work and fittings for the Fever Ward which were unforseen when the original contract Wai taken. A portion of the expenses incurred for the latter was met out of the general fnnd, but the work was necessary for the completion of th* building, so that it would in every respect be adapted to the design for which it is erected. The former meuU had been long under contemplation and at the time they were undertaken there was a surplus of funds. In connection w|*h the Fever \\ ard, it is right to mention that it has not yet been furnished for the recap* lion of patients. In view of the possible Htccßßity for its use during the summer months, it is suggested that this matter be attended to by our successors as soon as the state of funds will perndU Your committee recognising the Importance of having a pa.d medical officer at Cached to the institution, availed themselves of the services of Dr. Pollen, appointing him to the position of* Hospital Surgeon, at a Biliary of £lOO per annum. He was also re* quested to retain hie seat on the committee as an advising member, without being privi* 1< ged to exorcise a vote. With respect to the internal management there is nothing which calls for extended remarks. The number of cases treated will be ascertained from the Medical Officer's reprt, from which it will bo seen that they were more numerous than last year. No complaints from patients have been lodged with committee, while, on the other haua favorable testimony has been given by many •>f those who have had occasion to seek admission. There has been no increase in the number of employees, and only on rare occasions has additional assistance been re* quired. During an exceptional period of sickness in March last, the accommudtlioti was taxed to its utrno t extent, and iu order to pt event overcrowding in the future it was decided on the suggestion of the Medical Officer to limit, as far as practicable, the number of inmates at one time to ten. It has been found necessary to amend a number of the Hospital rules : and, also, to frame a few new ones. The new rules apply principally to the duties of the wards* man, which are now strictly defined. They also deal with the method to be observed.!!! the reception of patients, and provides for the more regular collection of fees agreed to be paid by them on their admission. It is to be hoped that the action taken in this direction will lead to beneficial results, and obviate the necessity of recovering by process of law (as in recent instances) fees, from patients who had the means to pay but failed to do so. Mr McDowell’s occupancy of the Hospital grounds having expired, the question of utilising a portion of the reserve has again been before the Committee, and a resolution was passed at the last meeting, authorising the* V en. Arcdeacon Williams and Mr £. K.< Brown to make the most advantageous arrangement, with the view so effect tho de* sired object. In conclusion, the committee desire to record the obligations they Are under to those who contrived and carried out the annual out door Fete on Nov. 80-h, and the subsequent entertainment in aid of the funds, from which sources a large portion of the revenue hes been derived. They are also grateful for the assistance derived front collections made at the various churches dn Hospital Sunday, and would express tho hope that such useful help mav again be given through the same means. W. L. Williams, Chairman,

Mr Greenwood moved and Mr Johnston seconded tho adoption of the Report. Carried. Treasurer'! Report, Treasurer's Report on thb Poverty Bay Hospital Accounts tor thb Year ending 30tr Jcnk, 1883; To the Chairmae and subioriberl. Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen. I hate the honor to lay before you the an* nua! balance sheet, showing statements of receipt and eipanditure, duly audited by Mr I F. J. Piesse, for the year ending 80th June, i 1883 | alao statement showing the amunnt ot I asuei a and liabilities of the above institution j on the date mentioned. Receipts.—The subacriptions exceed thoss jof last, year by £lOB 12s 3d. The subddiec fr<»m Government are loss by £56 16s 81, bi t ihe sum of £137 19s 5d is now owing cy the : Government, The fees from pa’ients exceed i those of last year by,£l9 Zs 6d. £lO7 1-0 was also contributed by the Government to* [ wards the completion of the new fever ward. : The new fever ward is now completed and I paid for, and is insured in the Norwich I Uuion for £l5O. i Expenditure.—The expenditure on medicine and medical comforts exceeds last year by £3l 4s 6d, which is oiaily accounted for by referring to the medical officer’s report. j lhe salaries exceed those of last year by , £B4 8s 6d. This is accounted for by the I mrdical officer’s salary being now £lOO, | wherra* previously he wa« only paid accordi ing to the state of the funds. We hare also , had to employ extra nurses on several occa--1 mods during the past year. . Printing, advertising, and stationery 01I ceeds last year by £l7 js od The total {amount tor the tear is £4B 19<« 6d, but al both the Herald and the STANDARD have I subsciibed liberally to the funds, on which J subsidy has bec»* paid, the amount, is thereby reduced considerably. The new fever ward j has been a greater tax upon our resourced ■ i han we anticipate”, owing partly to the I delay in getting subscriptions j partly to i some alterations , the erection of two out effices, and putting up some fixtures inside the building. Repairs and furniture are less by £B3, but the whole building should be painted without further delay j this is lhe only extra item that the new committee will have to provide for j the other eifienses are about the same as usual, after allowing far an extra number of patients provided for. The Hospital building and contents are insured for £l2OO -one-half in the New Zealand, and one-half in the United. E. K Brown, Hon. Sec. P. B. Hospi'al. The Treasurer stated tho amount owed by the institution on the Ist of July, was only £6 10, nnd the County Council had promised about £25 annually. Mr Johnston moved, and Mr Nolan seconded, that the balance sheet and report be adopted. Mr Joyce enquired what the item of £4B 19r 5d was. The t reasurer stated that it waa for printing and advertising, and

stated that both pavers bad subscribed most liberally. Mr Gregson asked what caused bo much expense for saterfe. It was explained that the doctor’s salary wan included. ; Mr Sigley a*ked if any of the funds of the hospital had been used for the | burial of pauper*. The hospital was ’* place for poor people. He thought that the hospital funds might be used for the burial of the poor without so tauch publicity; The Chairman stated that the com’ feltiee had declined to assist in the burial of paupers, He thought that the hospital funds should be used for the living paupers, and not for the dead. The question bad been set at feet by the Government stating that public bodies were responsible for the burial of pjtupeVs. There would be no further trouble about thia matter for the future. I'he Chairman here read a paper relating to hospital returns, which had been compiled for Jbhe purpose of showing the state of ▼hospitals in general, and be must say that the Gisborne Hospital bore a most favorable comparision with all the others in every respect. He moved that the report be adopted. Carried.

Medical Report. Mb. Chairman and GmnTl*m«j?,— , the time has t?nre more arrived when it I becomes my duty io make the Medical Report to a general meeting of subscribers to the Poverty Bay Hospital. This is the sixth Annual Report I have had the honor of lay : Ing before youj and, in doing sc, I note with eitisfaction that the steadily increasing number of patients gives evidence of the growing usefulness of an institution which had so humble an origin some seven years ago. . During the past twelve months, 94 patients > have been under treatment in our wards. Of | this number, 76 were males, 18 females, and f two were children; This <s the largest number treated in one year since the Hospital was opened. The deaths numbered five : pne was due to the debility consequent on old age : oue to ■ a stroke of paralysis; the other three to old-standing lung disease. Of the cases admitted, ten were suffering from injuries the result of accident, and one of these, a severe compound fracture of the leg, remained under treatment for a long time, and demanded extra attention and care. There were eight cases of typhoid fever, all bf a bad type, and averaging a. residence in the Hospital of about six weeks. The rest of the cases were of an ordinary nature, and do not call for any special notice. With reference to the nursing of typhoid • fever and other important cases, there has been some little difficulty experienced. Onr present / staff, though anxious and willing in the ex* f treme, do not possess the necessary knowI ledge and experience. If the Hospital could afford to cet the services of a trained nurse cr Hospital sister, oven for a short period, it Would be of the utmost advantage. Nursing at the present day has been reduced to a system, the A, B, C, of which cannot ba mastered without special instruction and special training. I mention this mors particularly as oar new fever ward is now ready, as far as the building is concerned, for the reception of patients. This building, with a skilled hand in charge, would considerably lessen the work to be done in the Main Hospital, as our most troublesome cases, in the summer and autumn months, are those suffering from various form-* of fever. I feel sure some of our fever patients suffer from the want of skilled nursing. Yet at the same time 1 recognise the difficulty that exists in procuring the trained assistance required. Several important improvements (ave been made in the sanitary arrangements oi the Hospital since uur last meeting, and -Ahe institution is now In a very clean and creditable condition. There were no com- / plaints made to me be any of the patients, 1 out, on the contrary, they all seemed satisfied with the treatment they received and the accommodation provided.—l am, &0., Hr. Polled. Mr Maude moved and Mr Piesse seconded the adoption of the report. Mt Jwrr thought that some of the Army Service Corps might be engaged as nurses i they had great experience. Election or Committee. Mr Johnston thought persons giving 3s should have a vote, Mr Cannon would go further, and give every subscriber a vote. (Applause.) Mr Nolan thought some notice should be given. He did not think the rules should be altered. Mr Johnston thought they should be altered. Dr Pollen thought it unfair to alter the ; rules now. Dr Leggatt thought the thing should be dealt with at once. would propose that all subscribers be allowed one, and no one than one vote. < The Treasurer here remarked that the .number of small donations were very few. v Mr Johnston knew that many more would give small sums if entitled to a vote. Mr Joyce wished the meeting to deal with the question at once, and thought that all subscribers should have one vote. Mr Shelton moved that the present rule be adhered to. A considerable amount of discussion ensued, amidst which Mr Piesse asked the chairman of the meeting had not been called to elecct officers. The meeting decided to go on with the election. The Rev. Me Ara regretted that Archdeacon Williams had decided to withdraw from the committee. He sincerely hoped that Mr Williams would reconsider the matter. After considerable confusion, and a number of amendments it was decided that each subscriber should have only one vote. The result of the ballot was as follows ;— Messrs A. Graham, J. Booth, J. W Nolan, G. Matthewson. H. McKay, W. Adair, W. \ Jobson. Mr Piesse was appointed Auditor, and Dr Pollen Medical Officer, for the ensuing year.