SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1562, 9 April 1872, Page 5

SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL.

The statutory aunual meeting of subscribers was held on Tuesday evening, 2(>th. iu the Council-hall. The audience, which was wholly, confined to subscriber;?, showed a good average attendance. Mr Thomas Pratt was elected chairman. A report from the committee of management was read and c< n^idered. It congratulated the subscribers on -the satisfactory state cf the financial affairs of the institution. " Tins result," it went on to say, " is the more gratifying inasmuch as the committee have hid to encounter an unexpected drawback in the Provincial Government having siuce th vy (the committee) entered upon their duties, reduced hospital subsidies by onehall', and also that during the same period the number of in-door patients has been more than usudly lar^e." Increased liberality ou the part of the public was earnestly counselled. The' number of patients treated during the year was stated as follows : — la door, 78 ; outdoor, 238, making the total 316. The ci st per head, including the house-s aff, hid been a fraction under Is per day. The bouse was reported to be ia a thorough stale of repair, and no expense beyond that of current expenditure was anticipated during the ensuing year. A House-surgeon, in. the person of Dr Grisror, had been appoiuted at a saliry of £125 per annum, he (the surgeon) retaining the right to uudertake private practice. By an arrangement made with the Provincial Government provision had been made foe the hospital surgeon attending the gaol and police. By that means the committee received the salary allowed by Government for these services. The Hou*e-surgeon's report alluded to an increase in the number of in door and a decrease in that of the out-door patients. The average number of days each patient had remained in the hospital duriug the year was as reported 37. The death-rate, reported to be above the average, is attributed to the admission of incurable diseases. The general management and sanatory condition of the hospital were favorably mentioned, a circumstance which was attributed to the committee's careful supervision. The report concluded with a reference to the question of patients being admitted either incurables on subjects more fit for a Benevolent Institution. " Situated as we are in the centre of a very large district, aai subject to the drifting in of such patients from up-country hospitals, it is," the report set forth, " too much to allow that such cases become fairly chargeable on this

place, more especially with a reduced Government subsidy. With a view to meeting the difficulty at present, I think, the committee ought to introduce a system of ' duration of residence within a certain boundary' as warranting such cases becoming chargeable on the institution." From statements appended to the re port, we learn that the admissions during the vear were 55 males, and 14 females. Discharged — cured, 38 males anl 10 females ; relieved— lo males aud 5. females ; died, 5 males and 2 females ; remaining in Hospital, 7 males and 1 female. The diseases treated were 49 medical and 29 surgical. The seveu ) patients who died varied in age from 4'J to 76 years. The balance sheet showed the operations of the year to have begun with a deficit of £3 19s 4d ; the expenditure f>r year amounted to £755 4s 2d. The re- • ceipts for the year were — i Public Subscriptions... £295 10 4 i Provincial Government subsidy for May and June, 1869 ; from June to December, 187'), and from January to June, 1871, including interest 712 0 0 General Government subsily, from Ist July, 1870 to 31st December 1871 75 0 0 Total income £1082 10 4 After deducting expenditure and deficit, a sum of £323 6s lOd was carried to the credit account of the current year. A. note appended to the statement set forth that the Provincial Government subsidy of £ to £ on public contributions from Ist July to 31st December, 1871, is still owing", and amounts to £19 Gs 7d. A number of questions were put in reference to the report and balance sheet, which elicited the information that the balance carried to the current year's account was shown aa on the 3 1st December last. Since, then the amount had been reduced. Including fche subscriptions received to date, the amount at the credit of the institution did not at present exceed £300. Messrs Dalgliesh and Wade argued that the statement showing the financial affairs of the institution ought in future to be brought down to the date of meeting. . ..:•■■ The president, Mr Lurasden, replied that the balance had,. for the convenience of adjusting the Government subsidy, to be struck as on the^ 3lst December of each year. On the other hand, the date for holding the meeting was fixed by statute for the month of March. He admitted this to be an inconvenience, and thought that steps should be taken to repeal the ordinance, so as to enable them to hold their meeting within a. few days of the balance sheet being made out. In answer to Mr D.ilglies'h, the president said that the amount paid by the Government in respect of the surgeon's attendance upon the gaol and police was £75. The Committee had not reverted to the old arrangement with the surgeon. Dr Moncktpn, the previous surgeon, received at least double what they were now paying Dr Grigor. He added — The reduction of the Government subsidy would to some extent embarrass their operations, but judging from the liberality that had been evinced by the public, he did not think that there was any real, cause for alarm. Allusion having been made to the minutes of fie previous meet'njj, these were read and formally-confirmed. In further discussing the report, Mr R. Gilmour stated that very grave reasons existed for increased liberality on th* part of the publics. The subscriptions for 187 L amounted to £292. Last' year they were £296. The actual expenditure during both years was £9 JO. Now that they were only getting the £ for £ subsidy, it was' obvious that there would he from £LOJ to £Lsl) deficiency to be made up. The treasurer, Mr Morrison, pointed out that a sum of £94 6s 7d was due by the Government as subsidy from Ist Ju'y to 3 1st December last. On the 3lst Dree nber of this ye ir, £103 would be due by the Provincial Government. Mr H. E. Osborne moved, and Mr .1. Dulgtiesh seconded, that the report be adopted, and the thanks of the meeting tendered to the retiring committee. The motion was carriel unanimously. The committee of management for the ensuing year was then elected by ballot, resulting in Messrs Morrison, Hare, Perkins, Gilmour, Lumsden, Webster, Tapper, Montagu, .and Saunders being ' appointed. Mr Lumsden was re-elected president, and Mr M >rrison treasurer. The meeting then adjourned.