SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1696, 31 January 1873, Page 2

SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Southland Provincial Hospital was held on Wednesday evening, 29tb inst., at the Council Hall. Under the Southland Ordinance it was customary to hold the annual meeting in the month of March, although the financial year ended on Slat December previous. The institution being now under the Otago Ordinance, the meeting for election of committee and office-bearers is made to follow close upon the expiration of the financial year. The attendance at the appointed hour for the meeting was not numerous, and to any who have been accustomed to attend this annual account of stewardship by the retiring committee, the whole business might appear a stereotyped reproduction of any former meeting. This may be accounted for partly by a remark made by a speaker at the meeting, to the effect that the outside public is so thoroughly satisfied as to the management, as to deem alteration to any extent unwise and unnecessary. It would however be in all respects better, and would tend materially to strengthen the hands of the committee, were the public by a numerous attendance at the election to evince an interest which is without doubt felt, but not evidenced. The meeting was presided over by Mr G. Lutnsden, the retiring president of the Hospital, and after the confirmation of the minutes of the last year's meeting, the hon. secretary read the report, from which it appeared that the total number 1 of in-door patients treated during the year was — Males, 90 ; females, 10 ; total, 100 — ■ being 22 more than appeared on the book* for last year. The number who received out-door treatment — viz., advice ; and mediciue, was — Males, 176 ; females, i 163 ; total, 339 — being 101 more than were entered as out-door patients last year. The total number of patients treated as , above is thus 4-- ;! 9 The number at . present under treatmemt ib 17 ; at the , same period last year the number was 10. The medical report of the surgeon, Dr Grigor, showed that there had been an increase of 22 in the number of in-door patients, and an increase of 10L in the number of out-door patients. The 1 highest number in the Hospital at one 1 time was 17 ; the lowest, 6. There had 1 been within the last four months a very • marked increase in the number of in-door ' patients, in comparison to the earlier months of the year, attributable in a great • measure to the increased amount of ■ machinery employed, and the carrying out of public works in the neighborhood. In the event of such increase going on at the same ratio, there will be an urgent necessity on the part of the committee to provide more accommodation, although as yet there had been no overcrowding. The cases treated were — Medical, 42 ; surgical, 48 Discharged — Cured, 60 ; relievtd, 14; deaths, 9; remaining in Hospital, 17 ; besides which advice and medicine was furnished to 339 out-door patients. The balance-sheet showed that the public subscriptions for the year amounted to £490 lla Bd, the Government contribution in addition being £131 14s 7d. This, with the balance on hand from last year, £323 6d lOd, makes a total of £945 13s Id. The expenditure for the same period was £825 19s 2d. The assets, consisting of Government subsidy overdue, &c, with the cash balance on hand, £119 13a lid, amount to £573 lls 8d ; and the liabilities to £140 14s 7d, leaving a surplus of £552 lls. On the election of members of committee, the president intimated his wish to be relieved from duty during the year, and notwithstanding all the arguments and entreaties used to induce him to consent to re-election he could not be induced to assent Mr Tapper also retired, declining re-election. Another member of the late committee, Mr D. S. Montagu, has recently left the province. Ther« were but nine nominations for office, consequently the whole were declared duly elected. The following gentlemen form the new committee : — Messrs H. T. Eoss, Osborne, Eose, Morrison, Gilmour, Cochran, Saunders, Hare, and Perkins. A ballot was then taken for the election of office-bearers, with the following result : — Mr John Hare, President ; Mr G. Morrison, Treasurer ; and Mr T. Perkins, Secretary. A rote of thanks to the retiring committee and office-bearers was accorded; and also to the president of the evening, making special reference to his long-continued and valuable cervices to