Hospital Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 287, 8 December 1904, Page 4

Hospital Board.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Hoard was held on Wednesday. There were, present- : Messrs 11. Cock (chairman), Mackay, Hine, ClilT, Brown, Andrews and McDonald. —Claim for Fees.— Messrs Covett and Quilliam forwarded a telegram from Mr I!. McCallum, solicitor, of Blenheim, asking what lump sum the board would accept rn satisfaction of their claim against Jas. Murray for the keep of his brother Thomas, now in the local hospital. The letter was referred to the house committee.

—Subsidy.— The Treasury Department notified that £426 15s Od, subsidy due, had been placed to the board's credit. —Contributions. Tho Egmont County Council forwarded £25 4s, three months' contribution due.

—Account for Keep.— The Auckland Hospital Hoard forwarded an account for fees due for the maintenance of a Tnrannki resident in the northern hospital. The claim was referred to Messrs Mackay and Hine to report on the circumstances of the case. —Amounts Paid.— Several ex-pa'tients forwarded various sums in settlement, and on account of the board's claims for maintenance. —Probationers.—

Miss Bessie. Young, late of Hawera, rocruested that her name be placed on the inside list of probationers, as she was now resident in New Plymouth.—Agreed to. Miss Sara Speight, Kakaramea, wrote asking whether there was any probability of her obtaining an appointment, as nurse. The secretary slated that he had replied to the effect that no vacancy was probable.

—Accounts.— Accounts totalling £4Ol. 5s KM were passed for payment. —Patient from Hawera.— The Hawera District Hospital Board wrote that that body would be responsible for tiro keep of a woman from Hawera, now in the local hospital. —Valedictory.—

The Chairman said he regretted the severance of Stratford, as he considered the time had not yet arrived for that action ; a colUige hospital would 1)C quite sufficient for present needs. He said the Stratford members had always had the welfare of the district thoroughly at heart. Speaking of the secretary, |Mr Cock said Mr Lepper was the 'right man in the right place ; the best interests of the board weru conserved by him. The staff of nurses also came in for a word of praise, especially Miss Brown, the matron, who takes great interest in the welfare of the patients. The doctors were a body any board might well be proud of, and, working amicably together, were speedily making the institution one of the best in the colony. Any friction between the medical staff affected the patients more than the board. In j conclusion he bid members farewell.

Mr Mackay said that during the ten years lie had been connected with the board he had never known bitterness in discussion. The board had always ■been fortunate in chairmen. He particularly referred to Mr Tisch. lit Mr Lepper, they had a secretary who showed an interest in his work unequalled anywhere. Tht> Stratford people, he knew, had a difficult task before them, but they were confident of obtaining the sympathy of the Xew Plymouth people. Perhaps had the Taranaki Board given the Stratford district a little better accommodation than the cottage hospital they had granted, separation would never have taken place. He dwelt on the question of adjustment of accounts between the two districts. Messrs McDonald and Hinc also spoke, as retiring members. The secretary having replied to the references to his work, the board rose.

—New Board.— At noon the. new board assembled, there being present : Messrs (!. Tisch, R. Cock (New I'lymoiith), .J. Andrews, J. Brown (Tarnnaki County Council), J. Burgess (F.gmont County Council), and R. M. Murly (Clifton County Council).

The clerk read the notices of nominations of represent*, ives of the various contributing bodies.

—Election of Chairman.— Mr Cock had much pleasure in nominating Mr 0. Tisch as chairman. It was necessary that he reside in Xcw Plymouth, and Mr |Tisch had the making of an excellent chairman.

Mr Andrews, in seconding, spoke on the same lines as the proposer. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Tisch, on taking the chair, thanked members for the honour conferred on him. The position was a responsible one, and he was prepared to devote all the time necessary for the discharge of the duties imposed on him, and with their help would endeavour l< do justice to the institution. —House Committee.—

The Chairman and Messrs K. Cock and J. Brown were elected house I committee.; [ —Tenders i The following tenders were acceptted for yearly supplies as per schedule :—Groceries, Ci. 0. lloullon ; bread, Buchanan ; meat, Sole liros., milk, A. S. Frost ; wines and spirits, Goldwatcr Bros. ; coal, W. S. Hoskiu ; printing, Joseph Hooker, and undertaking, S. Clark and Co.