HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 334, 22 June 1911, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEEIIVO. The usual monthly meet : rg of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held in the Board's ofliee yesterday, when there were present:; Messrs F. E. Bellringer (cliaumiuu), '.J.. W. Brown, Outfield, E. Miwvi!, M. .1. Macßeynolds, Andrew, (J. V, Tate, D. H. McDonald, und C. O'SulHvan.

OLD PEOPLE'S IJOMfi Mrs. Bayley, matrftn of the Oil People's Home, reported that diuin? I.he month there had been one admission and one departure. There were now 2# males and five females in the Homo. The discipline had been excellent. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

The report of Dr. Wylie, acting superintendent of the Hospital, showed that during the month of May 36 patients had been admitted to the Hospital; 2a had been discharged, 4 had died, and there were now 33 remaining in the Hospital. He also pointed out that it was over three years since the building had been painted inside, a step that had become urgently necessary. NEW HOSPITAL BUILDING.

Messrs Govett and Quilliam forwarded copy of draft agreement as between the Board and Messrs Bacon and Atkins in connection with the architectural work for the proposed new hospital. The chairman said .lie thought it WQuld be better to have the question w- . ranged by a fixed sum, so as to obviate any extras that were always liable to crop up on a percentage basis. By this agreement the architects would do all the work for 400 guineas up to the delivery of complete plans and specifications. The worx of supervising the actual erection would be in the hands of Mr. Messenger. In reply to Mr. Maxwell, the chairman said the proposed building would cost from £25,000 to £30,000. The names of three firms had been submitted to them, and Messrs Atkins and Baco% being recognised experts in hospital erection, were selected. This firm had justs completed the erection of hospitals at Hamilton, Palmerston North and Wanganui.

Mr. Browne asked if this payment covered a final visit to pass the complete# building.

The chairman replied in the negative. If the architect were required for that purpose he would charge three {rumen# per day and expenses. K Mr. Browne considered that they should insist on a final visit being included, because, as at first arranged, the hospital was to have been built on the site of the present hospital, m three sections. Now, however, the building was to be erected oa the old site of the Old People's Home, and this meant that the plans could all be drawn at once, thus considerably minimising the work. The -Board approved of the agreement and the matter of a final visit was left in the hands of the chairman to arrange.

In reply to Mr., Maxwell, the .chairman said it was intended to proceed with the erection of the new hospital as soon as the architects' plans had been approved by Dr. \alintine. The question of finance had not yet been considered, but a special meeting would be held at aw early date to discuss the whole question and to enable the representatives to lay the various alternative schemes before their respective local authorities. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

Mr. R. E. Hayes, Superintendent of the National Provident Fund, forwarded literature descriptive of the operations of the National Provident Fund, He pointed out that the institutions controlled by the Board offered the be3t means of making known the valuable benefits of the Act. especially the maternity payment of £O, and offered to forward wall placards if the Board desired. The matter was held over. GENERAL.

The secretary of the Stratford HosCharitable Aid Board wrote asking for particulars as to district nursln c> as the .Stratford Board proposed to appoint a nurse for the back country.— The secretary had already supplied'the information.

A copy of the agreement arrived at at the conference between representatives of the New Plymouth, Stratford and Ilawera boards on the subject of the care of incurables, aped and consump-' tives was read, and practically agreed

In regard to the roads on Veale's Estate, tlie clerk of the St. Aubyn Town Board forwarded the following resolution passed hy the Board:-« That the matter stand over until the accounts boween the Tarnnaki County Council and the Board have been adjusted by the government assessor, and that Mr Bellringer be asked to interview the Minister of Intelnal Affairs and endeavor to faci itate the adjustment of accounts."The Board wil! spend the money given -r Mr. Uale to the Barrett Road BoarS reco\ered from the county in forming tate " * t,IC L y" m °uth Bs-

q f lr ]';, iln 'T" Fl<,p <:«-oort, clerk to the tl(e canifnj V ? n ° a i' d > pointed °"t that t!<e capital value of all rateable protle town <l'striet was €03,206. f j,„ { 'J' '. oW Pver, been instructed bv the \aluation Department to cancel «*- ya]w of and would shortly cancel another Cl<lo which would still further reduce the capital value. He also forwa led a I2r f ° r £ l 15s fid " onp m °nth's con tribution on the capital value. nnW'l , " t ' n . p .. int ™ 1 ,,twl "lot he would e o' Vnv p '.vmoutli after nnnL"'•<■? woul( ' llftve '>«<' an opportunity of discussing matters with the chairman of the Board.