HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 257, 20 March 1913, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. T!ip monthly meeting of tlio Taranaki Hospital ami Charitable Aid Board was held \esterday, when there were presetThe- chairman (Mr. V. (.'. J. Bellringer) and Messrs fl. W. Browne, W. CntlV.d. E. Maxwell, M. J. Maeßeviiolds, D. MeAiUmi, J. K. Bill, .1. Brown, A. H. Haleombe and D. H. McDonald. THE HOSPITAL. In a report covering the activities of •the Hospital during February, the superintendent (Dr. K. A. Walker) stated that 37 persons had been admitted to the institution and 3S discharged. There had ■been live deaths, leaving 43 patients remaining in the Hospital. Twenty-five operations had been performed. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The matron (Mrs. A. Bayly) reported that during the past month the discipline had been excellent at the Old People's Home. There had been three adMissions and four departures, leaving in the Home 30 males and five females. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Board's inspector, (Mr. A. 11. Kendall) reported that during the past i month he had inspected the bakers', butchers' and other food shops in New Plymouth, Inglewood and Waitara. One j ease of phthisis had been notified and { reported upon to the Public Health Department, and he had also enquired into and reported upon a case of septicaemia to the District Health Officer, and he was insisting upon the betterment of existing conditions at premises in which a previous case of infectious dsease occurred. The milk samples were forwarded to Wellington, but' although he had them packed" by an expert packer, they arrived in Wellington in a sour condition. They did not go by registered post on account of their bulk and number being above the postal limits. He proposed, however, sending other samples in the near future, when he trusted they would arrive in better condition. He intended visiting Opunake before the 1 next meeting of the/Board. URUT[ NURSING SCHEME.

In thanking the Board for its donation of £25 towards the erection of a nurse's cottage, Mrs. Clara Stuart-Lar-sen, secretary of the Uruti District Xursing Association, pointed out that the fact of a nurse, being stationed at Uruti had relieved the New Plymouth Hospital of a good many cases which had been treated at the local boarding-houses. The ward that would be contained in the cottage should, however, relieve the. board-ing-houses of unwelcome guests and further relieve the hospital. The amount of work done by the nurse in small accident aii<l advice cases was surprising. It was often a case of a "stitch in time." Mrs. Larsen also noted that the committee had asked Mr. Haleombe to endeavor to obtain a small grant from the Board for furnishing the hospital cottage. Although the settlers had responded nobly 'so far, it was going to be a-very tight pull to make botli ends meet. The secretary also enclosed a cheque for £l7, for nurse's salary, due March 1. Mr. Haleombe pointed out that the Association ha 4 every claim upon the Board's consideration.' ''"Mrs. Larsen and, Mr. Old also waited upon the Board, on behalf of the settlers, and stressed the need for projier accommodation for the nurse, who was.-at present boarded first at this house and then, at that, '-She was doing splendid work, and her efforts w;ere much appreciated by the settlers. The Board decided to expend a sum not exceeding £2OO, including the cost of la«d, in the erection of a cottage for the nurse and a Ward for the treatment of patients. The settlers had subscribed £143 (including Government subsidy). and the balance'required will be found by the Board. A STATE COLOXY.

Tlie secretary of the Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board solicited the Board's' co-operation in an endeavor to get legislation passed giving effect to the following resolution:—"The Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board desires to call the attention of the Government to a resolution unanimously passed at a conference of hospital and charitable aid boards in Wellington in June, 1911. requesting the Government to found some State colony or farm, where wastrels, confirmed drimkank and other work-shy individuals could be sent, and earnestly requests that the question of carrying such resolution into effect shall be liament at its 1 next session.—Deferred until next meeting.