TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1921, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Hospital Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. T. Andrews, H. R. Cattley, G. Capper, E. Gilmour, A. H. Halcotmbe, M. O’Brien, J. Sutherland, S. Vickers, and J. Young. Owing to the absence of the chairman (Mr. M. Fraser), through Illness, Mr. Gilmour was voted to the chair. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The report of the medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker), showed that during June, 99 patients were admitted, 92 were discharged, 4 died, and 102 remained in hospital at the end of the month. The highest number for one day was 102 and the daily average was 92.9. Thirty seven operations were performed. Commenting on the above the Superintendent stated: Another busy month in all departments has to be recorded. Seven cases of diphtheria, and eight of scarlet fever are under treatment in the isolation block. One case of cerebro spinal meningitis was admitted on the Btt. I am glad to state that the patient is progressing favorably under treatment. t DISTRICT NURSING. Nurse Shine, Uruti, reported that six cases for dressings had been attended to and two patients were nursed. Nurse McFadgen (Opunake), reported • that nine cases had been attended to. She had been called to attend a Maori woman and found her dead, the symptoms pointing to heart failure. Fees received amounted to'£l. A visit was made to the Puniho pah and colds seemed prevalent among the Maoris. THE FARM. The chairman of the Farm committee (Mr. Andrews), reported conferring with the manager -regarding manure for top dressing and they decided that about 25 acres would require to be treated at 3 cwt. to the acre, thljs w/uld take 3 tons 15 cwt, and the manager hAd been authorised to get in 4 tons and Zrbceed with the work. The milk supply was 'being well kept up but It necessitated very heavy feeding and he thought that shortly they would have to buy in fodder to keep, the supply good; it was impossible to grow sufficient to see the- winter through on the .limited area available. The board would probably have to consider whether the advantage of being independent of the outside market and having a supply of their own would more than outweigh the cost of production. The action of the chairman of the fanm committee was approved. NURSES' HUME. The architects (Messrs. Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor), reported in respect to the Nurses’ Home building: Since our last report up to this date an average of twelve men have been employed daily at the home, and at ’the present time (July 19), fifteen workmen are engaged at,.the building. Additional labor wah employed at the boiler houses on twenty-two working days during the month. The progress has been somewhat delayed during the period undfer review, occasioned by the absence of two 1 of the plasterers for approximately two

weeks, owing to other pressing work and illness; these men are now back at work. The tiler has been engaged on the wall tiling : ih the kitchen block, and there is still a. fair amount of work to do in this portion of the building. The plumbing and electri.c light work was now well advanced and nearing completion ; this will enable the painters to proceed with the finishing off of their work. GENERAL. On behalf of the executors of the estate of the late Mrs. Martha Rundle, Messrs. Roy & Nichdlson wrote forwarding a cheque for £l9 16s, being a bequest made by Mrs. Rundle to the bbard (less death l duties Incurred). It was decided to thank the executors of the estate.. The report of the house steward (Mr: C.'F. B. Perrin), stated that the ambulance was again available after being altered and re T novated. The new boilers had Arrived and were waiting to be put into position. The matron of the Old People’s Home reported' that two admissions had been made during the month, and there were two deaths, the number remaining in the home being 39, (32 males and 7 females). Owing to the indisposition of the chairman it was decided to defer the question of Friendly Society fees.