S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2426, 17 November 1892, Page 4

S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Boaad was held on Tuesday. Present— Messrs J. 'Jackson (chairman), W. M, Moore, F. B. Gillingham, and A. Sherratt. Apologies were received from Messrs Barker and Graham. chairman’s statement. As this was the last meeting of the present board the chairman made a fuller statement than usual. Hospital—For the nine months ended October 31st, 1891, 225 patients were admitted, and for the same period this year 207. There were 256 outpatients treated in the same term of 1891, and 135 in 1892. The estimated expenditure may be exceeded by £SO, and if so the total expenditure will be about the same as last year. The comparative statement prepared by Mr Moore from Dr Macgregor’s report had shown members that this hospital compares favorably with others in respect of cost. Dr Macgregor still continues to speak highly of the hospital. The present system of a partiallypaid visitiug medical staff has now been working for 16 months. He saw no reason for reverting to the old system. A resolution was on the books that £IOO b paid to the visiting medical staff, to be divided among the four members of the staff. Tt appeared, however, that three medical men had done all the work, and the question was raised whether the £IOO a year should be divided among the three, or whether they should receive what was really intended, £25 each. With regard to the drainage the fever wards were in a much more satisfactory Condition than at the comencemeut of the year. All the drain connections have been made, and the closets are complete. Hot and cold water are laid on, and the ventilation is finished with the exception of fresh air inlets, which cm be attended to at a future time. Some asphalting has been done just outside of the wards and is a great convenience. This might be added to with advantage next year. He had visited the hospital regularly during the year, and saw or heard nothing that called for his interference. The Mayor of Timaru had also been a regular visitor, and would no doubt make known his views. Other members had also visited the hospital at intervals. Charitable Aid —All the members of the staff were working together amicably, and were fully alive to the responsibilities of their duties being actuated by the desire to prevent imposition and to give relief and sympathy where such are needed, and generally to perform their somewhat unpleasant duties with tact and discretion and without fear or favor. There is one matter the board should attend to, namely, its relations with the Burnham Industrial School. The board pays a considerable sum each year for the support of its inmates, but have no voice or control in the management whatever. The question is whether the Government should be approached in this matter with a view of having au alteration in the administration of that institution. The lying-in department is not used so much as formerly. This is believed to be due to the cases taken into the R.M. Court, which certainly has had a deterrent effect. During the year the board have given 37,141 rations to 66 families, representing 231 souls, at a cost of £645 10s lid. The number of children boarded out was 37, at a yearly cost of £574 14s sd, The number at Burnham Industrial School was 18, and their yearly cost £326 13s : and the number at Nelson Industrial School 3, at a cost of £49 18s. The first portion of the contributions due by local authorities had been paid, and the Government subsidy received on the same The second half would be due on the Ist December, and application had been made for it. After paying the accounts that day, a balance of £125 would be left for their successors. The closets at the barracks should be connected with the main sewer. In cou elusion Mr Jackson tendered his sincere thanks to every member of the board for the kindness and courtesy shown him as chairman. THE HOSPITAL. There was no correspondence relating to hospital matters. A discussion took place respecting the allocation of the balance of the £IOO voted for the medical staff. The staff having asked for a shelter shed for their horses, it was decided that the chairman should ask them to allow the £25 to be expended on the shed. charitable aid. Several letters dealing with routine matters were read. The following memorandum by Mr Moore deals with an important principle : -—“I have seen re the “boy, but have had no chance of seeing the boy himself, as he is away at Milford. is quite willing to take the boy and keep him and pay him a fair rate of wages, but apparently the boy does not care to stay there and work. It seems that the lad is an idle young rascal who will do no work at all if ho can help it, and has said that he does not care to learn any trade at all. He has been at Isis grand father’s for some time and I do not think will go for him him again, unless he can have some authority over him and compel him to stay with him. This authority, apparently, we cannot give him unless we can take stops to apprentice him either to a farmer or tradesman. 1 suggested at last meeting (hat this might be the proper course to adopt with the children in our charge when they reach the age of 14 and in any case where they wish to leave their foster parents, or where the foster parents do not wish to keep them, I suggest that this course bo adopted with this boy. I think that under the Master ‘and Apprentice Act 1865, clause 7, we have power to nominate and return to the ' dlonial Secretary the names of persons who may bind children under our charge as apprentices, and such persons, if approved by the Colonial Secretary, shall In.vo power to bind them according to the Act.” It was resolved, on tlie motion of am W appomt \ the secretary as the person to bind as Apprentices, children under the hoard’s control and charge, and that the Colonial Secretary’s approval he obtained. It was decided to leave to the new board the matter of connecting the barracks conveniences with the sewer. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Jackson for his careful manage- - • ‘ j chairman. ' m-oUNTS. i £: :>0 1/s lid, and anw.v.w 2121 ns 3d, were ; ,mI payment, and the meeting terminated.