S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2636, 22 March 1894, Page 4

S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting o£ the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held on Tuesday. Present — Messrs J. Jackson (chairman), Moore, Gillingham, Rhodes, and White. The chairman stated that with reference to the iiem in the minutes regarding removal of chronic cases to the barracks, there is uo room in the barracks. There would probably soon be a demand for increased accommodation for the ordinary cases. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £1387 ; accounts to pay would reduce this to £964 12s, which would carry them to the end of the year. The finance committee met the previous evening, and made out a statement of receipts and probable expenditure for the ensuing year, which would be laid before the board. Dr McGregor had been down, and at his request he accompanied the Inspector over the barracks. The Inspector at once complained of the open drain along the front of the barracks property; he said it was impossible to allow that to continue. He pointed out too that the windows were all curtaiuless, and asked that curtains be supplied at once; he, however, declined, as the board’s meeting was so near. The Inspector also recommended that gas should be laid on to the barracks, to obtain greater security from fire, as' old men now walked about at night with lighted matches in their hands. It was desirable to have a dim light in the dormitory all night. The beds were now all occupied, by eleven men and two women, and a girl awaiting confinement. It. was necessary ■to give authority to obtain more bedsteads, and also more blankets, and he had obtained a favorable offer from the local , factory for 25 pairs. He promised the Inspector to bring these matters before the board. He had since last meeting obtained a plan and estimate for new pan closets at the barracks, but the Inspector urged that pressure should be brought to bear upon the Borough Cenacil to get the closets connected with the sewer, or else the pans should be emptied more frequently. The Inspector happened to be there at dinner time; he inspected every plate, and gave the board credit for the way they fed the inmates; he said they had enough for a ploughman, with rather too much meat. Generally he was well satisfied with the barracks. The Piercy children had been well disposed of, two of them had been adopted, and the third had been boarded out at 2a a week, enough to provide clothing merely. Among the correspondence was the following: — From Mrs Dunlop, of the Ladies Committee, Geraldine, reporting on certain children boarded out. One whose time was up was stated to have had a good home in every way with a Mrs Sutherland.

From the brother of the late W. Piercy, whos i children are on the board’s hands, stating that he can neither take them nor contribute to their keep, as he has a large family of his own ; he has for some time had one of his brother’s children, a boy, whom he would bo glad to exchange for one of the sisters. From the Mackenzie County Council, that a cemetery at Pukaki is not yet required.—The chairman said the reason the council objected was that the expense of maintenance would be considerable ; they would rather bear any expenses incurred through the absence of a cemetery. From Mr Parata, Native M.H.R., in reply to a letter regarding the board’s claim against a native named W. Poero, £26 Bs, that he had sent the letter to the Government. The secretary stated that he had been informed by the local Native Agent that under the Treaty of Waitaiigi the Government were to supply the natives with free hospitals, which means that the Government would pay the claim.

The caretaker of the barracks attended to give the board information. In reply to questions he stated that a light was needed in the barracks at night. There was now only room for four more beds in the barracks, and all the bedsteads aero occupied. The men had complained of cold the last night or two ; there were not enough blankets, and the cold season had not come yet. If a “ casual ” came in now he could make up a shakedown for him.

Drs Hogg and Lovegrove waited on the board to request that an isolated ward be erected for the treatment of ovarian cases, of which there was one now in the hospital. This was a class of cases that certainly ought not to be treated in a general ward. The matter was discussed at some length, and it was resolved, as it was not a full meeting, to defer the question for a month, inquiry to be made in the meantime as to the provision made for such cases in other hospitals iu the colony.—lt was suggested that as such cates occur but seldom, and the special waid would be expensive, it would be cheaper to send them to Christchurch or Dunedin. Ihe case in hand is treated in one of the private rooms upstairs. A young widow with four children, the eldest seven years, waited on the board to ask for more assistance than the chairman had been willing to grant her. It was stated that her husband died in Australia and her sister and brother-in-law, living in Timaru, brought her over with the idea of helping her. Both the sister and her husband, however, had fallen into bad health, and the woman and children were in difficulties. The applicant said she had a home wi+h her sister and brother-in-law, and could leave the children to go out working, but she had not been able to get regular work. Sometimes she got two days washing a week, and 1)3(1 been without work a month. She hod averaged perhaps 5a per week.—lt was decided £p grant 60 rations (equal to £1) a month, S the largest allowance for such a family. I Tbo estimates for the coming year prepared by the finance committee were submitted. It was resolved to increase the secretary’s salary by £26 from the Ist April, members saying that Mr Orwin is the right man in the right place. The estimates were adopted. The estimates of expenditure, and comparison with the expenditure iu the current year were iu the chief classes as follows: 1893-94 1894 95 £sd £ s d Hospitals ... 3083 8 6 3035 8 0 Charitable Aid 15-42 12 10 1980 0 0 Old Men’s Homo 253 19 7 400 0 0 Casuals ... J 8 J 4 }} 30 0 0 Secretary ... 150 0 0 jLoff t> 0 Sundries ... 35 14 0 JO 0 0 The question of erecting new closets was deferred. The chairman was authorised to purchase 25 pairs of blankets from tho Timaru Mills, and also to procure blinds for tho dormitories at the barracks. Accounts were passed for payment, Hospital £l7O 19s 9d, Charitable Aid £251 19a 4d.