THAMES HOSPITAL.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 86, 18 January 1872, Page 2

THAMES HOSPITAL.

The annual general meeting of the subscribers to the Thames Hospital was held last evening, at the Theatre Royal (the use of which was kindly lent for the occasion by Mr B. N. Jones). The Rev. V. Lush occupied the chair. There was a good attendance, and the whole of the committee and subscribers were well represented. The Chairman said they had met together to-night, in accordance with Buie 2 of the Hospital Regulations, to elect officers and a committee of 19 for the ensuing year, and also for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. As the report went very fully into details, and would be read presently, it was not necessary for him to take up the time of the meeting by making a long speech, but he might say that the hospital had fully come up to what was expected of it. There had not been a single well-grounded complaint of the management of the Hospital or of any of its officers, and in the treatment of patients it had been very successful, and had given, he believed, general satisfaction. He considered the Thames Hospital was a credit to the place. The last year had been one of prosperity, as would be seen by the report. lie would now call upon the Secretary to read the minutes of the last general meeting. The minutes were then read and confirmed. The Secretary then proceeded to read the following report : THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE THAMES GOLDFIELD HOSPITAL, 17tii JANUARY, 1872. At tlic termination of a prosperous year, your Committee feel happy at again nieettho suscribers; and in recording the satisfactory progress of tlic Institution. Your Committee arc thankful to His Honor the Superintendent and the Provincial Council for their Continued vote ; also to the Subscribers, and the Mining Companies who have contributed their aid, details of which are as follows : £ s. d. Provincial Government from the £IOOO vote for IS7I 995 17 0 Donations and Subscriptions 175 10 6 Collected in Donation Boxes 14 10 8 Mining Companies 91 13 (i Workmen in Mining Companies 157 11 9 Societies and Associations 48 5 (5 Benefits ... ... ... 70 5 9 £1553 14 8 The above figures show that much has been done by miners and mining companies, but the Committee are of opinion that from this source there [should be a much larger income, and hope tliat working men for whose beuefit the Hospital was instituted, and when in health are frequently unmindful of its claim upon them, will take a still deeper interest in its welfare and support. The demands on the resources of the Hospital have during the past year so steadily increased that your committee decided that the time had arrived when a large increase to the Hospital accomodation was imperatively necessary. Contracts for a new wing have accordingly been made, which is approaching completion. The new building includes—Operating Room, 12£eet xl2fcet; Surgery, 12feet x 9fcet; Accident Ward, 20feet x 18feet; Ward for Eye Diseases, 20feet x lOfeet; Superintendent’s quarters 20feet x lOfeet, divided into two rooms ; Long passage, 20feet x Gfeet; Verandah, 12'2fcetx Sfect, available as a premonade for convalescents. These additions contain two fireplaces for the comfort of the patients, and and one in the Superintendent’s quarters, and when completed will leave the cottage at present used for convalescents available for a female ward, with accommodation for six patients. The present Hospital will accomodate 21 patients ; the new buildiug will furnish about 15 additional beds. The outlay thus incurred will nearly absorb the funds at present in hand ; your Committee therefore desire urgently to impress upon the subscribers and the mining community at large, that as increased accommodation involves increased outlay, so they confidently rely upon the liberality of the subscribers to supply the requisite funds. The meetings held during the year number —General Meetings, 14 ; House Committee do, 42 ; Special Meetings, 3. The Patients admitted and discharged during the year are as follows :

The honorary medical staff consists of : —Alexander Fox, M.R.C.P.; J. Kilgour. M.D., M.R.C.S., L.P.; Seth Sam, Grad, of Medicine and Surgery, Madras, India ; George Trousseau, M.D., Paris ; and there is also a resident house surgeon, C. F. Lethbridgo, M.R.C.S.E. Your committee have every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the officers of the Institution. The patients have been orderly and well conducted, and the successful issue of the operations generally testify to the skill and efficiency of the medical staff. The committee have great pleasure in recording their thanks to Mr Clements, late of the Imperial Hotel, Mr L. R. James and Mr Hellers of the Q.C.E. Hotel, for the gratuitous use of a large room fo¥ the purpose of holding their meetings. (Signed) Vicesimus Lush, President. Mr Gordon moved that the report be adopted. Mr Guido seconded the motion, which was carried. The Chairman said at the last meeting there was a separate report by the medical officer, who, however, had not thought it necessary to make a separate report on this occasion, as what he would have had to say was embodied in the report which had just been read. He would now call upon the Treasurer to read the balancesheet. Mr Rensiiaw then read the following balance-sheet. Balance Sheet for the Year Ending 31st December, 1871. Receipts. —Balance in bank, oth January, 1871, £142 14s Gd.; subscriptions and donations benefits, £7O 5s Od.; workmen gold-mining companies, £157 11s Od.; mining companies, £9l 13s Gd ; societies and associations, £4B 5s Gd.; donation boxes, £l4 10s Bd.; donations and subscriptions, £175 10s Gd. ; patients charges, £2O 18s. ; goods sold (furniture account), £2 2s Gd.; Provincial Government subsidy, £995 17s.—total, £1719 0s Bd. Expenditure. —Salaries and wages paid to 31st December, 1871, £496 10s Bd.; maintenance (meat, groceries, milk, bread, fuel, and washing), £351 6s lid.; drugs, £ll3 13s 7d.; funerals, £3llls.surgical instruments, £5 0s 3d.; rent arid titting-up female ward, £lO Is,; furniture, £2 lGs Gd. ; building and improvements, £177 Is od.; printing and advertising, £3O 18s Od.; miscellaneous expenses, £7 6s Gd ; medical comforts, £SO 2s 7d.; stationery, £1 12s. ; land, £2O 2s. ; commission, £2O- - Id.; petty cash, £4 13s lid. ; balance in hand, £G lGs. ; balance in bank, £383 0s 2d.—total, £1719 0s Bd. The Treasurer said the working men on the field should endeavour to get together small sums, which in the aggregate, however, were very large. The amount the company’s had given were in some instances very creditable, and sotno very discreditable, especially where nothing had been given at all, as was the case in several instances. The Chairman said it would now be the duty of the meeting to elect two auditors to go over the accounts. He might mention that he had received during the past year several letters from England thanking the hospital authorities forkindness shown to their friends when patients in the hospital, and in one instance a donation had been sent. He did not so much blame the workmen in the mines for not subscribing more liberally as lie did the managers, who did not in some cases look after the interests of the hospital as they should do. Mr Mcllhone said according to the rules the officers should be first elected. This was assented to. Mr Mcllhone rose to propose that the Rev. Father Nivard be the President for the current year. He did this out of no disrespect to the gentleman who had so worthily filled the office during tho past year, but he thought there ought to be new blood infused periodically, and that the clergymen of all denominations should have a turn. Mr Brearley seconded the motion, saying he did so with great pleasure, but on different grounds. Father Nivard had been an old officer of tbe hospital, and he should be glad to see him chosen President. Mr Jones proposed, as an amendment, that the Rev Mr Lush be re-elected. Air Nicoll seconded. The Chairman said it was usual to put the amendment first, but lie did not wish to divide the meeting. He would therefore retire, if Mr Jones and Mr Nicolls would withdraw the amendment. He had felt highly honoured by being elected President last year, but lie did not particularly desire to be re-elected, and would therefore beg to retire. The Rev. Father Nivard said he begged of tbe meeting to re-elect the Rev. Mr Lush. It was sufficient for him (Father Nivard) to be a member of the committee. Mr Lush had been an efficient officer, and it was only right to re-elect him. Mr Mcllhone said he Would withdraw his motion, and repeated that lie had made it 011 the principle that it was well there should be a change periodically, and not out of any disrespect to Mr Lush, but quite the contrary. The Treasurer was in favour of Father Nivard being President, and he should like to see the office filled in rotation, not out of disrespect, but that all in turn should come before tbe public. Mr O’Keeffe said there was a plain duty before the meeting. The amendment had been withdrawn, and therefore the original motion was before them. Great courtesy bad been shown on both sides, and if the meeting now elected the Rev. Mr Lush they would do what was right and proper in every sense. The motion was then put, and the Rev, V. Lush was elected unanimously. Tho- Rev. Father Nivard proposed Air James Gribble as Vice-President for the ensuing year. Mr AVrougiitox seconded the motion, when Mr Pearson asked if Mr Gribble was willing to act. The Rev. Father Nivard said lie was not aware. Mr Pearson proposed Mr Nicoll. Mr Nicoll declined. Mr Rensiiaw proposed Father Nivard as Y.P. Dr Kilgour seconded. The Rev. Father Nivard declined,and said if one clergyman was President, the Y.P. should be a layman, and, lie thought, a miner if possible. He would suggest Air Nicoll or Mr Gribble. Mr Day, of the Una Co., was next proposed. Mr Brearley said they ought to press tbe motion to have Father Nivard for A .P. and be could see no reason why that gentleman should not fill the office. The Rev. Father Nivard said he begged to propose Mr Goodall, who bad worthily filled the office. Mr Goodall saidhis business avocations did not permit him to attend to the duties properly. He hoped Father Nivard would accept the office.

The Chairman said he hoped Father Nivard would consent. The Rev. Father Nivard said lie would consent as it was pressed upon him. Personally he had no objection. He had only objected on principle. Mr Osborne proposed and Air Bonfield seconded, that Air Rensiiaw be re-elected hon. treasurer.

This was put and carried. Tho Chairman said Air Rcnshaw had been a most efficient officer. The following were elected a committee :—Messrs Brearley, J. Goodall, W. Nicoll, J. Gribble, Bagnall, J. R. Jones, F. Lipsoy, Rev. J. IT ill, C. Wallnutt, AY. McCullough, P. Griffin, D. J. O’Keeffe, Rev J. Buffer, Captain Goldsmith, AV. AlcCloughan, Power, Coolahan, Day, and Warmoll.

Some discussion took place as to whether tho lion. medical officers, not being money subscribers, could be elected. Tbe Chairman ruled that the rule excluded them.

Mr O’Keeffe said it would be a disgrace to the Thames if the medical officers were excluded, and he should move the amendment of the rule.

The Chairman said it would be quite competent to elect them in a body, ex officio. Messrs Day and Jones were elected auditors.

A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring members of the committee iinaniino islv.

Air Rensiiaw moved that this meeting recommend the committee to pass a resolution that the hon. medical officers be ex officio members of the committee. This was carried unanimously, as was also a vote of thanks to the resident house surgeon, on motion of Air AlcGt Llough, seconded by Air Jones. Dr Lethbridge thanked the meeting, saying it was a compliment he hardly expected being a paid officer. On the motion of the Rev. Father Nivard, seconded by Mr O’Keefe, a vote of thanks was then passed to the honorary medical staff.

Dr Kilgour thanked the meeting, saying he was glad their humble services were appreciated. A vote of thanks to the lessee of the Theatre, and also to Air Gillett for the use of the same was passed. A similar compliment was passed to the Aline Managers, especially those of the Aloanataiari and Una. A vote of thanks to the Chairman.ler-

nated the proceedings.

1871. Ilouiniiiing Artmtd. Dschrgd. Died •January ... 20 16 14 3 February... 20 23 4 March 22 10 2 Anril 10 11 1 May ... 13 18 1 June 20 10 1 July 23 21 1 August ... 16 16 2 September 13 0 2 October ... 12 13 2 November 20 14 1 December 13 15 1 Totals - - 2Q 207 180 21 Keiuaiuiug, IT.