THAMES HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1884, 6 August 1874, Page 3

THAMES HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the Thames Hospital Committee was held yesterday at the Salutation Hotel. There were present—Mr W. ltowe (in the chair), Rev V. Lush, Rev J. Crump, Rev J. Hill, Messrs McDonald, Mcllkone, Frater, Bagnall, Renshaw, Power, Sims, McCullough, Souter, Oox. Day, Hudson, and Kennan. The minutes of last meeting were read and Confirmed. House Committee's Repobt. — The House Committee's report was read. It stated that there was an advance of Is per ton in firewood, and recommended the Committee to authorise an extension of the contract at 12s per ton. The cooking stove in the kitchen was worn out, and it was necessary some steps should be taken to provide a new one. They recommended that the House Committee, for the ensuing month make inquiries as to the best and most economic apparatus for such purpose. They reported everything in a satisfactory state at the Hospital. The report was adopted. - The Kev. Y. Lush asked leave to have the attention of the next House Committee drawn to the desirability of having a good porch at the back entrance of the female ward. It was at present without any screen at all when the door was open. He moved a resolution to that effect, which was seconded by Mr Power, and carried. Tbeasubee's Report.—The balance sheet was as follows: -To balance, £112 4s 7d; subscriptions, £34 10s; donations, £14s 9d; patients charges, £18s -£149 7s 4d. By salaries, £51 15s 41; maintenance, £35 16s lid; miscellaneous expenses, £10 7s 6d ; commission, £1 7s 6d; balance at bank, £49 0s Id; balance in hand, £1—£149 7s 4d. Liabilities- | Salaries, £59 13< 4d; general accounts, £59 0s 9d -£11814s Id, Assets—Cash balancc, £50 Os Id; Provincial 'government subsidies, £333 6s Bd—£3B3 6s 9d, less £118 14s Id—£264 12s 8 t.-Mr Renshaw explained that there were five weeks in this month, and that made the cost of maintenance so heavy — Mr McCullough asked if a saving could not be effected by having a smaller permanent staff. He thought they might dispense with some of them, although he would not suggest which could be dispensed with—Mr Renshaw said they could not expect to get suitable servants to accept a week's work and then wait until wanted.—Mr Bagnall said that committees had already reported on this subject, and the committee had decided to go on with the present staff.-The Chairman pointed out that .they must preserve an efficient staff.—They were in circumstances when an increase of patients might arise any day.—Ur. Lethbridge said that on the occasion of the boiler accident at the Kuranui the resources of theHospitdl were put to a severe test. They could not calculate on obtaining assistance suitable to the cases on the spur of the moment.—Mr Mcllhone said that the matter had been so recently gone into that it was not. worth while going into it now.—The reported was adopted. Suboeon's Report.—The report of the house surgeon was read. It showed the state of the hospital for the month as followsßemaining in hospital on June 30th, 17; admitted, 17; discharged, 10; died, 1. Total remaining, 23 Daily average about 20. Out-patients, 88. The hospital generally was in a satisfactory state. Report adopted. Absent Membees.—An apology was received from Mr W. Wilkinson for his unavoidable absence. Mr Rowe apologised for Mr Tyler, and Mr Mcllhone for the Rev. T. Lonergan. Complaint op Mismanagement.—Mr MriCullough said that a letter appeared in that evening's paper accusing the committee of want of attention to their duties. It was in reference to Maurice Power. If the accusation was not true it was a slander on the committee, and if true it ought to be inquired into and investigated. He handed the paper containing the letter to the chairman, when Mr Bagnall said ' they had no business here to take notice of anonymous letters in the Evenki/ Star. He was quite prepared to take his share of blame before the subscribers.—Mr Mcllhone was opposed to taking any notice of it. He was on terms of intimacy with Mr Power, and always heard him speak of the Hospital and his treatment there it. the highest manner.—The Rev J, Hill said the letter was not published yet, and did not come before them in the ordinary manner. The letter might bo only worthy of their contempt.—Mr McCullough replied that he was perfectly justified in bringing the matter forward, It was published that afternoon, and they had a right to investigate the charges made.—The Rev J. Crump said that the I charges were only a shadow yet. It had no substance. — Mr McCullough said that he would move that a committee be appointed to inquire into the matter.—l'he Rev. J. Crump presumed that before an application could be made for a committee to inquire into a matter there should be something to inquire into. They had nothing before them yet, and. were only wasting time.— The Chairman said tkttha complaint did

not come before them legitimately. They had no right to take notice of an anonymous communication, and if Maurice Power or any of his friends had anything to complain of regarding the Hospital management there was a proper step for them to take.—The Kev. J. Hill said it was a waste of time to consider an anonmous letter, as they could take no action at all,-Mr Sims rose to a point of order. The letter was not before the committee, and they had nothing to do with it. —Mr McCullough moved that a committee, consisting of the Kev. J. Hill, Mr Frater, Mr bouter, Mr Mclllone, and Mr Rensliaw, be appointed to investigate the complaint. Mr Power had lost his arm, and it was stated that the loss was caused through want of proper treatment, -After some further discussion, iVlr E. M. Power seconded' the motion, which was put to the meeting, and carried. House CoMMimE.-Messrs Bagnall, Power, Crump, and Day were appointed House Committee for the ensuing month.