Thames Goldfields Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2549, 8 March 1877, Page 2

Thames Goldfields Hospital.

The usual monthly meeting; of the Committee of this institution was held/at the Salutation Hotel at 4 o'clock yester-i day afternoon. There were present:— Mr Kenshaw, president, the! lie vs. J. T. Hintpn, V. Lush, and J. Hill,,^[essrs Macnab, Ahier, ; McCullough, Prater, Ehrenfried,. Bagnall, Mcllhone, Hicks, Miller, and Souter. , minutes/ In the absence of the secretary Mr

Bagnall read the minutes, which were confirmed. house coiimittee's befobt. The report of the House Committee was read as follows s:—" Your committee have the honour to report, in reference to the applicatioirfor increase of pay to the gardener, that Mr McAninny does his work in a very satisfactory manner, and h.as kept the hospital better supplied with vegetables than formerly, and we recommend that his wages be increased from 20s per month to 255. The accounts for the month, amounting £34 9s 3d general accounts, and £52 15s 4d salaries—total, £87 4s 6d, hare been examined, and are recommended for payment." i. Mr McCullough proposed, and Mr i Macriab seconded, that the report be received and adopted. house suboeon's beport. -

The House Surgeon's report was read as: follows :—-" I have the honor to report for the information of the committee that on the 31st of January ultimo, there remained' in"the hospital 20 patients; that during the.Ynonth of February there were 11 admitted, 12 patients were discharged, two died, and upon the 28th February 17 remained under treatment. Analysing the cases in the house thcro are 2 cases bronchitis, 2 paralysis, 2 gout, 3 wcunds and contusions, 1 rheumatism, 1 chronic encephalitis, 1 ulcer, 1 scrofula, 1 haematuria, 1 fracture, I.cancer, and 1 diarrhoea. Of ..the deaths one was from phthisis, the patient having been an invaliJ for about two years, the other from remittent fever in a person of shattered constitution. The beds at present in use in the accident ward appear to be uncomfortably narrow, and the bedding not so smooth as desirable, where patients are necessarily obliged to maintain' one position for a lengthened period. The new beds' lately introduced in the other wards are not: suitable in pattern nor'of sufficient strength . and, primness for an accident ward. —Wm. Pebston, M.D., House Surgeon." Mr ■ McCullough proposed and the Eev. J. T. Ilinton seconded that the report be received. Carried.

Mr McCullough moved that the recommendations contained in the report be referred to the House Committee and Surgeon to report on. This was seconded by the Rev. V. Lush and carried. J TBEASXJBEK's REPOIiT.

The Treasurer's report was then read as follows :•—Dr. To balance, £27912s 7d; subscriptions account, £3 7s; - Hospital Sunday account, £55 2s 6d—£352 Us 7d. Cr. By maintenance account, £3016s lOd; drugs and appliances account, £14 6s ; medical comforts account, £5 15s ; furniture account, 4s Ud ; printing, advertising and stationery account, £4 6s 6d; commission account, £1 ss; miscellaneous expenses account, 3s 9d ; salaries account, £60 18s 4; £234 15s 3d-£352 Us-3d. Liabilities and assets: Dr. Salaries, £52 15*s 4d ; general account, £34 9s 2d—£97 4s 6d. Cr. Cash balance, £234 15s 3d; Government subsidy due (two months), £166 13s 4d—£4ol 8s 7d; less' liabilities, £87 4s 6d—net £314 4s Id. '

Mr Macnab proposed and Mr Ahier seconded that the '"report be adopted and the accounts paid. - . COBBESPOHDENCE.

A letter was read from Mr O'Connell the late wardsman asking for a,certificate of character from the committee.

; • 'Mr, Macnab moved.that the President be instructed to give Mr O'Connell a certificate of character. He thought it a very reasonable request. Seconded by Mr McCullough and carried. A letter was read from Mr Menary, wardsman, applying for an advance of salary. He had been three months in the Hospital. ,; 'Mr McCullough moVed and Mr Hicks seconded that the matter be referred to the House Committee. Mr Bagnall said it wasunnecessary to refer it to the House Committee. He thought that 30s per week was quite sufficient. . * - - . Mr Frater sympathised with -Mr Bagnall. He thought that the application was premature. Mr Bagnall moved, and Mr Frater seconded, that the Committee consider the application premature. The JRev. J. T. Hinton suggested that' the man should be told when he should apply again at some future period. > Mr McCullough thought it was fair to. 1 enquire into the matter before giving an answer. The man had evidently thought that he was to get an increase if he gave satisfaction.

Mr Hicks coincided with Mr McCul lough.

Mr Frater said that even if the House Committee, who had appointed the man, had made the promise it would not be binding on the Committee. The amendment was put to the meeting, and six voted for it, and then the motion, for which eight voted. The latter was therefore declared carried. THE DISQUALIFIED MEMBEBS. A letter was read from Mr Rowe stating that he could not retain his seat in the Committee in consequence of his having otlier business to attend to.

A letter was read from Mr Gudgeon resigning his seat in the Committee, and "suggesting that the secretary, should be requested to give notice to annual subscribers when their subscription fell due. M r Macnab moved that the letters be received and adopted. . . Mr Mcllhone suggested that they hear the report of the committee appointed to report on the matter first. The Key. J. Hill, as one of the committee, said that they had seen Mr Bowe and he said that he did not want to retain his seat in the committee. They had also seen Mr Gudgeon, and he said that the secretary had called on him about the i middle of December and asked for his subscription,, He had been under-"tie impression that he had paid the subscription during the year, and Mr Honiss promised to see if he had done so and inform him of it before the end' of the month. Mr Honiss said nothing of the matter till' about the new year, when he told him (Mr Gudgeon) that he had not paid. He then tendered a cheque which Mr Honiss refused to take. , The committee sympathised with Mr Gudgeon, but they were of opinion that his-election was illegal. They thought the recommendation in Mr Gudgeon's letter a good one. If. he (Mr Hill) had known that the election was illegal at the meeting he would have declared the nest two elected.

Mr Lush said .the secretary, was to blame for- not calling fcr the subscriptions. Mr Davies said lie intended to move that Mr Gudgeon be re-elected.

The President said that had the Chairman of the meeting known that these two

gentlemen were ineligible; he would have declared the next ones duly elected. The Eev. V. Lush said the secretary had been clearly remiss in his duty as he should have informed the Chairman who was eligible. Mr Mcllhone moved that the report be received.

This was seconded by Mr McCullough. and carried.

Mr Davies moved that the first part of the report be adopted. Mr Macnab seconded the motion. Mr Bagnall moved that the whole repojt be adopted. . . -./, -,- -

Tliis was seconded by Mr Ahier. The Eev. J. T. HiAton said-that tbese gentlemen could not resign as they had never been members thisyear.* 3*1 Ho thought the next two should be appointed. "'*■'■■> ;- Mr Miller said that whether they were ineligible or not they, were not to blame. Mr Mcllhone said that they had'a rigtfc to resign as the Chairman, had declared them elected. * :'.' The amendment was then,"put"ti<rthe meeting and 6 voted, fordt.r The motion was then put, and as 10 voted for it it was declared carried.* ,<.?. -*-: ( •(',■

THE FBIENDITS; SOCIETIES. Mr Bagnall said thSt 11 tickets of a<J? mission to the Hospital had been sent to the Protestant—Alliance, 12 to the Independent Order of Eechabitea, 10 to the Loyal Waikato Lodge, 1.0.0. F., 5 to the Loyal r Charles Bruce, 1.0.0. F., 10 to the Court Pride of Parnell, A.0.F., 3 to the Pride of the North, A.0.F., 4 to the Juvenile Branch, A.O.F.Vand 7 to the H.A .C.B.S—tptal 62 toFriendly Societies 5 tickets had also been sent % each of ttw bands, the Navals and the .Scottish, m&ing the total'number distributed Tz; "' *■ .HOUSE 'COMMITTEE. , Messrs McCaUoßghandiSJtcTJlkWiStiike the place of the retiring. membe'rt of toe i House Committee for/the entuine montb? j . This was all: the bus%Ts^ '