Thames Hospital Committee.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2625, 7 June 1877, Page 2

Thames Hospital Committee.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of this institution was held at the Salutation Hotel at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. There were present—Mr Renshaw, President, the Revs. V. Lush, and J. T. Hinton, Messrs Frater, Davies, Comer, Hudson, Brown, Macnab, McCullough, D. Miller, Ehrenfried, Mulligan, and Mcllhone. The minutes of the previous meeting were read over and confirmed. - HOUSE COMMITTBK's BEPOBT.

The House Committee's, report was then read as follow:—" The House Committee have to report having taken into, ~ consideration the letter of £>r Mv H. . Payne, as directed by the general Com* ■, mittee, and are of opinion that in the case of the deceased, Macdonald, who had been found dead by the police, and had. been pronounced cead by the doctor, the body' of the deceased should not hare been brought to the hospital. ■" As directed by the committee, a supply of ti-tree fire* wood has been, obtained at 10s per to»?f ;i the account of which is now preseited for payment. We recommend that the application of the cook for increase of, 5a per week to his salary should be allowed' ._„ Jfhe hospital has been regularly visit^l "" by members of this committee.-and ereity. r - v thing found in a' clean and satisfactory^- } condition. The,accounts for the month- ,' are:—Salaries, £60 14s Bd, and general' " accounts (includiag firewood), £76:08 6d, which we recommend for payment.-—'.. (Signed) D. Ma.cnab." • . / Mr Frater moved that the report bp[.'' received. This was carried. ' ''^ T Mr McOullough thought that more," \ should hare been said about Dr Payne's'' letter. Mr Miller, as one of the House Comrv mittee, said that they had considered the' ' matter, and coming to the conclusion that the body should not have been brought to the Hospital they considered they had nothing further to do with the matter.- rv The adoption of the report was then^ carried on the motion of Mr Danes, \^ seconded by Mr McCullongh. ■ * •" "'■') HOTTBE SUBGEON's BEPOM. ' !?V? ' The report of the House Surgeon was read as follows: —"Monthly report of state of Thames GoldfielJ Hospital.—l -hate the honour to report, for the information of the Committee, that on the , 30th April last there remained in the Hoi-" . pital 16 patients; that during the month' of May there were 8 admissions*.6;wen discharged, three died, and upon tHe 31st of May 15 remained under-tareator ent. Analysing the cases in the house, there .ire 2 cases paralysis, 2 bronchitis,.2 fracture, 1 rheumatism, 1 eh. encephelitis,'l? crofula, 1 gout, 1 tumour, I,softening of/, ;.«rain, 1 epilepsy, "1 dyspepsia. 1 ulcers. Of the deaths, one was from.apopleijj -if ; death ensuing shortly after admission; one from acute bronchitis, with congestion > of lungs, three days after admission; and one from cancer of the bladder, a case of long-standing and of very great suffering. —Wit, A. Pebston, M.D., House Sur- 1 geon" , -. j- • •- r j-rr The report was adopted. ''J "" '^~'s ihe President noticed that the number • • of out-patients was not included in the report, and it was decided that the Praai' dent see the surgeon en the subject, and request him ta include the number of out-patients in his reports.

tbeasusebV bepobt. t Mr J. Hudson, Hon. Treasurer, read " J the : Treasurer's monthly report as follows:—"/J'o balances forward, £96 178 7d; subscription account, £2 18s; patients' charges account, £4 7s 6d; benei. fits account, £2 8s; and Gorernment grant account, £250—total, £356 11s Id, The expenditure was: By salaries,, £52 ; , , 183 2d; maintenance account,!£2B I!7|[J 9d ; drugs, medical comforts, Ac, £3 lOflf 9d;; furniture, £2 14s'3d; .commission, £1 9s 3d; miscellaneous, Is; cash balance, 5s 8d; and bank balance, £266 14s 3d; showing a total of £356 lls Id. The liabilities were.for salaries, £60,145,8d4 : for general accounts and firewood, £67 6s ' 6d; total, £127 15s 2d. ..The assets were —Cash and bank balance, £266 19s lid, and Government grant (two months.due) # l £166 13s 4d, making a total of £433 13s 1 ■ 3d; which, less liabilities of £127 15a 2d, , gave net assets of £305 18s Id. * '"" v : The report was adopted and accounts passed on the motion of Mr Prater,' seconded by Mr Macnab. . - COEBESPONDENCB. A letter was read from Mr Ahier resigning his position as a member of the Committee, as he was a candidate for thY office of Secretary. The resignation was accepted. ; ' ■„.'-. A letter was read from the fiev. J. Hill resigning his seat in the Committee. The letter was accompanied by a donation of three guineas to the Hospital. Mr McCullough moved, and it was carried, that the secretary be instructed " to send Mr Hill a letter of thanks forthe donation, and expressing their appreciation of his many services to the Hospital. A letter was read from the nurse/ Mrs ._• - Thewliss, tendering her resignation to the Committee. . ' ' . :

Mr Mcllhone moved that the letter be referred to the House Committee to act upon as they think fit. This was seconded and carried. ■ l j The Secretary said that a circular had * received from the General Government Offices, Auckland, slating that as the Government contemplates a general system of hospital management they requiredl. statistics from the district hospitals as a basis to go upon. He had sent the re« quired information which was rather - lengthy and complete in its details. It was resolved that the Secretary's ]' action be confirmed by the Committee.

TENDFES. Tenders for the supply of goods for the ensuing half-year were received. For groceries the following tenders (accompanied each by a deposit of £5) were re* ceived:—Hewin Bros, and W. Deeble. Hewi'i Bros', tender being the lowest was • >? accepted on the motion of Mr Macnab. For meat the following tenders were received -.—Dalziel and Bobbett. Mr Bob- ' bett's tender, though considerably the*, lower, wrs informal, not being accom- >'- panied by the deposit of £5, and a good deal of discussion took place as to the advisability of receiving ic. r ' •'-■■"' * •■, On it being put to the "vote, if was car-" I*?" ried that the tender b 3 received,, and. Mr j i, - Bobbett's tender was accepted. " \ Mr Davies demanded that the names of those who had vot?d for the reception on the informal tender be recorded. He thought that is was an illegal vote. Messrs Brown and Mcllhone thought

that ife was an innovation, and quite unnecessary. The President ruled that the nanie3 be taken down. Mr Mcllhone said it was a quibble from beginning to end. The Key. V. Lush said that Mr Mcllhene was obstructing the business of of the meeting. Mr Mcllhone apprehended that he had as much right to' express his opinion as Mr Lush Had.' . The matter then dropped. The' following for bread were then received:—Forgie, Holleston and Son, arid O. D. Grant. After some discussion the tender of Mr Forgie was accepted. For washing Mr Hardman's tender was accepted. For funerals the following tenders werereceived:—Twentyman, £2; Cocks, £1 19s 6d; Grigg, £2 ss. Cocks'tender was accepted. ," '; : ' OFFICERS. ■■■■; Applications for;-the office of House Surgeon were received from Drs. Martin H. Payne and William: A. • Perston. Mr, McCullough • moved that Dr Perston's application be accepted. Mr Mcllhone moved, as an amendment, that the advertisement be altered, and the aalary be divided amongst the two applicants. It was perfectly .proper that a person who was unfortunate to be in the hospital sho»ld have the choice of, his doctors 4* He knew; that it was the generayfcrp^ession.of the > public that' the hospital could be better managed with two or more, surgeons than one. . Tfce president said the amendment was madmUsiblej ,as it would take a special meeting tp,amend the rules. Mr D^vies said that he did not think that they needed to appoint the doctor tonight. -They would gefcover the difficulty by postponing the matter till the next monthly meeting. ;A Mr Frater was of opinion that the present'- 1 system answered well, enough. He could; not see\any advantage in having divided 1 authority, and it might lead to a great deal of. trouble., /: Mr Comer, suggested that they adjourntill next week. . f> :,^ • ... Several,gentlemen thought theyshould proceed with the election. Mr^MuUigan moved, that Dr Payne be appointed: surgeon for the next twelve months.:-.;-' :;.-<;; ;-.■•*■ '- ;/- ':' ' ' !-" .;,. .. ; This was seconded by Mt Comer. Mr Frater said that Dr Payne was not a physician. He had not M.D. after his name. •"■ ■'■'^■■'-.: :' ' '■':'_ .; .. • ...:.. Mr 'McCullpugh said that D r Perston had given entire'satisfaction to the Committee : Stfring the' last. 12 months. Dr Payriefiad" not taken that interest in the hospital. He had thrown every obstacle ! in the way of the hospitaL/,; Dr Perston on the other, hand had done his best for the hospital... ,-,.: :■■■■. ; ;■ The. amendment was then put to the meeting*; andVa voted for it. The motion was then put, and as nine voted for it it was declared carried. ; . ' Applications for the office of dispenser were received from Messrs W. Plant and Thomas Aitken. • ." - Mr Frater,moved, and the Eev. V. Lush seconded, that'the application of Mr T. Aitken be accepted. . v ■.-...■ Applications for the. office of secretary were received from Messrs ,G. Harcourfc, C. Abier, ILHoniss and % H. Power. The EeV."v^. Lush proposed, and Eev, J. T. Hintonseconded,Mr Honiss. Mi; McCullpugh 'proposißd, and Mr Frater aecondcd, Mr Ahier. Mr-Mulligan pro-"posed*-and Mr Mcllhone- seconded, Mr -Harcourt.-

-"- On the motion being put to the meeting, *l voted for Mr Honiss, 5 for Mr Ahier, and 2 for Mr Harcourt. Mr Honiss waf therefore declared reelected.' "'''' , ... . ■ •:■' -'■■..'. •'' .:. ...... .■. Mr McCullough proposed that Mr Ahier be .reinstated on the Committee. This was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Frater, Mr T. L. j Murray, was elected to the vacancy caused by the.resignation of Mr Hill. Mr Davies had proposed Mr Gudgeon, but afterwards his name. MOVSE COMMITTEE. The Eevs. Father Ghastagnon, V. Lush, Messrs Comer and Macnab are the House Committee for the ensuing month. NOTICE OF .MOTION. Mr Mcllhone ga?e notice that he would move at the next general meeting—"That it is advisable to distribute the work of the House Surgeon amongst the medical gentlemen of the Thames who may apply for that po'sitibn, and who may be considered qualified." .■.....• This concluded the business.