Thames Goldfield Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2874, 2 May 1878, Page 3

Thames Goldfield Hospital.

The usual monthly meeting of the committee of this institution was held at the Salutation Hotel at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Present—Mr Frater, President, Mr McCuliough, Vice-Presi- j dent, Mr Hudson, Hon; Treasurer, the j Revs. R. S; Bunn, S. J. Neill, V. Lush, J. T. Hinton and Father Chastagnon, Messrs W. Davies, Ahier, Mcllhone, Renshaw, D. Miller, McGowan, Gudgeon, Mulligan, Ehrenfried, Comer; Aitken, Hicks and E. H. Power. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting ■were read over and confirmed. HOT7BE COMMITTEE'S EEPOBT. The report of the House Committee was read as follows:—^ Tbe House Committee repovt 1 the completion of the contract for the supply of firewood. The alteration of the beds and bedsteads, as recommended by theilast com« J mittee, ia being carried out. We have .examined the accounts for the month,-and recommend the payment ,pf salaries, £45. 7s 9d ; apd general accounts, £72 6s sd, including the amount .£34 5a for firewood. In consequenes^&f the lamented death of Dr Perston, whicTf took plitce on the 25th ult., your Committee gaye charge of the Hospital to Dr O'BlaKerly/ %vh6hW since, performed the duties, and it will be for you to determine fee-day what steps are^tp, be. .taken ;for r tlie fut ure.—HtrQH MbliiHONa; for/Chairman of House-Oommittee.^ I"''--^-'1 "''--^-' •''s°^! J,V '".;..''■ 'V.7'; TEBASUBIiB's BEpI)ET. The report of this officer was read as follows.:—Receipts: To balance, £40310s lid ; HospitaTSunday,£3o lls B*;<donations and subscription?, £6; 4s ; .patients' chargesj £6"4s 6d ; Government aid, £250 —£696 lis Id. Expenditure: Salaries, £54 17s ; maintepanc.e,v.£26 '7s, 5d ; miscellaneous expenditure, £3 lls 3d; medical comforts, £2 lls 4d; drugs and appliances, £3 10s 3d; furniture, £1 9sj building and repairs, ] 8s; commission, £2 12s 6d; balance Bank New Zealand, £587 8s 3d; cash, £13 6s Id—£696 lls W. Liabilities : Salaries, £45 7s 9d ; general account, £72 6s 5d ; balance, £483 os,2<i —£600 14s-4d. Assets; Bank-balance,' £587 8s 3d; cash balance, £13 6s Id-— £600.14s 4d. , ■:■■ „;.,,.. The report was adopted on Jthe; niotion of Mr McCuliough. ■.- > . HOUSE SFBO-EON's BEPOBT. ; ' The report.;of the temporary; house surgeon was read as follows and adopted: Gentlemen,— During the/month which has elapaed.we have suffered.a severe losa in the death/ of :Dr Perston. Always anxious for the prosperity of the Hospital and the wellbeing pf the patients he took advantage of every opportunity to promote the interests of the institution.[to which he belonged.i. While the community at large have borne testimony pf regret at his decease, those whom failing health or the ordinary transactions of Jife brought into closer acquaintance with him, have occasion to deplore the absence of the; ' kind physician, the faithful friend and trustworthy man who too often preferred the interests of others to his own. Of him we may Bay Vlr fvilllnon donanMf'lajiru^(S^ji^\] t regard to t,hesstate"of the( Hbepital, the nunv : ber of patients remaining at present within, the wards is smaller than it has been for sometime. The iteadyi settled weather we have been enjoying, and the fortunate immunity from accidents amongst-bur labouring population would probably account for. this; The exact, returns are as follows for the . month:—Zymotic diseases:,remained 3, admitted 1, discharged 1; remaining 3. Local diseases: 'remained 10, admitted 5, discharged 8, died 1; remaining 6. Violent diseases: remained 4, admitted.4, discharged: 6; remaining 2; Totals : remained 17, admitted 10, discharged 15, died 1; remaining 11. The wardsmaa, W. Cain, has sent in an application for an increase of salary. He has given great -satisfaction during the time he has been b ere. He is T exceedingly attentive to his duties, perfectly; sober, active, and obliging. I would recommend his case to tbe favorable notice of the committee. Ihe cook, W. Swindells, hae sent in his resignation, as he is desirous of commencing business for himself; his place has beon supplied for the last few days by James Oalby, who appears quite capable of doing the work of the kitchen satisfactorily.—F. OTiaheeti, L.8.0.5.1. - , ..,::,,/"BESIGaTATION... ;■ .■•.■■..•■..;■'•■' A letter was read from William Swindells, resigning his position as cook.. The President said that a man named William Galby had been doing the duties of cook since Swindells had left, and had given the greatest satisfaction. After some discussion Calby was appointed cook.i.-;■ '.'y..\<y/;.-:- ■;■'•■■■'. ' INCBEASE IN SALABY. .:• , A letter was read from Mr Cain, junior wardsman, asking for an increase of ■alary to 35s per week. At present he received 30s per Week, and had been six months in the employ of the Hospital. Mr Renshaw moved, and Mr Ahier seconded, that the increase be granted. The Rev. J; T. Hinton remarked that the Committee had already approved of the principle of having a senior and junior wardsman. .. .■ . -.'_.. ._..■ ■■•■. / --',::>k:;.;.' ;-v.- ; Mr McGowan moved, as an amendment, that the advance be not granted.; . . Mr Mcllhone seconded the amendment. The matter had been brought up before the House Committee,- but no decision had been arrived at, though he had not objected to its being recommended, as he thought long service should be recognised, and that^wre should be" a^distinction: between tße two wardsmen; /:./,. '.".'■ '''.*■ Father Chastagnon spoke in' Support of the resolution, saying that as "both wards-; men did the same work, hie thought they{ both should have the same pay. , ;" k,. The President remarked that the late Dr( Perston had spoken to him of Cain's efficiency. . . ; '..'-'I-;'- .'■;■•■•■ ■ . ■-•• -: After further discussion the resolution was carried. APPOINTMENT OF'HOUSE STJBGEON. The President said that they would require to put some one in charge of the Hospital unti) the annual election, which took place next month. DrOTJaherty was at present in charge. MrvMcllhone moved that the present arrangement continue until the annual meeting neict month. Seconded by Mr McCuliough. Mr Power moved as an amendment that, "the Honorary Staff, Drs.Payne and O'Flaherty, be appointed to the charge of the Hospital. , Mr McCuliough supported the resolution, and thought that Dr Payne had not the slightest claim for consideration on the Hospital Committee, as ifc- was not until a few months ago that Dr Payne had agreed to join the Honorary Staff. He referred to Dr Payne's conduct when asked to attend a patient at th* Hospital. The Rev. V. Lush seconded the amend- >, ment, and spoke in support of it. He said it would : be a terrible slight to Dr Payne as the senior member of the pro-

fession here. It would be a good opportunity to see how two surgeons would work together, and lie hoped that they would both be put in rharijf*. Mr McCuliough s-iid iliat ilie Hospit.-sl had been indebted to Dr '"Flaherty I'vr nearly two ye,ars, »ud on tlio otlie hand Dr Payne had refused to g" to the flopital when asked to do so Mr Hicks thought that Dr I'aynr's treatment *f the Hospital had been shameful. Mr Gudgeon explained thntDr Payne's refusal to go*to attend a patient was a mistake. He had been told he wasn't wanted. Mr Mcllhone said that it had been argued that Dr Payne was the cenior surgeon, but he was not so far as the honorary medical staff was concerned, as Dr O'Plaherty had been on the staff for two years. Mr Aitken said that before Dr. Perston had been dead an hour Dr. Payne had been canvassing the members of the Committee to be appointed. Mr Miller began to say that Dr. Payne had made false statements, but was ruled out of order by the President. After some further discussion the motion was carried. Mr Renshaw moved, " That the Secretary be instructed to advertise for a house surgeon at a salary of £200 per annum " in the usnal manner. Mr McCuliough brought up the question of the appointment of'a resident surgeon. Jhe President said it would require, the rulesbeing altered. Mr Renshaw, referring' to what Mr McCuliough had said, said that this matter had been considered before, and the motion had been dropped on the score of the expense that would be caused in providing suitable accommodation. He thought it would be well to let weU alone. Father Chastagnon said that it would be well that the advertising be postponed until after a special meeting, to consider whether it was advisable or not to alter the rules, so as to have a resident surgton. "He thought it would be well to have a resident surgeon, and referred to &a experience of his own, when a medical man could not be obtained for a rery urgent case. They would save the dispeiiser's salary. Mr McCuliough said for years p r ast he always desired to have a resident surgeo:i, | and now he was especially desirous of having it brought about, as the County and Borough wished to have pome control of -the: hospital, and would do their best to economise. He suggested the alteration of the rules, and the postponement of the advertising, until a special meeting had been called. ._". - Mr Davies thought when they advertised it would be sufficient to do so in the Auckland and Thames papers. Mr Power moved—" That no action be taken in the matter of advertising until after a special meeting for altering the rules^if desirable) has been held." ~ This was seconded by Mr McCuliough and; carried, and it was agreed to hare the special meeting on Wednesday next. [ ■■■;■ -arOTTSE COMMITTEE. Messrs Mcllaone, Murray, and the Revs R. 3. Bunn and Father Chastagnon were appointed House Committee for the ensuing month. :, . I HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT. The President said he had received a letter from the Borough <- Council stating that| the Borough were perfectly willing to make up the deficiency between the amount collected by the Hospital and the expenditure, provided two members of the Borough Council have seats on the com* mittee. Mr Mcllhone suggested, as this would require a.change of rule*, that it might be considered on Wednesday at the special meeting. lETTEB OF CONDOLENCE. On the motion of Mr McGowan it was resolved to send a letter of.condolence and sympathy to Mrs Perston and family. This was all the business.

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