Thames Goldfield Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3170, 17 April 1879, Page 2

Thames Goldfield Hospital.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the subscribers of the Hospital was held last evening in the Theatre Royal, the President (Mr John Prater) in the chair. The minutes of the last aunual meeting were read and confirmed, and the following report from the Committee was read by the Chairman :—

Your Committee in presenting their 10th annual report have great pleasure in congratulating the subscribers on the financial prosperity and general efficiency of the Institution during the past fifteen months. As will be geen from the Treasurer's balance sheet, the Committee which you will elect this evening •will begin work with a larger credit balance than any of their predecessors can boast of. It is pleasing to be able to notify that mining accident cases are much less frequent than formerly; partly, no doubt, from a lesser number of men being employed under-ground, but your Committee believe it is to a great extent owing to the skill and experience now brought to bear on the present system of mining. Under the '• Arrangements Act," the responsibility of hospital maintenance has 'beei transferred from the Government to the Thames Borough Council. The principle of management, with slight alterations, will remain as before the change took place, the only difference being that ttie subscribers, instead of electing 19 members of Committee as in former years, will in future elect only 16, while three members will be nominated by the Borough Council to represent their interests on the Hospital Committee; the rules having' been altered to permit this being done. Formerly the hospital received £1000 a year from Government, which, with local subscriptions, donations, Ac, amounting to £500 or £300 or more, was sufficient to meet the expenditure. Since the Borough accepted the responsibility, some six months ago, the Government subsidise all monies accruing to the hospital, patients' charges excepted, .with an equal amount; or, in other words, give pound for pound. Up to the present your committee have drawn from the Borough the difference between subsidies bow received and the amount formerly granted by the Government, so as to bring the total up to £1000 a year. Various improvements, calculated to add to the health and comfort of the patients, have been carried out during the time your committee have held office. A portion of the main building has been converted into a dining room and library, which is also used as a general sitting room. This he 9 added very : materially to the comfort of convalescent and other patients not confined to bed. In former years the food was served up in the sick wards, which, to say the least, was not calculated to give zeat to the appetite. The library shelves are but scantily stocked, consequently contributions of books, new or secondhand, and illustrated periodicals, which are amusing or instructive, will be gladly received. The military beds formerly in use were found to be inconveniently narrow; these have had frames put upon them so as to give more room, and new mattresses made for the same. This alteration has given great comfort to all, more especially to those confined to bed. Sanitary improvements have also been attended to. The Domestic Water Supply has been laid on to the female ward, and a larger pipe to the main building. The old wooden box drain has been done away with, and earthenware tiles laid in lieu thereof, which, with the larger water supply, can now be regularly flushed. The insurance on buildings and c intents has been increased to £1400. Your committee tender their thanks to all subscribers for the liberal manner in which they have supported the institution, and especially tothe members of the various Friendly Societies for their successful efforts on Boxingday in holding their annual demonstration in favour of the hospital, by which £105 was added to the funds ; also to the ministers and office-bearers of the different churches who, notwithstanding the present depression, have kept up Hospital Sunday collections. Thanks are also due to the mine managers who kindly collected from workmen in their employ; also to Dr M. H. Payne for his having acted on the honorary staff, and the other medical men who, although not on staff, have given consultations free when required. Your Committee ..would also acknowledge their indebtedness to the Press for the publication of many things free of expense b;whioh means the interests of the Institution was kept before the' public.

Your Committee would earnestly urge the necessity of continued liberality on the part of everyone able, to assist, as the Hospital is not only the means of affording to, the poor within its walls comfortable quarters, skilled attendance, food and medicine of the best quality, every surgical appliance necessary, but, also, medical advice equal to anything obtainable by their more prosperous fellowmen. Besides all this a great number of outpatients hare medicine and medical advice free. It would be dim 1 suit to estimate the amount of human suffering which is alleviated by this small Institution. Those-whose circumstances will permit are expected to pay as follows :—la-patients, 14s per week, and out-patients, 2s 6d per week. While those without meant are welcome to the benefits of the Institution.

The amount received as patients' charges has considerably increased, and we, believe a etiJl larger amount" may be raised by^ this means, if subscribers were to inquire into the circumstances of the applicants when issuing tickets, and get the signature to the guarantee clause of those who are able to pay the sums specified in the rules. Although the primary objVt of the Institution it for the relief of the poor, it is, at the same time, nothing but right and juit that those who are able should contribute.

The Hogpital has sustained a great loss— first in the death of Dr W. A.Perstbn, nearly twelve months ago, and more recently in the death of Dr F. O'Flaherty. As Hospital Surgeons both took an active part in the welfare of the Institution; they were kind and attentive to those under their charge, faithful and conscientious in the discharge of their duties, always ready to suggest means by which the efficiency of the Institution could be increased.: At the decease of the late Dr O'Flaherty your Committee placed Dr M. H. Payne in charge, who is performing the duties of bis office to their entire satisfaction.

The want of a Home for the aged poor and infirm has long been felt. Many persons who, in the first instance, were admitted for medicnl treatment, are now suffering only from natural deony, and totally unsuitable for a hospital; yet, for want of other accomodatiou, they are compelled to breathe the vitiated atmosphere of the sick. ward. . To meet the growing requirements for such cases, your Committee purchased a suitable-allot-ment in Baillie street, adjoining the Karaka creek, with a cottage erected thereon, price £280, and for which the Borough supplied the funds. Your Committee waited, on the Hon. Mr Sheehun, and asked for a epecial grant, and were co far successful that £400 has been placed at their disposal. This sum will be spent on additions, alterations, and fittings to the building referred to, plans for which are being prepared. Jt is expected that within two months from this date the whole will be completed, which will give accommodution for about 25 old men. To h's^building the old men now in the Hospital will bo transferred. Those who are able will grow fruit and Tegetablei, not only for I that establishment, but also' for the Hospital. For some time at least the food for inmates of the Old Men's Home will be prepared :'

the Hospital kitchen. The Hospital staff will have charge, and the management and control will be in the handß of the Hospital Committee

In retiring from office wo wish our bucccb* aors every prosperity. I am, gentlemen, Yours, &c., John Fbateb, Preeident. On behalf of the Committee. Mr Wni. JJowe moved the adoption of the report, and spoke highly of the labors of the Committee for the past year. Mr George i)euby seconded the motion, which was carried. . MEDICAL STAFF.

The report of the medical staff wag read as follows :—•■" Keport of the Thames Hospital for the Year 1878-1879.—0n collecting the statistics of the Thames Hospital for the past year, we find the number of out-patients treated} since January 1,1878, to be 887 as against 458 treated during the -year 1877, while 176 in-patients were relieved during the same period as against 141 for the preceding yean There have been 15 deaths during the past financial year, being an increase of 4 over the year 1877. In comparing these data it must be remembered that the annual meeting of subscribers has been altered from January to April, in accordance, with a resolution passed at the last annual meeting, in order to eflfcithiUte the termination of the financial year with that of the Government, and that therefore the present financial year number! 15 months. Since the last general meeting of the subscribers to this .Hospital, the Institution has suffered severely in the successive and consecutive deaths of two of its House Surgeons—fho late Drs. Perston and O'Flaherty. Both died in harness, both were most zealous in the discharge of their duty, and moto efficient as Surgeons, and both took a most lively interest in promoting the welfare of the Hospital. The subscribers may be con* fcratulated on the success of the efforts of

the Committee to provide a Home for the aged, sick, and destitute; for such who, while" on the.one hand,.are ■ permanently disabled by sickness, accident, or fether causes to provide for themselres, have hitherto'been occupying bedilin thfr general wards of the Hospital. The drainage of the Hospital has been improved, and an abundant supply of fresh water laid on by the Committee during the past year, botht of which improvements tend greatly to increase the comfort of the patients, while the advantage of the same in case of fire cannot be o ver-estimated.—Mabtik H. Payne (House Surgeon), James Kiiooua (Hon. Surgeon)." 1 [":'^ •"•• —- l 5; " Annual State of the Thames Goldfield Hospital, from Ist January, 1878, to 31st March, 1879.—Bemained in Hospital 31st Dec, 1877—Males 15, females 2, total 17; admitted from Ist January, 1878, to 31st March, 1879-Malei 135, females 41, total 176; discharged Ist Jan., 51878, Ito 1 3llt March, 1879—Males 127, females 34, total 161; died from Ist Jan., 1878, to 31at March, 1879—Male* 10. females 5, total 15; remaining in Hospital 31st March, 18>9-^Males 15; pinkie* 2, ibW< 17* Number of out-patients treated in the above period—Males: 508,- females 379, total 887. Statistical Nosology,:—Zynu* tic Diseases—Total treated 39, died 2; constitutional diseases—Total treated 10 died 3; local diseases —Total treated '85^ died f8 ; developmental diaeases-^Total treated 4, died 0; violent diseases or deaths—Total treated 55, died 2 ; total treated, 193; total died, 15. Country of Birth of in-Patients Treated :^-Erigland; 74; Ireland, 51; Scotland, 26; New Zealand, 26; Other Countries, 16; total. 193,' ■/-'■ ' ;- ■ ■•■-■' •-■■:-U:i^';ri'

The following balance-sheet of tha Hod. Treasurer was read. The receipts and expenditure were as follow:—Dr—To balance at Bank of New Zealand, 31st December, 1877, £251 9s 6d; cash balance 31st December, 1877, £153 13s Id; subscriptions and donations accounts, viz., workmen in various mines, mills, &c, £]47 13s 6d; societies, associations, &0., £9 19s 4d; private contributions, £144 ]5s 10d—£302 8s 8d; benefits account— friendly societies' demonstration^ £105 19a Id; Hospital Sunday account, £93 3s

9d; patients' charges account, ,£llO 9s 6d; Government grant, £1456 9s lOd; Thames Bbro' Council, £30717s Bd. Total, £2790 lls Id. Cr—By salaries aeoount, £877 15s; maintenance account (meat, bread, groceries, milk, fuel, &c), £489 lls sd; medical comforts account, £70 0$ 2d; furniture account, £46 Os 2d; printing, advertising, and stationery account, £19 5s 9d; miscellaneous expenses account, £15 2s 8d; funeral expenses account, £10 7d; building and repairs account, £47 19s 4d; commission acoount, £31 12s; drugs account, £174 8s 3d; insurance acoount, £15 2s 3d;, property, £2801 balance, £713 7s Id; total, £2,790 lls Id. —The assets and liabilities showed » balance at bank of £706 7s 3d; .^ash balance, £6 19s lOd; Government subsidy due, £105, 13s, 7d; Borough Council subsidy due, £144 6s sd; total £963 7s Id: Against—salaries, £56 2s; oorrent accounts; £40 14s 9d; balance, £866 10s 4d; total, £963,7s id.

The Chairman stated the next business was the election of the offioe-bearers for the ensuing year, and palled for'nomination for the office of President. .-,;

Mr McCulloogh proposed that Mr Jpho Frater be re-elected. .

Mr Frator declined the honor, as he wished the office to go the rJUFof de* serring members of the General Com* .mittee. _ _

Mr George Denby proposed Hii Worship the Mayor, Mr McCullough, as President.

Mr Cane seconded the proposition, and there, being no other nomination, the Chairman declared Mr MeCuHougb! 'duly elected.

Mr Benshaw proposed Mr Ehrenfried for the office of Vice-President, and there being no one else proposed Mr Ehrenfried was duly elected. The following gentleman were nominated for members of v General Committee, and set opposite 'their names are the number of totes each received, the first 16 being declared elected :—Eev.T. Lush, 54; J. Renshaw r 53; R. Comer, 51; J. Frater, 51; Rev. Father O'Reilly, 49; W. Howe, 48; Rer. 8. Neill, 41; H. Mcllhone, 41; T. L, Murray, 37; Re?. R. Laishley, 35; JV McG^ant^; M. Mulligan, 31; W. DaviesYSljt). Ahieir, 27; J. Wilson, 23; Alexander Aitken, f2l; H. Vernon, 16; 8. Hetherington, 15 ;J. Cock, 14; ; Wi Wilkinson, 13; A. Hume, 14; J. Read, 6; W. Plant, 4

Messrs Qorries and Mills acted * |s scrutineers, ' ;

Messrs Carrick and Gellidn wW reelected auditors. '-.n'-u-hvir

Mr Rowe moired a rote ofthankito the retiring Committee and the staff, which, being acknowledged by the Chairman, terminated the proceedings.