Thames Goldfield Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3339, 4 September 1879, Page 2

Thames Goldfield Hospital.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of this Institution was held at the Salutation Hotel yesterday afternoon. Present —Mr Ehrenfried, Vice-President (in the chair), the Keys. Father O'Reilly, S. J. Neill, It. Laishley, and V. Lush, Messrs Brassey, Benshaw, Mclllione, W. Howe, M. Mulligan, and J. McGowan,

MINUTES

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

HOUSE COMMITTEE'S BBPOBT.

The report of the House Committee was read as follows :—■" Gentlemen,— Your House Committee reports having obtained two easy chairs as instructed by the General Committee, and they hare been made in a very satisfactory manner by Mr F. Dann at a cost of £8. The accounts for the month are: Salaries, £56 12s, including 10s for an extra nurse for two days; general accounts, £74 12s 4d, including £21 7s 6d for three waterbeds from Messrs Ketnpthorne, Prosier and Cos.' New Zealand Drug Company, making a total of £131 4s 4d, which we recommend for payment.—G. N. Bbasbey, Patbick : o'Bbim.y." The report was adopted. BEPOBT OF HOW. TBEASTTBEB. The monthly financial statement .was read as follows :—-" Dr.: Beceipts—To balance, £24 3s; subscriptions, £16 4* 9d ; patients' charges, £7 9s 6d: Borough Council, £144 6s 5d ; total, £192 3s Bd. Cr.: Expenditure—Salaries, £64 16s ; maintenance, £34 14s 9d; drags and appliances, £3 9s 2d; medical comforts, £7 6s 6d ; printing, stationery, and advertising, 14j ; miscellaneous expenses, 6s 6d; balance, £80 17s 9d; total, £192 3s Bd." The report was adopted. BEPOBT OF HOUSE StTBGEOIT. The report of the House Surgeon was read as follows:—" I have the honor to report for the information of your Committee that on July 31st there were remaining in your Hospital 20 patients; that during the past month, from Ist to 31st August, twelve patients have been admitted, awhile fourteen hare been discharged . cured. There were remaining on August 31st eighteen patients. There hare been, I am glad to say, no deaths during the past month. The number of out-patients treated during the past month has been 76, and the average daily sick among the in-patients is 20. An analysis of the cases' in the Hospital gives the following result:—-Zymotic—remained 5, discharged 2, remaining 3 ; Constitutional—remained 1, admitted 1, discharged 1, remaining 1; Local—remained 12, admitted 4, discharged 8, remaining 8; Development— remained 2, admitted 1, remaining 3; Violent—admitted 6, discharged 3, remaining 3: total—remained 20, admitted, 12, discharged 14, remaining 18.—I hare, Ac, Mabtih H, Paynb." The report was adopted. apologies.

Apologies for absence were receired from Messrs Comer, Price, Hudson, and Ahier.

MB SHEBHAX'S OIFt. Mr Brassey said that the, Hon. Mr Sheehan yesterday Tisited the Hospital, and expressed himself highly satisfied, and so pleased was he with the endearors of the committee that he agreed to present two easy chairs of locrl manufacture to the Old Men's Home, and had also donated £10 to the Hospital funds. He mored that the Secretary be instructed to forward a letter to Mr Sheehan conreying the thanks of the Committee to that gentleman for his magnanimous letter. He might say that Mr Sheehan desired that the .money might be deToled to the purchase of books, the reading to be of a light description. Mr Howe took exception to the words " light reading." He thought that they should hare works of a light religious character. He himself was prepared to giro a donation of £20 worth of books. - Mr Brassey said Mr Sheehan did not want the books te be of a particularly pious character. There were too many people who went into the hospital and stood by the patients with long faces, saying, " unfortunate creatures, I hope you will soon reeorer." The Be*. Mr Lush thought Mr Brassey was drawing on his imagination.

Mr Mcllhone said they all knew that gentlemen of religions arocations went to Tisifc the patients from conscientious motives. He thought Mr Bias Bey should make some reparation for what he had taidi

Mr Brassey said he would withdraw nothing, and after what had been said he declined to hare anything to do with the selection of the books.

Finally it was decided the House Committee should prepare a list to be submitted at next meeting.

Mi Brassey said be wished to make an explanation : At the last meeting of the Committee a sab committee was appointed to report on the matter of Mrs Power, the cook. No report had been prepared through * a misunderstanding between Himself and the secretary.

HON. MEDICAL STAFF.

The Vice President said Dr Andrews had made application to him to be placed on the honorary medical utaff. After considerable discussion the Vice President promised to request Dr Andrews to send in his application in writing. Both Messrs JBrassey and Mcllhone said they had objections to Dr Andrews being placed on the staff.

OLD MEN'S HOME.

The report of the Old Men's Home Committee wan read as follows: — " Gentlemen,—Your sub-Committee re Old Men's Home hare to report that the £400 as promised by the Government could only be applied to the purchase of, or erection of buildings, and not for the acquirement of land. To enable us to claim this amount, the Borough provided £280 for the purchase of Mr Dodd's property, which comprises an allotment with about 123 feet to Baillie street by 155 feel deep, on which was erected a four-roomed cottage. With the Government grant we hare made improvements and additions to building; and now everything is complete with the exception of. furniture. From the plan herewith you will see that special attention has been paid to secore every comfort possible for those who may be inmates of the Institution. There is a large sitting and dining room, one large bedroom, and four medium sized bedrooms. Water and gas are laid on to every apartment. The verandah is 8 feet widr, and extends round front and both ends of the new portion of the building. It will require

about £30 to be spent in furnishing, which, with Hospital spare beds and bedding, will be sufficient to meet present requirements. To avoid the difficulties of trusteeship, the property is vested in the Borough Council, and insured for £400. There are four old men in the Hospital, ' who could be transferred at once pro* vided the Home were furnished. It will now be for the Committee to decide on what conditions this Institution shall be conducted. The Borough having accepted the responsibility of maintaining the Charitble Institutions of this place, your sub Committee are of opinion it would ' simplify matters to consider the Old Men's Home a part of the Hospital in 4very respect, so far as management and maintenance is concerned. 'We are of opinion that recommendations for the admission of applicants ought to com* / from the Borough or County authorities, who, must guarantee to pay the cost of each inmate so recommended. The amount per week to bo fixed by this Committee. Before 1 any person can be admitted to the Home, an order to bo obtained from the General Committee;— We are, Ac, James Bbhshaw, Joh* FbA*EB." ' ■-'' ->'- The report was adopted.BEDDIVO. . = ■. r I It was resolved on the motion of Mr Frater, that the Hospital committee hand ! over the unnecessary, bedding in the Hospital for use in the Old Men's i Home. ' • ' "'■-'•■ ' •'" . , ALLEGED IBBEGUIABITY. MrMcllhone proposed audMrXowol seconded " that the Secretary be requested to furnish the highest number of patients *• therein, and whether at any time during the; last month the accomodation was so . ■ insufficient as to compel the authorities to' refuse admission to an applicant who oame with a proper recommendation*" . After some discussion the motion wai put and carried. . . •" ■ ,

, HOUSE COMMITTEE. The Hers. Father O'Beilly, and 8. J.!" Neill, and Messrs Frater and Dariet '.'. were appointed House Committee, for the ',' ensuing month. - ~ .: „.' .'■ This concluded the business :■■ •■ .■ . ;*