Thames Goldfield Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3863, 2 October 1879, Page 2

Thames Goldfield Hospital.

The usual monthly meeting of the Coqj•mittee of this institution was heid at the Salutation Hotel at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Present —Mr McCullough (President), Mr Ehrenfried (Vice-Presi-' dent), Mr J. Hudson (hon. Treasurer), the Keys. R. Luishiey, P. O'llcilly, V. ■ Lush, Messrs If cnsliaw, Melihonc, Frutcr, JVlennie, JJevies, Price, McGow«n,Mulligan, Ait ken, J. AVilson, and G. N. Brassey. MINUTES. The minutes of the prerioas meeting were read and confirmed. HOUSE COMMITTKE'B RtFOBT. The report of this committee was read as follows:—•" Your committee beg to report having examined the account! presented for payment—salaries £58 5* 6d, and general accounts £56 Os 9d—and recommend that they be paid. A complaint was made during the month by Mrs Tetley (in ihe Female Ward) that the cook sent soup in to her with dirt and ashes adhering to the pannikin, and at other times that black'grease floated on the soup; that the roast meat looked as if it had been chopped upon a dirty' board. Upon hearing of which, Dt Payne reported to tho House Committee— That the cook was dirty in her habiti; he was continually having complaints from the Female Ward; he did not consider her a suitable person for the position of cook, and recommended her dismissal, having convinced himself of there being sufficient cause for dismissal.- Your committee recommend that the articles re* quired for the Old Men's Kefuge, as per list accompanying, be obtained, at a o<Mt of about £10. — Patbick O'Beillt, Chairman." • . Mr Mcllhone moved—'• That unless there was something in writing to sabstantiate the charges against the cook, that no action be taken. 1' Mr Davies said he had been appointed a member of the Committee to inquire into the charges against the cook, bat had been absent from lust meeting. He wat surprised when he found that no reference had been made to the report of the Committee at the last meeting. The Com* mitteo had decided on a report, which was to the effect that the cook be cautioned. against giving back' answers to Mr Aitken, and it had been decided to recommend the procuring of moreeffioient cooking appliances for her. He seconded Mr Mcllhone's resolution. Mr Frater, as one of the House Com* mittee, explained the circumstances under which the House Committee had come to the decision in the report. The President pointed oat that the report stated "The Surgeon recommends;" it did not contain aayreoommend of the House Committee. Mr McllU.no said that waa just. the. point. ' ■ - :' The President announced he had just received a letter bearing on the matter. Mr Frater moved, and Mr Hudson sec- tided, that the letter be read. . . . Mr Mcllhone mored, and MrMeGowan. seconded, that the letter be dealt with in the ordinary course. . . , ' After some words in explanation by the** Eer. Father O'Beilly and Mr Davies, th« President put the resolution and amend> ment, the latter being carried. , ■ .:. . Mr Mclhoue's original resolution waa then carried, and the report aa amended was adopted. . , * T*KABUBBB'g BBPOBT. The report of the hon. Treasurer waa read aa follows:—"Dr.—Receipts: To Balance. £80 17a 9d; Subscriptions, £19 13s; Patients' Charges, £7 10a 6d; Bank of New Zealand Overdraft, £23 3a, Id; Total, £131 4s 4d. Cr—Expeuditure :—By Salaries, £5612*; Maintea* ance, £39 19s; Medical Comforts, £1 13s ; Furniture, £31 16s lOd; Commission, £1 Is; Miscellaneous Expenses, 2* 6d; Total, £131 4s 4d. ; BEPOBT BE HOSPITAL ACCOKODATIOV. The report in accordance with Mr Mcllhone's resolution passed at last meeting was read. It states that on the loth inst., a patient had to be refused admission in consequence of there being.: insufficient aceomodation in the Hospital. ' sThe report was received.. ' . A lETTEB FfiOM THE COOK. A letter was read from the cook, Mra, Power, stating that the charges against her were the results of a wicked conspiracy to injute her character. She denied the charges made against' her. The reception of the letter waa moved. Mr Frater thought tome notice should be taken of the statements of the cook. He thought they were groundless. Mr Brassey then brought up the report ■ of the Investigation Committee, which was read as follows:—"To the General Com* mittee of the Thames Hospital—Your Committee appointed to enquire into the charges brought by the Hospital Dispenser against the cook beg to report ai follows:—-That they met and heard the allegations on both sides, and came to the following conclusions: 1. That, whilst the charges brought were not without foundation, your Committee did not see their way to dismiss the cook. 2. That 1 the cook must pay due attention to the instructions of the Dispenser from time to time. 3. That the cook be provided with the necessary utensils for the preaer*: vation and assistance of cleanliness in cooking.—6. N. Bbaujsy, Chairman.-— Thames, Ist October, 1879." After some discussion"— - . • In reply to Mr Frater, Mr Davies said that Mr Aitken bad admitted that the same assistance was not given to the book as to the previous cook, Swindells. Mr Mcllhone mored a vote of thanka* to the committed, but this fell through Jfiaf* want of a seconder —some gentlemen, making remarks to the effect that the committee was not entitled to any thanks as they had bungled the matter ail through. Mr Ehrenfried then rose and moved that Mrs Power be informed that ahe ia to obey Mr Aitken's orders. He referred., to the continuous wrangling in the Hospital, and said he waa heartily aiek of the matter. - Mr Mcllhone seconded. j Mr Frater mored, and Mr Henshaw seconded, that the cook receive one week's notice of her services being dis* pensed with. Mr Mcllhone said that there was a regular conspiracy against the cook, and he was surprised at the resolution, seeing that no report against her had ever beta , brought by the Honse Committee. . Mr Mulligan would vote for the amend* : ment if a similar course waa adopted with '.. regard to two other servants. AH ta« present trouble arose from the female waiiiit; ■ ■ ■■;■-., After farther discussion .. ' Mr Mennie moved a further amendment to tho effect that the report of the investi* gatiou committee be adopted. After a long discisiion the two amtad*

ments were incorporated aad carried as against the motion. HOUSE SURGEON'S BEI'OUT. The President announced that the report of the House Surgeon had arrived. It was read. It recommended tho dismissal of Mrs.Power. Mr Renshaw moved, and Mr Frater seconded, that the report be adopted, and that tho recommendation in it be carried out. Several members expressed themselves to the effect that they believed there existed a conspiracy against the cook. The resolution was lost.. BOROUGH KKMSESENTATIV.KS. Mr Mclihone raised the question of the right of Messrs Brassey aud'Price to retain their seats on the Committee, having ceased to be members of the Borough Council. The President pointed out that that was a matter for the Council to deal with, and not for the Committee. HOUSE COMMITTEE. The House Committee for the ensuing month are the Eevs. S. J. Neill, Li. Laiskley; and Messrs Mellhono and Frater. NOTICE OF MOTION. On the motion of Mr Bavies it was resolved to hold a special meeting after next ordinary meeting for the purpose of rescinding rulo 22. This concluded the business.