Thames Goldsdfields Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3841, 21 April 1881, Page 2

Thames Goldsdfields Hospital.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual.meeting of subscribers to the above institution was held at the \cademy, of Music last evening. There were about 100 present. On the motion of Mr McCullough, seconded by Mr Comer, Mr T. L. Murray was elected Chairman.

The Secretary read the annual report < of the Committee as follows: —"To the | subscribers to the Thames U ospital.— • Your Committee have much pleasure in [ presenting this, the twelvth annual report ; of the Thames Goldfields Hospital. It i will be seen that the usefulness and efficiency of the Thames Hospital and Old Men's Refuge has been maintained another year under the care of an efficient staff of officers, consisting of Dr M. Hi Payne, house surgeon; honorary medical staff, Dr C. H. Huxtable and Dr P. Callan; the dispenser, Mr T. Aitken, and one female nurse. The number of patients who have received the benefits of the Hospital during the year has been quite up to the average of former years, and the results quite as favourable. The number of in patients has been 147, of whom 119 were males and 28 females, the daily average of such patients, male and female, being a little over 23. The number of persons who have been received as put-patients is very large, numbering 746, giving 2092 attendances at the Hospital. It will be seen from the financial statement, to be laid before you by the hon. Treasurer, that the receipts have been more by £243 and the expenditure less by £43 than was the case last year. The rej ceipts last year, exclusive of the balance brought forward, being £1041, and this year £1284, whilst the expenditure last year was £1693, and this year £1550. The difference in the receipts is mainly owing to the amnunts received from the Government, being £211 more than was received last year in the way of subsidy from Government and Borough Council, but there is also an increase of sums received under the head of subscriptions and donations of £11; of patients' charges, £8; and £19 the net proceeds of sale of fruits and garden produce at the Old Men's Refuge.-—Your committee would beg to remind the subscribers that the same necessity exists as ever for the liberal support of the hospital. To stimulate local effort in this direction, the Government continue to give the subsidy of £ for £ from the general reveuue of the colony upon all your subscription? and donations, and the committee desire to impress ,this upon the minds of the charitably disposed, as there appears to be an impression on the minds of some people that subscriptions are no longer required, and that the Government has undertaken the entire support of the Hospital. This is not the case, and the correspondence from the Government is not to that effect, though the Government undertake to make up any deficiency that may arise, deducting, in full, all sums supplied for that purpose from any moneys due from Government to the Borough and County Councils. The outside of the Hospital building had not received much attention for several years, and it became necessary to effect repairs. The verandah has been newly covered with shingles, and the old spouting replaced by new, the entire cost of which improvements ' amounted to £52. Your committee regret that the Friendly Societies did not agree to ; render the assistance by a demonstration, as in some -.former years, and though this is the second year that this valuable aid has been withheld, it is much to be hoped that the practice of holding an annual fete day for this purpose will not be allowed to fall into disuse. It is also to be regretted that some of the churches have not made the usual collections, though it is hoped some may do so even yet, and the amounts collected will appear in next year's financial statement, as upon this occasion it will be seen that the collections .of two;years is included in two instances this lime, and the thanks of the, committee are. hereby, tendered to the ministers and" officers of the churches who have continued to give their aid in this way. .The thanks of the committee are also due to the subscribers for the means placed at their disposal. The managers of mines who have collected from their employees; also to Mrs Alexander Hume and those ladies who assistedher, for the; sum of £25, raised by means of a gift tree, for which service your committee beg to report having made Mrs Hume a life subscriber. Specially would your committee thank the honorary medical staff for their valuable service and assistance to the house surgeon at all times when needed ; also to the Press, for gratuitous obituary and other notices, and for a regular supply of daily papers free of charge, both Auckland and local. Mr Buckland, the proprietor of the Salutation Hotel, is also thanked for the. use of a room in which to hold our monthly meetings. The reports of the hon, treasurer and the doctor will give you further information of the usefulness of the Thames Hospital and Old Men's Refuge for the year ended 31st March, 1881." Mr McCullough moved the adoption of the report. This was seconded by Mr Cyprian Rowe, and carried. The Hon. Treasurer (Mr A. Hume) submitted the annual financial statement as follows:—Receipts: To balance brought forward, 31st March, 1880, £161 5s lid; subscriptions and donations (as under), £282 8s Id; employees in mines, &c, £100 5s 6d; private subscriptions, £96 16s lOd; Church collections, £41 16s ; sundry associations, &c, £40 9s 9d ; patients' charges, £78 lls; sale of fruits, &c, at Old Men's Refuge, and work done, £19 10s lid; Government subsidy and aid, £903 4s sd; balance, £105 17s 2d. Total, £1550 17s 6d.—Expenditure: By salaries, £737 17s lid; commission, £13 3s 9d; rations, £49416s 7d ; repairs, £14 8s lid ; furniture, £39 17s 2d ; medicine and appliances, £76 0s 8d j medical comforts, £82 19s 6d; bedding, £12 lls 9d; clothing, £15 4s lid; printing, £3 ss; advertising, £12 3s 6d; stationery, £1 14s lOd; burials, £4 ,4s; incidental expenses and interest, £27195: insurance, £15 10s. Total, £1550 17s 6d.—Assets : Cash balance, £16 lls 8d; subsidy due from Government, £89 10s 8d; balance, £194 K)s lid. Total, £300 13s 3d. - Liabilities: Bank of New Zealand overdraft, £122 8s lOd; salaries due for month of March, £67 15s; tradesmen's accounts for month end 31st March, £110 9s sd. Total, £300 13s 3d.

Mr T. G. Comes moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr W. Martin. Carried. The annual report of the medical staff was then read. Mr Fletcher moved the adoption of the

report. This was seconded by Mr S. Hirst and carried. Mr Thos. G. Comes said that the present hour of committee meeting (4 p.m.) precluded the working classes from taking office in the committee. He moved that the -hour of > the monthly committee meeting be altered to 7.30 in the evening. Mr Cyprian X owe secottded. The Chairman thought that it would be better to put the motion in the shape of a recommendation to the committee. Mr Grigg moved, as an amendment, " That the matter be left to the com- ; mittee." . tf j Mr Cor/ie 3 then withdrew his motion, i.and it was decided that is n be a recommenj dation to the incoming committee. Mr McCullough moved that Mr Comer be elected President of the Hospital for the ensuing year. Mr Comer had been a member of the committee for years, and had always taken a lively interest in the affairs of the Hospital.

The motion was unanimously adopted. Mr McCullough proposed Father O'Keilly as Vice-President. Mr C. Eowe proposed Mr Murray, but he declined. Messrs JRenshaw and Frater were likewise nominated, but declined to stand, and Father O'Reilly was elected. The following gentlemen were then nominated as committee men :—The Eevs. T. L. Davies, Lush, T. W. Adamson, Messrs W. McCullough, C. Ahier, J. Eenshaw, J. Grigg, M. Maboney, McGowan, A. aitken, Mcllhone, T. G. Comes, J. Hudson, T. L. Murray, A. Price, E. F, Tizard, Mulligan, Marshall.

A number of others were likewise proposed, but declined to stand. Messrs Speight and Noonan were appointed scrutineers, and a show of hands was taken/ when the following were duly elected:—Messrs Murray, Eadford, Frater, McGowan, Comes, Lush, Mcllhone, Eenshaw, Ehrenfried, Mulligan, McCullough, Laishley, Marshall, Ahier, Neill, and Hudson.

The two previous auditors, Messrs Buttle and Gellion were re-elected. Mr Tizard moved that it be a recommendation to the Committee that it is desirable that future elections of the committee be by ballot. Mr H. Mcllhone seconded. Mr McCullough opposed the motion, pointing out the loss of time that might arise over a ballot. Mr McGowan also spoke against the motion, suggesting that Mr Tizard should see one of the in-coming cbmmitteemen and ask him to introduce the matter.

The resolution was then put and lost by a considerable majority. " Votes of thanks to the old committee, the auditors, Mr C. Curtis for the use of the Academy, and to the chairman, concluded the proceedings.