TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 100, 8 January 1870, Page 4

TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held on Tuesdayevening last, in the Commercial Hotel. Present—Messrs. Bastings (in the chair), Harrop, Simpson, Keen, Farrer, Mears, MTSickle, Henderson, Dr. Stewart, and Hayes (secretary). The minutes were read and confirmed. There was no correspondence. From Dr. Stewart's report for the month ending December 31st, which was laid on the table, it appeared that 11 males and 2 females had been admitted into the Hospital, 4 of whom were paying and 9 non-paying patients. Mr. Simpson then moved the motion of which he had given notice, " That the sum of £25 (a quarter's salary) be voted to Mr. Lindsay, the late warder of the Hospital, as a mark of the public appreciation of his services during his }ogg

term of office." Mr. Simpson supported his motion by saying that such a vote would only be carrying out a usual practice in public institutions towards faithful servants, of whom he knew Mr. Lindsay to be one. Mr. M*Nickle seconded. Mr. Harrop suggested that as the funds of the institution were not in the most healthy state, he thought the better way would be for the Committee to subscribe, say 30s. each, towards such an amount, to be given to Mr. Lindsay. As for himself, he was willing to subscribe. Mr. Keen thought that after what had been said in the local paper with regard to Mr. Lindsay, wMch he characterised as " right down-meanness," some one of the Committee would be prepard to come forward boldly and make some proposal. He considered tbat £50, or £100 even, would not be thrown away as a recognition of the valuable services rendered to the institution by the late wardsman. He asked, Whai; after all had the public to pay of the £25 proposed ? — some onethird, and the Government the other twothirds. Wijre a poll taken, he believed that the vote of eleven out of twelve would be yea. Mr. Harrop then proposed an amendment to the effect that the amount be £50, instead of £25, as he also believed that Mr. Lindsay deserved much more than was proposed in the resolution. The amendment was not seconded. Mr. Simpson, in replying to the remarks made by the speakers on the motion, said that if the institution were in such circumstances as to afford a larger sum, he would be the last to propose the smaller sum. He thought it was much better for the matter to come from the Hospital as a public institution than from a select few. Let the Committee individually, if they thought proper, subscribe towards the object in view. Carried unanimously. A Report from the Visiting Committee was read, from wMch it appeared that the several wards of the Hospital required an overhauling. The walls and the spouting were defective, so much so that the floors were occasionally deluged with water. The Committee also objected to the port wine supplied, as not being sufficiently good for the institution. On the motion of Mr. Keen, the report was received and adopted. The tender box was then opened, when Dr. Stewart suggested that, as Dr. Halley, who usually revised the tenders for drugs, had been unable to go over them with Mm, these tenders should be postponed for a day, to enable Mmself and Dr. Halley to revise them. The tenders, from the innumerable articles specified in the list given, must have taken the tenderers at least eighteen hours to make out, so it would be inadvisable to decide upon them at that meeting — at all events, he would prefer the assistance of Dr. Halley, and the presence of a member of Committee, before deciding upon them. It was then agreed that Drs. Stewart and Halley, in the presence of Mr. Hayes, should open and decide upon the tenders lodged for the supply of drugs by Messrs. Keen and Harrop . (This was afterwards done, when Mr. Keen's tender, being the lowest, was accepted.) The only tender for groceries, wine 3, and spirits was that of Messrs. Fyfie and Co., which was accordingly accepted. Mr. Peter Robertson's tender for the supply of pure milk, " from cows milked under a roof, where a rainy morning never affected it," was at 3§d. per quart. Mr. M 'Alpine's tender was at the same rate, but as Mr. Robertson supplied the Hospital last quarter, the usual rule was adopted. Interment of Dead.— J. B. M'Neill, £2 12s. ; Wm. Mears, £2. The lowest accepted. Bread. — Jas. Harris, B|d. the 41b. loaf; Grainger Clark, B|d. do. The lowest accepted. Firewood. — Geeves, £2 ss. ; Smith, £2 6s. ; Overend, £2 55., lignite, 17s. The latter accepted. Meat. — There were two tenders for meat, one from Mr. Smith, and the other from Mr. M'Kimmie. That of Mr. Smith, being a shade lower than the other, was accepted. Mr. Farrer stated that he had been summoned by Mr. Lyng with regard to Ms account. Mr. Lyng had refused the order for Bs. 6d., which was decided by the Committee as the amount due to him. The claim made by Mr. Lyng he believed was somewhere about £3 16s. It was decided to let the matter take its course. There being no other business, the meeting separated.