TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 431, 3 February 1875, Page 2

TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

The annual meeting of contributors to the above institution was held in the Commercial Assembly Rooms on Friday evening last. The President (E. H. Carew, Esq.) occupied the chair. There were twenty-two or twentythree contributors present. The following report of the Committee was read : — " Your Committee have much pleasure in presenting their report for the past year. "Notwithstanding the duluess that has generally prevailed in business during that period, the subscriptions to the Hospital have flowed in steadily, in a very satisfactory manner. " The reports of the Secretary and Treasurer, which will be read to yeu, will show fully our financial position ; and it will be seen that our assets are in excess of our liabilities. " While on this subject, we would call your especial attention to the very generous donations of Mr. Clarke, of Moa Hat Station, Messrs. Neill and Co., of/Beaumont Station, and Captain M'Kenzie, of Tapanui. The funds of the institution have been greatly benefited by these donations, and these gentlemen are deserving of special thanks, as the example set by them may induce other gentlemen in the district to show corresponding liberality. "To those ladies and gentlemen who have assisted at special performances in aid of the Hospital, your heartiest thanks are also due. " The report of the Resident Surgeon will be presented to you. This report will afford you all desirable information. " It being found that in many respects the old rules were unworkable, a new set of rules have been framed and brought into operation. These rules provide for the more efficient carrying out of' the affairs of the institution. " The services of the late wardsman and matron having been dispensed with, the Committee have appointed Mr. and Mrs. Corrison (who were highly recommended), to fill the vacant place. | " The grounds of the Hospital have been considerably improved during the year. Many of the trees have been removed to more favorable positions, and a number of additional trees have been planted. "The Hospital building and the Surgeon's residence have been improved by being partially repainted.' " Your Committee would call special attention to the valuable services rendered to the institution by Dr. Halley, the Honorary Surgeon, and would heartily recommend that he be appointed a Life Governor of the institution," On the motion of Mr. Hay, seconded by Mr. Hills, the report was received and adopted. The Financial statement was then read, from which we observe that the sub- ! soriptions during the year amounted to £640 3s 6d ; subsidy, £787 6s ; paying patients, £43 6s ; entertainments, .£9 Is ; and pigs £19 10a. The expenditure has been as follows :— Salaries £445 Is 2d ; rations, £579 03 3d ; stores, £95 4s 7d ; fuel, £91 19 9d ; drugß, £142 19s lid ; medical comforts, £19 5s 6d ; interments, £16 .j and incidentals, 239 lls 4d. These figuers leave a balance due by the institution of £333 Is 6d, for the twelve months ; but the subsidy account shows that the sum of £245 14s 6d, was due to the hospital at the end of the year, which would only leave a balance of £88 7s. Then again the sum of £134 17s 6d of last year's subscriptions have been- -collected since the close of the year, which with subsidy added, amounts to £369 15s. By deducting the £88 7s, above-mentioned, from the la.sfc named

amount, the sum of £181 8s is shown to b» left in favour of the institution — a very satisfactory sum for the new committeeto commence the year with. •>

On the motion of Mr. Hay, seconded by Mr. Hills the Balance Sheet was alio adopted. The Resident Surgeon's Report mi read by Dr. Stewart, and was as follows : — " Gentlemen, — I have the honor to report that during the past year 151 patients were treated in the hospital.] There were 19 deaths during the"same period This shows a much larger • percentage of v mortality than has occurred during any previous year. The excessive "mortality is mainly due to the fact that patients have been brought into the hospital where medical assistance could be of noavail. This has been especially the case in regard to the Chinese who in many 'instances have been brought into the Institution only to die.

" The hospital building is gradually decaying, and in the winter when winds and wet weather prevail it is anything but comfortable ; and I should recommend that for the benefit and comfort of future patients, the contributors should have a new building either of brick or stone erected. Wooden buildings convey sound too readily, and are not so well suited for an hospital. The sanitary condition of the hospital will also be much improved when the. recommendation of the Committee is carried out viz., the forming of a covered brick drain to carry away the Bewerage of the hospital. Dr. Halley's services to the hospital have been of great value, and the patienta and their friends should feel grateful to that gentleman. To myself he has rendered very great assistance and valuable advice. " I am, Gentlemen, " Your obedient servant, "A. Stewart, M.D." Statistics. " Number of patients left in the Hospital from January Ist, 1874, 15 (of these thera were 12 males and 3 females) ; number admitted during the year, 1874, 136 (of thesa there were 118 males and 18 females.) Total, 151. " Number discharged, cured, 86 ; number discharged, relieved, 24 j number discharged, not benefited, 3 ; number sent •to Dunedin Lunatic Asylum, 2 ; number of deaths, 19 ; number sent te Dunedin Hospital, 1 ; remaining in Hospital, Ist January, 1875, 16. Total, 151. " The number of out-door patients treated was 46 ; and there were no deaths to record that I am aware of. ■' The nationalities of the patients admitted during the year were as follows : — England, 41 ; Ireland, 32 ; Scotland, 27 ; /Russia, 1 ; Victoria, 4 ; G-ermany, 4 : China, 14 ; New Zealand, 5 ; other places, 8. Total, 136. " The following are the districts from which the patients treated were admitted: — Lawrence and Tuapeka Flat, 29 ; Waitahuna, 25 ; Beaumont, Teviot, Tapanui, and Switzers, 25 ; Waipori, 17 ; Tuapeka Mouth, (including Smith's and Clydevale Stations, 16 ; Blue Spur and Munros, 10 ; Glenore and Manuka Creek, 8 j other places, 6. Total, 136. " The total amount of money received from paying patients during the year was £149 7s. The numbea who paid was 43, or about an average of one in every 3f patients." Dr. Halley having expressed himself very decidedly against accepting the honor the Committee wished to confer upon him by appointing him a Life Governor of the institution, the clause of the report bearing upon it was struck out. The next business was the election of a Committee. The following is a list of the names of the gentlemen who were nominated with the numbers they received in the voting : — Halley, 19 ; Carew, 18 ; Jeffery, 16 ; Abel, 14 ; Buchanan, 15 ; Harrop, 13 ; M'Kinlay, 13 ; Bryant, 13 ; Hayes, 12 ; Walker, 12 ; John Beighton, 11 ; Fraer, 11 ; King, 11 ; Roughan, 11 ; Grieve, 10 ; Hills, 10 j Coverlid, 9 ; Squires, 9 ; Kofoed, 9 ; Jamison, 9 ; Coghill, 9 ; Williams, 7 ; Adams, 6 j Meyer, 6 ■;, Alexander, 6 ; Menzies, 5 ; Bell, 4 j Beaumont, 4 ; Long, 3 ; Cameron, 2. The first nineteen persons above-mentioned form the Committee for the current year. There were five candidates, as will be seen, with nine votes each, and the Chairman gave his casting vote in favor of Messrs. Squires, Coverlid, and Kofoed. Mr. Carew was re-elected President. Mr. Harrop and Mr. Fraer were each, proposed as Treasurer. On beingput to.the vote, Mr. Harrop was re-elected. . Mr. King and Mi. Hayes were proposed a» Secretary ; and Mr. Hayes was re-elected. • The following resolution was carried unanimously :—": — " That the Committee shouldjurge upon the Government and the representatives of the district the necessity for the erection of a new building for the Hospital, as recommended in the Surgeon's report." On the motion of Mr. Adams, it was decided that the Committee meetings be held one week prior to general meetings. This resolution was necessitated through the general meetings being driven to. a late .hour, owing to the preliminary Committee meetings being held on the same evening. '

A vote of thanks to the retiring Committee, and one to the Chairman, brought the meeting to a close.