WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 414, 25 March 1899, Page 2

WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Waikuto Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the Council Chambers, Hamilton, on Thursday.—Tho Clerk apologised for the abseiue of His Worship the Mayor (Mr YV. Dey, chairman), owing to sickness in his family. Mr A. Primrose was voted to the chair. There were also present : Messrs W. P. Chepmell, Ed. Allen, R. J. McGuirk, J. B. Teasdale, J. 11. Vickers and W. H. Thomas. Finance —The Clerk read the following statement of the Board's financial position : —Government subsidy, £239 ; cash and bank, £309 ; fee 3, say £3O ; total, £578 ; less accounts to pay, £368 10s 6d. Allocations of Contributions.— Mr W. P. Chepmell moved the usual formal resolution allocating the amounts to be contributed by the local authorities in the district.—Mr Thomas seconded the motion, which was carried. Tenders.—The following tenders were received for the annual hospital supplies :-Milk: J. D. Melville, 6Jd ; F Jolly, s|d (recommended). Funerals : Piper and Sheeran, £1 5s 6d ; T. W. Maunder, £1 7s ; A. Coyle, £1 9s (recommended). Coal :C. Harwood, 18s per ton ; J. Ridler, 17s 6d (recommended). Meat : Thos. Qualtrough ; J. Bettley (recommended). Groceries and Provisions : W. Dey ; J. Knox ; E, J. Davey (recommended). Liquors : P. Le Quesne ; J. VV. H. Bright ; Josh Smith (recommended). Bread : E. J. Davey, 2£d per loaf ; W. Hammond, 3d ; J. C. Hay, 2|jd (recommended). Printing and Stationery : Geo. Edgechmbe and J. S. Bond (recommended). The recommendations of the|Committee were unanimously adopted.

Estimates.—The committee estimated the expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1900 at £3,500 from which must be deducted hospital fees, £4OO ; rents, £SO; estimated balauce £450 old age pensions, £l5O ; total £850; leaving a sum of £2650 to be prodided. Local bodies will contribute £1325 in the following proportions : Piako County Council, £396 (decrease £IO2J ; Waikato County Council, £3OO (decreaso £ll7 10a); Waipa County Council, £244 (decrease £lO2 ss) ; Raglan County Council £230 ; (increase £24) Hamiltou Borough £67 (decrease £27 ; Cambridge Borough, £4O (decreased £23 ss) ; the Te Aroha Borough Council contribution was fixed at £4B—total £1325 (total amount of decrease £300). Subsidy amounting to £1325 will be received from the Government.—The estimates as framed were adopted by the Board.— Mr Teasdale moved the adoption of the report, and in doing so said he was glad that the local body contributions had been substantially reduced, and he hoped with careful management to see a further reduction in the future, an expression of opinion in which all the members present concurred.—Seconded by Mr Thomas and carried. Reduction.—Mr Z. Owen, of Kirikiriroa, again wrote on the subject of a reduction in his account due for treatment in the hospital. He pointed out that he had been kept too long in the institution, and further that his injuries had been unskilfully treated.—The Board agreed to allow Mr Owen to pay off the balance of his account at the rate of 10s per month. R. B. Fitzpatiuck.—A considerable amount of correspondence was read regarding Mr R. B. Fitzpatrick.—The Secretary reported that he had stopped Mr Fitzpatrick's rations on account of his abusive behaviour. —This action was endorsed by the Board, as the general opinion appeared to be that the man was not a fit subject for charitable aid.—ln reply to a letter from the Cambridge Borough Council asking what steps the Board would be inclined to take in the event of Fitzpatrick expressing contrition, the Secretary was instructed to state that the Board could take no further action in the matter. Relief.—On the recommendation of Constable Cavanagh, the Board decided to allow Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, of Ngaruawahia, relief to the exteut of 5s a week. Hospital Library. Dr. Kenny wrote, informing the Board that previous to his departure from tho Waikato Hospital he had collected the sum of £22 4s almost exclusively from grateful expatients, with a view to the establishment of a library at the hospital. This sum he had lodged in the Post-office Savings Bank to the credit of Nurse Rothwell.—The Board decided to write, thanking Dr. Kenny for his pains. Acetylene Gas.—Messrs Wilkinson and Co., of Cambridge, wrote, recommending the use of acetylene gas in the Waikato Hospital, showing the cost of the gas, an estimate of the cost of converting the fittings, and enclosing a testimonial from Mr F. J. Brooks, stating that the cost of lighting the Cambridge Presbyterian Church with this gas was 17s 7d per month, or Id per burner per hour. — Mr A. H. Atkinson, the representative of the Hamilton Gas Company, waited on the Board and explained that since last meeting he had taken out 12 ordiuary burners at the hospital and re-placed them with incandescenc burners, which not only reduced the cost of the cas to id per burner per hour, but increased the light. He estimated that the cost of gas for March would be £3 ss, and as March was taken as the average month for the year, they might safely assess the cost at £39, as compared with £7O iast year.—Messrs Thomas and .Allen asked Mr Atkinson if he could guarantee this, and said that when the gas was first mooted, the company informed the Board that the cost would be less than kerosene—Mr Atkinson said he could guarantee nothing. The price of gas would have been less than kerosene only that the burners originally put in had been taken out by the Board, and the company could not be blamed for that. — Dr. Dougla o , who was present, reported that the present lighting arrangements were working most satisfactorily.—'Mr Teasdale propesed, and Mr Allen seconded, that the existing arrangements should be continued for a few mouths.— Carried.

Doctor's Repoht.—ln his report Dr. Douglas stated that the water supply at the hospital was defective, and that the hot water supply had been cut off in consequence.—The Secretary stated that the fault lay in the pump, which was not working satisfactorily.—The Board decided to purchase a new pump. Accounts. —The following accounts were passed for payment :—Sceguer, Langguth and Co., £ll 5s Oil ; John Knox, £3O Is 5d ; T. Qualtrough, £l3 19s 4d ; E. J. Davey, £6 ; J. D. Melville, £6 16s Gd ; T. Keep, £1 15s 3d ; Sandes and Co., £2 12s 3d ; Porter and Co., £5 9s 3d ; Otago Daily Times, lis ; Evening Tost, 143 ; W. Taylor, 5s 6d ; A. E. Manning, 12s; E. Jones, £1 2s 6d ; J. Gilmour, £3 ISs 4d ; Mrs Pcake, £2 8s ; Mrs Hayes, £5 ; Orphan's Home, £7 lis; St. Mary's Home, £ll 14s; salaries, £75 6s 8d ; charitable aid, £2l 2s Gd. Total, £209 10s Gd. Busses, &c.—The Hoard decided to call for tenders for the supply of busses, buegies etc., to the Hospital, Compensation*. Dr. Kenny again wrote to the Board on the subject of compensation for improvements made at the Doctor's residence during his stay, pointing out soveral items omitted in the last list furnished.—The letter was received. Waikato Patients.—Several communications were received from the Auckland Hospital authorities, notifing the admission of Waikato patients, and stating that a charge would be made on the Waikato Board for their treatments.