MASTERTON HOSPITAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3706, 9 January 1891, Page 2

MASTERTON HOSPITAL.

A meeting of contributors to the Masterton hospital was held in the Institute yesterday, twelve persons being present. The chair traa occupied by Mr J. 0. Boddingtou, who called upon the Secretary to read 'the advertisement convening the meeting-

Tho Chairman explained that the meeting was a statutory one for the purpose of electing two Trustees in place of those who retired by rotation in .accordance with the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, but as it had been usual in tho past to present a statement of receipts and expenditure up to the 31st December, he would ask the Secreta»y. to read that for the past year, althc were doubtless aware that year did not end until theJHKferck, when the Trustees fiMpßsSlfiubscribers with an awaited balance sheet and report in pamphlet form. • The Secretary then read the statement for the year ended Deoember 81st, 1890, showing receipts by subscriptions to be L 248 19s 2d; donation, Pahiatna County Council, LI 5; subsidy from Government, LBl5 Os 8d ; patient's fees, LIOG 8s ; making a total of L 685 7s lOd. The expenditure, including medical attendance, medicine, rations, salaries. J/~ furniture repairs, insurance, piint* -'"% ing, and advertising, amounted to L 642 4s Bd.

The Chairman had pleasure in congratulating thetn on the satisfactory results for the past year. The maintenance of the institution had been fully kept up, improvements had bee.i effected to the hospital and grounds, a much larger number of patients had been treated, viz : 08, against 48 for the previous year, and n.s they would have seen by newspaper reports many of-the cases were of a dangerous and protracted character, especially the accident cases, all of which had been treated with' skill by the medical officer, Dr Hosking, and the same time received the greatest attention from the custodian, Mr Williams. In this.con- . nection, however, he wished to point out that while nearly all the accident : cases came from the Bush; a' very 1 small proportion of contributions'came from that quarter, in view of which the Trustees were now issuing a circular addressed to the settlers and bush - men of the Forty mile Bush, which he trusted would have the desired result. They were all doubtless aware that the institution had never encroached upon the rates,' but had been supported by voluntary contributions,, ; and the consequent Government 1 subsidy. He compared the items of the statement with those of the previous years, pointing out that'they commenced the year with a balanco of £llO, and finished with a balance/ of £l5B 18s 2d, with a subsidy dua by Government of £B6 17s Bd. The'' ' outstanding liabilities were .£79 14s Bd. In conclusion he had again much pleasure in bearing testimony to the very efficient manner Mr Sellar had discharged the duties of Secretary. He would move that the statement road be received, wliioh ■■•:.. was carried. The Chairman then called for nominations for Trustees, when Messrs J. B. Keith and B, P. Perry were re-eleoted for another term,/ Mr Perry returned thanks for himself and Mr Keith, who they probably all knew had met with an accident, and was prevented from attending.

Mr C. A, Pownall (tho Mayor), in moving a vote of thanks to the Trustees, took tho opportunity of specially alluding to the prominent position the hospital neld. Although he was not particularly familiar with tho management, he was satisfied from what had come to his knowledge incidentally that it could not be well improved upon, and it was gratifying to find a body of gentlemen like tho Trustees who took such an interest in the institution.

Mr Dalrymple, in seconding the resolution, mentioned that he had inspeotcd hospitals m a great many places of a similar size toMasterton, and it redounded to the credit of the management that from his experience* he did not think he had ever seen one equal to it, and it was i a matter of congratulation that this; district was so well provided for. The resolution was carried by acclamation. The Chairman, in returning thanks, said he could assure the meeting that it was a labour of love with the Trustees, as they always desired to> keep up the prestige of the institution* A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.