PUBLIC MEETING AT CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 231, 28 April 1868, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT CHARLESTON.

A Public Meeting called by advertisement and bellman, was held in Jolliffe's Hotel on Saturday evening, A large number were present. Mr Mirfin having consented to take the chair, said, beyond reading the advertisement he was unaware of the object of the meeting further than it was connected with the Charleston Hospital, and called upon Mr Dosset to explain more fully his object in convening it. Mr Dosset said, the purpose for which he had convened the present meeting was to get an explanation of the reason for a certain tender being accepted by the Committee, in preference to one put in by himself at a lower price, and also to enquire into other matters relating to the management and expenditure of money by the present Committee. He then related how in consequence of tenders being called to do certain work at the hospital, he had put in a tender and and afterwards learned that another had been accepted at a higher price than what he had tendered for, and he was unable to obtain sufficient reasons from the members of the Committee, and he said he considered that great favoritism had been shown land the funds of the Hospital to public purposes extravagantly expended. Another matter in connection with that job was that the Committee instead of calling for tenders for the whole themselves, purchased the timber at a high rate, and called tenders for labour only. He also complained that the making of coffins and grave-digging was not done by contract, that if it was, a probable saving would be the result. He had also to bring under the notice of the meeting what the Committee had done with regard to the painting of the Hospital. They had actually sent to Hokitika for the paint, as if such an article could not be procured in Charleston, and, what was more, had endeavoured to get one of the patients to apply it. He put it to the meeting whether considering the unhealthiness of the occupation that was proper work to ask a sick man to do. (Cry of shame.) He would also call attention to the fact, that no matter how ill a patier-t might be, nothing could be got for him, until an order was signed by two of the Committee—was that right? After mentioningacircumstance he had heard about the committee refusing to pay for a bottle of pickles because it was not specially ordered, and remarking that though Mr Bain was put down as honorary secretary he yet was paid £SO, a year; the speaker, who throughout was patiently listened to, concluded by charging the Committee with gross mismanagement and extravagant expenditure of the monies entrusted to their care.

The chairman called upon any other to speak ; Mr Drury suggested that the Committee should explain, but the chairman thought it would be better to hear all complaints first. Mr Vorley complained of not being paid for three bottles of brandy which he had supplied. The warder had wakened him up in the middle of the night and got the brandy for the use of the hospital, but on presenting the account, payment had been refused because he could not show an order signed by a member of the Committee. Mr Dixon made a speech of some length about tho late surgeon to the hospital, Dr. M'Mullin, the late war-

den, Mr Quinlan, and a variety of de» tails of a lady staying in his house) formerly an out-door patient, and her daughter. He complained that on two occasions his application for the tion of warder had been rejected, and insinuated that favoritism had been shown in the appointment of the late warder, Quinlan, who he said was incompetent for the post. Mr C. Brown, a man. with a green shade over his eye here rose and said he had been an inmate of the Hospital for seven weeks, and had always been well treated; some members of the Committee visited the Hospital every week, and enquired into their state and the warder was indefatigable in his work. (Approbation.) Captain Beveridge said he had formerly been a member of the Committee, though he was not one now. He gave no weight to the complaints which appeared to emanate from a disappointed contractor, a disappointed publican, and a disappointed warder, and considered the proper course would have been,if changes were to be made> for the Committee, to have been invited to give an explanation. Mr Dixon, alter some more speaking-, got the chairman to read some portion ofaprivate letter, reflecting on the treatment of certain patients byDr Morton, and on the conduct of Mr Quinlan. Mr Quinlan —who came in just then —emphatically denied a statement therein made, as to supplying a patient with gin and charging ss, for it. The chairman having asked if there were any other complaints, and none being forthcoming, Mr Kennedy said, as One of the Committee he was glad to see such a large assemblage present, for they had always found it a very difficult matter to get the public to attend general Hospital meetings, or to take any interest in hospital proceedings. After reading the advertisement, calling the meeting together, and the leading article in the Herald of that day, he came prepared to listen to some grave charges, andconsequently was relieved to find the matter in the the position it then stood. After referring to the contract which Mr Dos* sett did not get, the speaker touched upon the subject of supplies to the Hospital and said that the circumstance of there being such a check upon the expenditure as spoken of by Mr Vorley, and Mr Dossett, was, in his opinion rather a credit than a disgrace to the Committee. It was very easy for a paper to damage a valuable institution like the Hospital, by insinuating charges against its Committee of management. Unfortunately suck insinuations and accusations'were often read by many who never had an opportunity of reading the reply, and consequently, serious damage was done to the character and funds of the institution. In regard to the question of the expenditure of those funds, he wished to compare certain items of expenditure with those of a neighboring hospital. He held in his hand a printed report, from which it appeared that the cost of printing and advertising for the Brighton Hospital amounted to the total of all the bills for the supplies of meat, bread) milk and other necessaries—^

The Chairman objected to reference being made to other matters than those relating to the Charleston Hospital. Mr Kennedy continued. The Chairman said he should have to vacate the chair.

Mr Kennedy then, after some further remarks, called upon Mr Bain to address the meeting. Mr Drury complained of the way in which the Committee had been and said that no notice had been given of the public meetings. Mr Bain said he addressed them as Secretary to the Hospital, and he would first like to know what the precise charges were, in order to reply to them seriatim.

One or two additions and corrections having been then made to his list, he proceeded to dispose of them as follows :—Contract. —The Committee having decided to line the Hospital, thought proper to buy the timber, which was American tongued and grooved, and let the labor. There being some danger of the roof falling, in consequence of the \Valls bulging out, it was deemed advisable to depart from the usual custom, and to let the work of putting in tie-beams and lining the Hospital with as little delay as possible, and, accordingly, the business of deciding on the tenders, &c, was deputed to one of the Committee, Mr Allen. He (Mr Bain) opened the tenders in presence of Mr Lightband, and handed them to Mr Allen, who decided to accept Thomas Hope's, which was however not the lowest by £l. Mr Allen unfortunately was in Hokitika, and therefore unable to explain to the meeting his reasons for not accepting the lowest tender. Mr Bain then read

the tenders, which varied from £l7 to £G. The timber was bought for 27s 6d a hundred, considerably below the market price, which he believed was 50s. With regard to the complaint made byMr Dixon and others, about the difficulty of patients getting brandy, &c, Mr Bain explained that there was no difficulty at all in the matter, "the storekeeper being authorised to supply the Warder with every necessary that was required. "When, however, extra articles were wanted, or other expenses sought to be incurred, the rules required tliat an order should be signed by a member of the Committee. The three bottles of brandy got from Mr Vorley by the late Warder in the middle of the night, might have been used in the Hospital, but being thus obtained out of the Usual course, payment of the account was objected to by the Committee until due inquiry had ! been made into the circumstances. The speaker then explained that the painting ■referred to, applied to the 'outside woodwork of the Hospital, which was be•coming warped by the weather, and the, Warder had been told to get the occa-, sional assistance of any patient who happened to be be in a proper condition I to help, At that time there were one ■or two patients recovering from sprains, who could have thus assisted without •any detriment to their health, had they been disposed to do so, which they were not. With respect to the election of the Committee, Mr Bain read out the minutes of a public meeting held on 29th September, When the Committee were Appointed, and stated, that of the, number so appointed several had since i •resigned, and in order to supply their place, more than one attempt had been made to get together a public meeting : $o elect others. Notwithstanding advertisements in both papers, and employment of bellmen, these attempts failed ) ; •and the Committee, to insure the work' .going on, were obliged to elect three gentlemen to fill the vacancies until the next half-yearly meeting. Mr Bain then fcead a statement which he had forwarded to the Government for the information •of the Council, giving an account of the "total receipts and expenditure of the Hospital, from its commencement in -July, 1857, to the 31st March He also read a return, also forwarded to the Government, showing the number of patients received, and the total number of days treatment, and remarked that he had that day seen a 'copy of the Qrey stiver Argus, in which there Was an account of the working' -of the Greynlouth hospital, from which, it appeared that the average rate of 'expenditure per head was £2 18s lOd. This made him curious to ascertain the 'cost of a patient in the Charleston hospital, and on jotting down the figures, he found the average cost per 'head was £2 13s and a fraction per Week. Bearing in mind the different scales upon which the two hospitals were conducted —the one being so much larger than the other—he could •net but consider this a satisfactory proof that the funds of the Charleston hospital were well expended. With regard to his receiving the salary named by Mr Dossett, all he had to was this, —that he had acted as honorary secretary for some time at the beginning, but when the building Was erected, and the hospital fairly at work, it was deemed advisable to follow the precedent of the Brighton hospital, by having a paid officer at a small salary, and he was accordingly appointed.

Mr Dossett then moved the first resolution : —" That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the funds of the hospital have been very injudiciously expended.

There was no seconder. Mr Gr. Pound moved an amendment, Mr Davies rose to second it, but was requested by the chairman to Wait ■one minute to allow time for any one to second the resolution. After a few remarks from Mr Davies, Mr Bain explained a point alluded to by the last speaker, and said that, whatever might be the ostensible cause of the present meeting, it was partly a systematic attempt to oust the present committee from their seats, in order to get in others, who would b« found more plaint; but if the gentlemen forming the present committee possessed that character and firmness which he gave them credit for, they would refuse to give way to such bullying. He did not refer to Mr Dossett, but there were others whose only object on attempting to prejudice the public against the hospital committee, was to serve their own ends. (Cries of name.) He had no hesitation in naming Mr Neale, the proprietor, and others interested in the Herald newspaper. The chairman put Mr Pound's amendment in the form of a resolution to the meeting, and having called for a of hands, declared it carried unauimously. The resolution was Worded a 8 follows :—" That this meek

ing considers the explanation of the committee to be highly satisfactory, and is of opinion that the moneys of the hospital have been judiciously expended."

Mr Davies "then proposed a vote of thanks to the Committee for their past services, which having been seconded, was put to the meeting and canned with cheers.

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.