HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 317, 6 August 1868, Page 2

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

Last night the "Westport Hospital Committee held their usual weeklymeeting, when there were present, Messrs Tyler (chair), Harris, Powell, Smyth, M'Farlane, and Munro (hon. sec).

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Daring the reading of the minutes, Dr Giles and Mr Kynnersley entered the room, and after them Mr O'Conor, The secretary read a letter from Mr Bentley, stating his willingness to act a3 a memher of the Nelson sub-com-mittee.

The Printing Committee asked for time to obtain a proof sheet of the regulations, as they were not ready with it on that occasion.

The Hon. Sec. stated that he had communicated with Mr Kynnersley in reference to the power and the exercise of veto in any proceedings of the Committee. He then read the reply as follows:

Siu, —I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 4th inst., and i 1 reply thereto inform you, that in ordinary cases relative to the management of the Hospital, the Government does not claim any right of veto, but its representative the same power and vote as any other member of the Committee, but when subjects of great importance are discussed, such as for instance, as the appointment of officers, or the expenditure in one sum of any extraordinary amount of money, th Government claims a right of veto which will either be exercised by its representative at the time, when any motion is proposed, or that officer will state at the time that the G-overnment reserve the point at issue for consideration till a future meeting. If tho representative of the Government does not adopt either of these courses at the time that a motion is proposed, the Government cannot afterwards claim a right of veto, but notwithstanding this, the representative of the Government, like any other member of the Committee would, I suppose, be only properly discharging his duty to the public, if, after any resolution hadbeen passed, some new and important facts bearing upon it came to his knowledge, he brought them under the notice of the Committee with a view to the reconsideration of the question. I have the honor, <fcc, T. A. S. Kyxn-ebsley, Commissioner.

The Chairman made a few remarks on the subject, and the letter was held to be in every respect satisfactory. Mr Smyth on behalf of the Canvassing Committee statod, that continued bad weather had prevented them, from doing anything. Dr Giles stated that the Building Committee had nothing to report in consequence of the absence of Mr Lowe. As soon as that gentleman returned some action would be taken. Mr Harris stated that the Grovernment had agreed to allow £6O per annum off the hospital surgeon's salary, and that that amount had been paid. A vote of thanks to Dr Cotterell, was then referred to as having been given by the secretary.

T Xhe next question was a motion, standing in the namo of Mr O'Conor, * That a rule providing for the election of members to supply vacancies in the committee by members of the committee be rccsinded."

Mr Smyth seconded the resolution. Mr Harris supported the rule as it stood, as he thought that any contrary course would put tho public to trouble and inconvenience. Mr Tyler (chairman), and Messrs. Munro and Powell followed on the same side.

Mr O'Conor strongly deprecated any usurpation of power by the committee. Mr Smyth though the seconder of the resolution coucluded that the committee had a right to elect a member in Dr CottereU's room The resolution of Mr O'Conor was then put to tho meeting and lost, and tho election proceeded with. Mr Harris proposed Mr Austin Daly- ■ . . ~ . On examination it appeared that Austin Daly & Co. only appeared on the list as subscribers to the amount of £2 2s. Gd, but Austin Daly himself was not on the books as a subscriber of £1 Is. required by the rules. Mr Harris defended his nomination saying that he was justified in proposing him. Mr Powell seconded Mr Daly s nomination. Some little discussion took place on this subject, which resulted in the nomination being received, and as there was no other caudidato Mr Daly was declared to be elected. Dr Giles said that there was no report from the Visiting Committee as Dr Thorpe had sent in a report himself There were on the loth July G cases, two had been cured and three discharged at their own request There were six on the books, but only one of a dangerous nature. Dr Thorpe referred to the dangers incurred by the late floods, and the general inconvenience occasioned by the want of accommodation. The resident surgeon fuither recommended being made more public, the conditions on which out or indoor patients could be admitted. This report was received. The hon. treasurer presented accounts for £G3 odd, which were ordered to be paid Out of this there were £34 Os 3d actual working for 33 days After these were paid the amount to the credit of the Committee would be £3ll 7s 9d, exclusive of Government aid. . Some conversation on local sub-com-mittees was then held, and on another subject to which we shall further refer after which the meeting separated.