WESTPORT DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 654, 5 May 1870, Page 2

WESTPORT DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the Westport District Hospital was held at the Court-house on Tuesday evening. Present, Messrs Harris, Humphrey, Reid, Munro, Powell, Field, Whyte, and Simpson. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary read a communication received from Mr Sloan, at the Lyell, to Mr Simpson enclosing remittance for £2 5s 6d, being amount of subscriptions received, and expressing regret at the insignificance of the sum. It was proposed and carried that a vote of thanks be awarded to Mr Sloan for his efforts in obtaining subscriptions in aid of the institution. The Concert Committee reported having been unable to carry out the wishes of the Committee with respect to the getting-up of an amateur performance in aid of the fund.

The question of finance was then discussed, and Mr Harris stated that the Government were prepared to advance £IOO to enable the Committee to meet current expenditure. It appears that the balance at present in the hands of the Treasurer is £35, against which the April accounts are £9O, and the probable expenditure for the months of May and June is estimated at £IGO, which would leave a sum of £215 to be obtained to carry the Committee over the financial year. Mr Whtte moved and Mr Eeid seconded, that an application be made to the Government for a special grant in aid of the Hospital to the amount of £250, and that a committee, consisting of Messrs Harris, Field, Eeid, and the mover be appointed to wait upon the representatives of the Government, now in Westport, concerninsr the matter. Mr Mtjnro, in moving an amendment to the foregoing resolution, called the attention of the Committee to the fact that £BOO had been expended by them in buildings and permanent improvements ; a third of which sum had been contributed by the public. The Committee had not undertaken any further duty than to maintain the Hospital, and he, therefore, considered the Government were indebted to the Committee between £2OO and £3OO. The amendment was " That a sub-com-

mittee be appointed to represent the present financial circumstances of the Hospital Committee in order to obtain a refund of the sum of £250 expended by the Committee in erecting and improving the Hospital buildings ; said sum being at present necessary to enable the Committee to carry out its engagements during the current financial year." Mr Humphrey seconded the amendment." The original motion was carried. The Medical Officer's report for the month of April showed nine patients remaining in Hospital on April Ist, three admitted during the month, five discharged, and one died, leaving six now in the institution. The death was that of a man named Honess, brought to the Hospital in a dying state, owing to a fracture of the spine and inflammation of the brain. Six outdoor patients had received relief during the month. The report of the Visiting Committee was favorable. The resignation of Mr Alcorn, who is leaving the district, was received and Mr Whyte was appointed auditor in his stead. Messrs Eield, Humphrey, and Whyte were appointed a visiting committee for the month of May, and the meeting then terminated.