HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 834, 6 July 1871, Page 2

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee took place at the Court House, on Tuesday evening. Present —Dr Giles (chairman), Rev. Father "Walsh, Messrs Whyte, Powell, Bailie, Graves, Simpson, Munson, and Humphrey. The previous minutes were read and confirmed.

The medical officer's report for the month was received, showing six patients in the hospital on June 1; admitted during the month, six; discharged, three; and nine remaining in the hospital on July Ist. Six outdoor patients were relieved during the month. Mr Powell, on behalf of the Visiting Committee, reported having found everything satisfactory in connection with the management of the institution. The collectors for the several districts reported that they had not yet completed their canvass. Messrs Powell and Bailie reported having collected £SO Os 6d at Addison's Flat, and expected to obtain an additional £ls to £2O; Messrs Whyte and Barrie, German Terrace, £l6 3s; Messrs Graves and Braithwaite, Caledonia Terrace, £9 6s, with the promise of other £7 ; and Mr Humphrey, one of the town collectors, £4O 3s, with the promise of other £l3. The sub-committee appointed to prepare annual report, submitted draft of same, which was adopted, as also Treasurer's balance sheet, and Medical Oiler's annual report. Sundry accounts, amounting together to £6 17s, were passed for payment, and the Committee retired.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the AVestport Hospital was held at the Court House, Wesfcport, yesterday afternoon, Dr Giles in the chair.

The Secretary, Mr Humphrey, read the annual report of the Committee, to which was appended, the House Surgeon's report, and the Treasurer's balance sheet. Mr Bickerton Fisher moved, and Mr John Gilmer seconded, the adoption of the reports as read, which was carried.

The Chairman stated that the next business was to choose a Committee of Management for the ensuing year, and the following gentlemen were appointed:—Messrs John Gilmer, Edmond Koche, ,T. Bickerton Fisher, J. Powell, J. W. Humphrey, T. Bailie, R. Eowlands, J. L. Munson, R. Whyte, I. Graves, R. S. Sutton, W. Struthers, Jame3 Simpson, and Dr Gilb3 (exl officio).

SEA ENCROACHMENT. During the past forty-eigbt hours Westport has been visited by a succession of high tides, which, together with a very heavy surf, have encroached terribly upon the beach from the north spit in the direction of the Orawaiti. A few issues back we mentioned that a narrow strip of beach yet remained between high water mark and the rear of the properties in north Gladstonestreet. All this has been since swept away by the breakers. Tuesday night's tide was very severe, and fully twenty feet of beach between Molesworthstreet and Dr Thorpe's residence were washed away. Yesterday at noon the surf raged with similar fury, inflicting' considerable damage. The premises belonging to Mr Williams, chemist, were partially undermined by the action of the waves, the entire building very much shaken, and the fencing and outhouses completely demolished. Similar damage was done to the premises south of Palmerston-street. A portion of the premises occupied by Mr Butler was washed away, and the two shops adjoining were completely flooded. The Little Grey Hotel, the property of Mr Emanuel, was also ankle deep, and the bowling saloon was partially undermined. Mr M. Steel's Buller Hotel was similarly flooded, and the fencing of the Nelson Hotel adjoining and numerous outbuildings were destroyed. At this point a strip of solid ground fully fifty feet wide has been swept away. The premises of Mr Brown, grocer ; Messrs Jones and Colvin, proprietors of the Victoria Butchery, who had but quite recently purchased the property, and Mr Carpenter, poulterer and greengrocer, were also flooded to a depth of several inches, and the remaining properties in the block were surrounded with water. Several cottages inMolesworth-st.,andothers situated at the rear of the abovementioned premises, were also swept away or damaged. At the end of Freemanstreet also the inroad has been considerable. The flagstaff and shed for the signals, lamps, &c, were swept away, andasmall hutwas dislodged from its position and carried into the middle of Herbert-street. On the low lying portions of Molesworth and Freemanstreets there was a depth of several feet of water which partially discharged itself into the river near the National Hotel. The water surrounded the Gaol, the Athenaeum, the Fire Engine Shed, and a portion of the Government buildings. Dr Thorpe's residence was also completely surrounded by the flood, as also various properties between it and Palmerston-street. The surf continued to roll up with scarcely abated fury for fully two hours after high water, when the gale freshened, with every appearance of the following tide inflicting greater damage. As the surf receded the work of dismantling and removing the buildings commenced. Messers Bull and Bond who held the contract for the removal of Mr Williams's premises in the course of a few hours had taken down the building, and Mr Emanuel's American Bowling Saloon was also removed.