WESTPORT DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1218, 9 October 1874, Page 4

WESTPORT DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

The usual monthly meeting was held on Tuesday afternoon. Present —The Chairman, Dr Giles, and Messrs Tizard, Munson, Rowlands, Fleming, Fieldei, Day, Whyte, Andrews ?nd Ings (Secretary). COItEESPOKDENCE. A letter was received from Walter Murphy, late a patient in the hospital, making complaint against the Steward. Members of committee expressed opinion that the charges were frivolous. In accordance with rule XXXI the letter was referred to the Medical Officer for report. The Medical Officer's report for the month of September was received, with accompanying memo re outpatients, wherein the attention of the committee was called to the circumstance of many out-patients making application for gratuitous professional services and medicines without the formality of a recommendation, or with irregular certificates. Such documents as had been received during the month were enclosed for inspection by committee. The Medical Officer further submitted that the additional liabilities, both professional and pecuniary, devolved upon him by the existing state of things, taken together with the reduction of salary coming into effect from the Ist instant, formed a case fairly claiming the consideration of the Committee. It was resolved that in reply to the enquiry as to claims of applicants for outdoor relief, the Committee recommend strict observance of the rules of the Hospital, and the Treasurer be requested to furnish the Medical Officer with a list of subscribers authorised to sign recommendations.

It was further resolved, " That it be a standing instruction to the Visiting Committee that the day and hour of weekly meeting at the Hospital, under Rule XXNIV, shall he Wednesday at 11 o'clock am., and that arrangements be made with the House Surgeon to be in attendance to consider, with the Visiting Committee, applications from patients. A recommendation by the Medical Officer that two earth closets should be procured for hospital use, was referred to the Visiting Committee. The Secretary was instructed to write to the secretaries of the Ross and Charleston hospitals asking information as to average cost of management., rate of salaries paid to officials, rules regulating the admissions or relief of patients, and also terms of agreement with the House Surgeons. The Chairman reported conversation with the Provincial Secretary as to reduction of House Steward's salary, to which the Provincial Secretary objected, as tending to lessen subscriptions both from himself and other friends of the House Steward. The Treasurer, refering to the books, found that the Provincial Secretary had not subscribed to the Hospital funds for some time past, and the opinion of the Committee was that the Provincial Secretary labored under misapprehension as to the exact circumstances of the case. The reduction in salaries having been found compulsory owing to the falling off in subscriptions, but any future augmentation of funds would result in the salaries of the Hospital staff being restored to the former rates. The Treasurer reported receipt of £G, per Mr J. M'Lean, as second donation to the Hospital funds from employees on the railway works,, also £5 5s from the Bank of New Zealand and a rebate of £ll 3s id from Messrs Reid and Co. on subscriptions and advertising account, as donation to Hospital funds. A iurther sum of £ll from the railway employees was received after close of the meeting. A motion, of which notice had been given by Mr Tizard, lapsed for want of seconder. Mr Gilmer's motion, re alteration of rule affecting' termination of financial year, substituting the word "April" for''July," was brought forward by Mr Tizard, seconded by Mr Andrews, and carried Messrs Day, Roche, and Gilmer were appointed a Visiting - Committee for the current month, and a Rota was prepared for future election of Visiting Committee, in the following order : Day, Roche, Gilmer, Whyte, Fielder, Munson, Andrews, Powell, Tizard. Fleming - , and Rowlands. One member of outgoing Committee to be retained each month as member of the succeeding Committee.