WAIKATO DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2455, 5 April 1888, Page 3

WAIKATO DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Tin; usual monthly meeting of this Board was held in the Council Chambers yesterday at II o'clock, the following members being present : Messrs Graham (in the ehnir), Primrose, Hidler, McDonald, Hunter, Chmnnell, Bruuskill, Seddonand Hally. Pkovoskd Rkfi'ijk.— A letter was sent to the Government stiitingthat £100 would l<o necessary to be spent on the building on Barracks Hill to make it suitable for a Kefugi', and asking if the Government would grant the building for a term of live years or giant some compensation should they take the buildings over again before that time.-■ Air McDonald moved that tlic Minister of Public Works be interviewed by the members of the House Committee on bis visit to tl;e Waikato. —• Seconded by Mr Ridler and carried. Tuavkllino KxPE.vsKSS.—Mr Seddon moved that the Go- eminent I) , memoralised by the Boa id to amend the act with regard to statutory declarations necssary to b<; made by members of Hospital Boards with reference to travelling expcns.es, so as to put them on the same footing as members of County Councils, Seconded by Mr Primrose and Carried. Si'usiDY.— An application was made to the Government for subsidy on £6 9s 7d still duo by the [Inglan outlying district and .C2OO paid by the WaiWato County on account of £.~>r>2 due by them as Hospital contribution. Industrial Schools.— Mr.T. B. Whyte wrote, stating that ail that could be done with regard to children being committed to Industrial Schools was for the police to acquaint tlic local authorities when such cases came up so that they might be represented in court, and the Government had stated they would instruct the police to do so, but he would bring the matter before the Government again. Rei.ikk to Maokis.—A letter was received from the chairman of the Raglan Town Board, askingfor relief for Haiinona, an aboriginal, as he was old and destitute, and had for some time past been living on the charity of the neigh hours. Mr McDonald reported that if aboriginals aie to be granted charitable aid thin was a most deserving case. A letter was received from the Ashburton and North Canterbury United District on this subject, asking whether any demand for relief had been made by Maoris, and if so, how it had been dealt with—lt was resolved tliut the letter be left in the hands of the Executive Committee to report on at next meeting. As it was decided that as natives are British subjects, and as such are entitled to relief, MrMcDonald moved that the sum of 2s O'd per week be paid to the Chairman of the Raglan Town Board for the relief of Haimona. — Seconded by Mr Seddon and carried. Claim Aoaixst tuk Auckland Board.—Messrs Cbepmell and Hally reported that as the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board do not admit the liability under the Controller and Auditor-General's award, dated July 10th, ISB7, the Hoard hereby withdraw the claim for £.'vt 9s 8d made against the Auckland Hospital Board, the said claim having been made under a misapprehension.—The report was adopted on the motion of Mr Seddon, seconded by Mr Bruuskill.

Chairman'*) ReI'ORT. —The Chairman's report was read as follows :— Gentlemen, —Since the last meeeing of the Board the state of the hospital is as follows :—Remained from last month, 12; admitted, b' ; discharged, S ; died, 1 ; remaining, ( J— S males and 1 female. Charitable Aid : Widows left destitute receiving aid, 3 ; orphans left destitute receiving aid, 24; wife deserted, 1 ; children deserted, 4 ; inlirm -with asre and destitute, (!; sick relief : boys (Knliiiniirama). 4 : girls (St. Mary's Orphanage), 2.—distribution of Charitable Aid —Hamilton : Mrs Jcyes. widow, 7 children, 3 ratio"s daily; Mrs Shaw, deserted, -! children, 2 rations daily ; W. M\ lira, infirm, 1 rsit'mn daily. Cambridge : Mrs Harper, i. firm, '2-- *»■ t per wevk ; Tiiomas Builer, infirm, 2s Oil p.T week ; James Dogherty, .'!s per week Xgaruawaliia : Mrs Kilfovlo, widow, 2 children, 5s per week ; James Fenior. inlirm, js per week ; Richard McGiane, inlirm, "is per week. Rangin'ri: Mrs Gray, widow, 0 children, ;js per week Kaglan : Mrs Paris, inlirm, 2-i (H per week. —Finance : Tlie present state ot the funds is as follows : To bank credit balance, .12I!2 lla lOd ; contributions! not yet received, Raglan outlying district. £1 (Is 2d ; Kara inn district," £1 His 51 ; Government subsidy thereon (£1 for ill). £3 5s 7d ; Government subsidy ({.I for £1) on £200 paid by the. county "of Wai kato on account contribution of £552 7s 3.1, due to this Board for the year ending 31st March, 1SS!). £200 ; hospital fees recoverable, about £50. Total, £459 3s. Accounts to be paid ns per schedule, £2iO 11s 2d—£2US Us 10d. The amoui.t of moneys payable by the Board tlm month is unusually heavy owing to tlie sums due to S. Mary's Orphanage and the Kohimarama Industrial School being included. In fairness to these institutions the payment of these accouuts can no longer be delayed, but nevertheless I consider that the Board has a right to complain of the in. difference of the Government to the very important question raised, namely, the mixing up of young criminals with the unfortunate, children of the poor and destitute. That poverty is no crime must he admitted by all, and therefore the Act requires amending, so as to rescue destitute children from the stigma that may attach to them in after life, (when their circumstances may have changed) of having been in early life committed by a magistrate to an Industrial Home in tho same manner as young criminals are and without regard to the difference of character. I would suggest for the consideration of the Board the advisability of consulting with the Auckland and Thames Boards to see whether it would not be to the interests of the three Boards to establish a refuge or refuges for the aged and infirm, and Industrial Homes and schools for the destitute children and orphans here in the country, and thereby conserve the two importent objects sought to be gained by such institutions established on this plan, namely greater economy of cost and purer atmosphere for the young to thrive upon. Here in Waikato where land is available and building material cheap, homes and garden grounds eould be provided for the aged and infirm, and in like manner also, but, perhaps, more especially for the young waifs of society whom it would be far better to remove from the town to the country. The amount payable to the Auckland institutions to be passed this day is £86. There is a further sum of over £9 owing to St. Mary's Orphanage, the account for which, however, has not yet been received. Another item, at an es;tra nature ja Deegan's account, which is the charge for board and attendance on a fever case, which, owing to the Board having no accommodation for such cases, had to be incurred. The Managing Committee have estimated the cost of repairing and adding to the old Public Works offices at from one hundred to one hundred and fifty ponnds, and they would ask th' .Board to authorise their calling fo,r tenders for same, provider] they can obtain from tlie general Government satisfactory assurance that the Board will have a lixed tenure of at least five years, or compen nation for repairs and improvements in the event of their having to give up possession during that time. A sum of £9 iGs Id for Cri'wn grant fees on endowments conveyed to the Board is amongst the accounts to be passed to-day. It is therefore owing to these extraordinary accounts that this month's expenditure appears so large. The ordinary expenditure amounts to £1 IS (is Id. The Board will have to cousider the question of the water supply to the Hospital, which it was agreed should be held over until April, so as to arrive at the time of year when the springs are at their low p st. The committee yre os opinion that no better plan cau be adopted by the Board than the one suggested by Mr Richardson, namely, the fixing of a wind-mill pump jiud deepening the present ■well, which