WAIKATO DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2676, 5 September 1889, Page 2

WAIKATO DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the abive Hoard was held in the Borough Council Chambers, Hamilton, at 11.30 a.m. yesterday. There were present: Messrs Primrose (chairman), Sandes, von Stunner, Chepmell, Brunskill, Clements and Soddon. After the confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting, the secretary read a letter from the Waipa County Council nominating Mr J. B. Teasdaleto the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Ridler.—The secretary reported that Mr Teasdale was a voluntary contributor of 5s to the funds as required by the Act. —Mr vou Stunner moved that Mr Teasdale be appointed a member of the Board. —Seconded by Mr Chepmell and carried unanimously.—Mr Teasdale on taking his sent, thanked the Board for carrying out the wishes of the Waipa County Council, and as one of the earlier numbers of the Board ho had always taken a lively interest in the actions of Hie Board.

L'iiobatioxauy Nuusks.—The following applications were received for the positions of probationary nurses:—Misses Young, McDonald, Yates, Sage, Phillpot, Douglas and Hart. The applications were referred to Dr. Kenny, and he recommended that Misses Yates and McDonald be appointed. —Mr Chepmell moved that Miss Yates be appointed as a probationary nurse.— Seconded by Mr Sandes, and carried, Mi Teasdale alone dissenting.—Mr Brunskill moved that Miss Young be also appointed as a probationary nurse. He spoke strongly in her favour, and the motion was seconded by Mr Clements.—Mr Seddon said that they, he thought, should support the recommendation made by the doctor. The doctor had seen both Miss Young and Miss McDonald, and, although the latter was rather young, he considered that the former was rather too old, and the effective working might be ail'ected by placing the latter under a younger person, and on this point tho recommendation was based. The motion was then put, and lost by the casting vote of tho Chairman, the voting being : —For: Messrs Chepmell, Brunskill, Clements and Teasdale. Against: The Chairman, and Messrs Von Stunner, Sandes and Seddon. The Chairman then moved that Miss McDonald be appointed. — Seconded by Mr Seddon, and carried, the voting br'ing:—For : The Chairman, and Messrs Von Stunner, Seddon, llrunskill, Clements, and Chepmell. Against: Messrs Sandes and Teasdale.

Com i'i>.\int.h. —The following letter was received from Dr. Kenny with reference to certain statements made by a member of the Board at last meeting : — Hamilton, 'Ith September. Chairman Hospital Board,— .Sir, —Having heard that your Board is under tho impression that J would not examine the leg of a patient who sought admission to the Waikato District Hospital unless I got permission to cut it oil', I beg to state that the bearer, Mr Tieruey, who is the father of the patient in question, has kindly ottered to relieve your Board's mind of any misapprehension by answering any questions vour Board may desire to put, and to assure your Board of how tho surgery of your institution is carried 011, so far as his child has been concerned, for I bug to state that I am jealous for the good name of this Hospital and for the confidence it holds in the minds of tho Waikato people ; and I consider that such untrue statements are well calculated to frighten the ignorant away from the Hospital, and so do t.ho institution great harm. Trusting L have not trespassed too much upon the time of your Board, I have the honour to^lie, .Sir, your obedient servant, (J-ko. (i. Kknn'V, M.8., Surgeon Superintendent.—Mr Tierney said that tho doctor had examined tho boy's leg 011 his entering tho Hospital, and had given his opinion 011 it. Some little time afterwards the Secretary wrote, saying that the

hny was nut improving, but that the doctor would not put liini under tho preliminary opera! inn unless lie had permission to take oir tho leg should he find that it was necessary. Mr Tierncy said that tho treatment and Wind dims his son had had C"'d-' not have been letter. AFtur hearing Mr Tienu'v's evplana'ion tho Bond passed a resolution that they aro satisfied that MrTierney'x son had bei n properly treated in the Hospital, and that the doctor be exonerated from nil blame, in the. matter. J)i>ci'Ok'm .S.u.Aitv.—Letters were roo-iwd from the. Tama here and Cambridge R i.id Board, and from .Mr Maunder, chairman of a meeting of ratepayers hold at Mangapiko, enclosing resolutions protesting against any of the doctor's s ilary. Wihm'ou's liiii'OHT.—The dm tor's monthly report as to tho condition of the patients and working of tho Hospital was received and adopted. iSwhhi'.wiv'k Ri;poi!T. —The Secretary's montiiiy repoifc ivjs road as follows; — Gentlemen, -Since the Inst meeting of the Hoard tho state of tho Hospital is as fol lows :—Remained from last month, 10 ; admitted 10; died, 1; discharged 8; remaining 11; (8 males and 3 females). Charitable Aid : Widows left destitute recoi wng aid, 3 ; children, 11; wife deserted, 1 ; children, 4 ; infirm with age and destitute, !); .sick relief, 2; boy's Kohimarama, 4; St. Stephen's Parnell, 1; Thames Orphanage, 2. girls, St. Mary's Ponsonby, 2; St. Stephen's Parnoll, 1; Thames Orphanage, 1; Mrs Mcßarney, Ngarnawahia, 1. Distribution of Charitabta Aid. Hamilton ; William Mylrea, sick relief, 5s weekly ; G. H. Barker, 5s ; Mrs Shaw, deserted, •! children, 3 rations daily. Cambridge: Mr and Mrs Johnston, 5s weekly; Mrs Harper, 2s fid ; Thomas liutler, 2s (id. Xgaruawahia: Mrs Kilfoyle, widow, 2 children, 5s weekly ; .Tames Ferrier, infirm, 5s ; Richard McGrane, do., ss. Raglan: Pirongia, native, infirm, 2s (id weekly. Refuge: Pour male inmates; one (Miles Lcigliton) paying for his maintenance at rate of 7s per week. Finance :To bank credit balancc, £101 fis 4d ; subsidies duo by Government, £52 Ss 5d ; contributions due by Piako County, £215 8s Id ; Waikato do., £217 17s 4d ; Waipa do., £190 4s sd; Raglan, £42 7s lid; Hamilton Borough, £30 ISs Gd; Cambridge do., £43 17s lOd ; £ for £ subsidy, £730 14s Id ; Hospital fees receivable, about £80; total, £2,055 2s lid ; accounts to be paid, £20(i 15s !ld ; balance, £1,819 7s 2d. The expenditure for the month amounts to £20(i 15s !)d, viz. : Bedsteads. £26 8s; freight do., £2 lis 5d ; lamps, £12 5s ; stoves, £44 4s 4d; freight do., £3 12s 9d ; labour and expenses, Mr Richardson, £3 8s ; furniture, refuge, £5 3s (id (£9B 3s); the balance (£IOS 12s !)d) being ordinary expenditure. In accordance with resolution of the Board, applications for the position of probationary nurses at the Waikato Hospital were called for. The following are the candidates, viz.: — The Misses Yates, Douglas and Philpott, of Auckland ; Miss Young. Ohanpo ; Miss McDonald, Waimako, Raglan ; Miss Hart, Oneliunga ; and Miss Sage, Alexandra. The applications were referred to the doctor. Tenders were also advertised for the erection of well head and pump setting at the Hospital. Two were received, viz. : Chappell and Son, £12; Kvaus and Steadtnan, £8 17 fid. The latter, being the lowest, was accepted. The stoves were fixed in tho Hospital on Friday, and aro working moat satisfactorily, and the patients were removed into the new building on Monday. An old resident of Hamilton (Mr G. S. Barker), who is suffering from a bad leg, and who is at present destitute, has boon temporarily relieved from the 21st ult., at the rate of 5s per week, and Mrs Shaw has been struck off rations from the 31st ult. Tho following amounts were received and paid into tho bank since tho last meeting of tho Board Hospital fees, £!) (is ; voluntarily donation (Troiii Mr .lames Jackson, Taupiri), £t; total, £10 (is.—The report was received and adopted.

Payments.— Accounts amounting t0£206 15s !li! were passed for payment.

Inorka.se of Sai.aky.-—Mr Chepmell in accordance with notice Riven, moved that the resolution moved by Mr von Stunner and carried at the meeting held on the 7th August, 188!), to the effect that the doctor's serxiees be retained solely f..r the use of the Wailcato Hospital be rescinded. Seconded by Mr Brunskill. Mr Chepmell said that had (he above resolution been enforced, tho doctor would have had an action against tho Council for breach of contract. Mr I'runskill said that the doctor had asked for this change apparently in suppoit of his private reputation, as it seemed lie was not giving satisfaction to his private patients, while the Board had expressed their satisfaction in his management of the Hospital. Mc Clements said that bofwrc lie heard anything about the letter from the doctor, his Council had asked him to bring up the question of expenditure as they understood it xvas too high in comparison with that of Hospitals somewhat similarly situated. When he he;:rd tho doctor's request for an increase of £150 he xvas at once against it. He had always understood the doctor was giving satisfaction, and the complaint came from him, as, perhaps, his private practice was falling of)'. If the present salary did not suit liim ho could resign, and, no doubt, they could get quite as good a man for the same salary.—The Chairman said that the general opinion xvas that they .should have a doctor solely for the Hosnital.—Mr Sandes agreed with the chairman's remarks, but said that they could not grant the doctor's request under tho present bylaws.—Mr Brunskill moved that the doctor's letter be received.—Seconded by Mr Clements.—Mr Sandes moved, as an amendment that the doctor's request cannot be com plied with.—Seconded by Mr Seddon and lost on the casting vote of the Chairman, the voting being: For, Messrs Teasdale, Chepmell, Bruuskid and Clements; against, the Chairman, and Messsrs Sandes, von Stunner and Seddon. —Mr von Stunner moved a further amendment that Dr. Kenny be informed that his request cannot bo complied with as it would clash with tho Board's by-laws.—Seconded bv Mr Sandes and carried unanimously, Mr Brunskill withdraxving his motion.

I.vcouhuct Statkmrst.—A long discussion here followed with reference to several statements or rather mis statements which wore being circulated comparing the expenditure of thc'Hospital with that of others in the colony, and Mr Chepmell and Mr Sandes both had tables prepared cutting out the items in Dr. McGregor's report which were not recurrent and which considerably reduced the cost per patient. They showed that many of the comparisons were unfair as the other hospitals were not in parallel positions with this one. At some of the other institutions they did not even have a resident surgeon the work being done by an honorary staff, while here a paid officer had to do all the work unassisted. iSbckktahy'.s Salahy.—A similar resolution to that passed with reference to the doctor's application was passed in reference to the secretary's application for an increase of salary. Hoi.'sk and Fixanck Committrk.—Mr von Stunner was appointed to this committee, vice Mr Ridler resigned. Rki.ii:]', —The usual relief with the addition of us per week to Barker was granted for the month. This was all the business.