WAIKATO DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2792, 5 June 1890, Page 2

WAIKATO DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers, Hamilton, at 11 a.m. yesterday. There were present Messrs Primrose, (chairman,) Seddon, Lang, Toasdale, Davey, McPherson, and Mills. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed and the outward correspondence adopted. Concrete.—ln reply to letter from the Board requesting that lie cover the cement work in the laundry with a coating of Portland cement, Mr \V. Johnston, the contractor, wrote declining to comply with the request, as he had done the work carefully in the first instance. The cause of the failure of the work to set was because he hsd been supplied with bad materia), although he had paid for the best. He stated that if he had had the job at a payable price he might have considered the request, bnt he regretted that he could not do so. Mr Teasdale said according to the contractor's own letter he had used bad material, and he moved that the secretary write to Mr Johnston stating that the Board expect him to make the job good. Seconded by Mr Seddon and carried. Thb Veuandah.--The following letter was read from Mr T. G. Sandes:— Auckland. 3rd June, ISSIO.—The Secretary Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Waikato: Sir, —I regret to say that I cannot attend the meeting of the Board, tomorrow, as I am detained in Auckland at the Supreme Court and cannot get away. I was anxious to make an explanation with regard to the contracts for the laundry and the verandah to the fever ward, and to state to the Board that I was away trom Hamilton when the contract was lot and did not see the specifications, nor was I consulted as a member of the House Committee as to the passing of the work. Indeed I never saw the specifications until after the appearance of Mr T. Evan's letter in Thk Waikato Times. I should now just like to say that the work as carried out by Mr Johnston is a disgrace to any man calling himself a tradesman, and is, as Mr Seddon said, " a botch" throughout, and notwithstanding Mr Johnston's public statement as published in Thk Waikato Times, that he carried out the work in accordance with the written specifications, I beg to state that he did no such thing, and I am prepared to prove it. His work is a disgrace to any contractor, and should never have been passed.—Yours faithfully, T. G. Sandks.— In explanation the chairman said that it was quite true that Mr Sande.'i had not seen the specifications previous to the tenders being called for, but if he had attended the meetings which he as a member of the Hou-e Committee should have attended, he would have seen them, but they could not go running about the streets looking for MrSaudes if he failed to attend the meetings. He acknowledged that he might have overstepped his position as chairman of the board, but it was through his over-zeal end over-anxiety to get the work done. He had again inspected the work on Monday,and;did not think there was much fault to be found with it. They had now got a cheap verandah, and a fairly good laundry, and although he had seen better work, he had seen much worse. The only fault he snw was the bottom plate of the balustrade, which had discoloured on the paint being pnt mi. Mr Seddon said that Mr Sandes told him that he not only had not seen the specifications, bnt he had not been asked to go up to inspect the work before it was passed, although he was in Hamilton at the tune, and saw the chairman and Secretary on their way up to inspect the work. Captain McPherson said that the matter had been pretty well thieshed out now, and it was all finished, and the money paid to tho contractor, so that it was no use crying over spilt milk. The matter then dropped.

Thanks. —Mr Tierney wrote thanking the board for their kind consideration in his son's case, and also the doctor and his staff for their careful and kind treatment of the lad while he was in the hospital, Nkwtox. —L. Newton, who at present is in the Hospital, applied to be admitted into the refuge. He has been suffering from rheumatism for some months, mid it will be some time before he is able to work again, and he is entirely without means. He stated that ho was in communication with his relatives in England, and if they granted him any assistance he would be glad to pay for his maintenance. It was decided to receive Newton into the refuge. Bi'HCHKM/. —Mr Millw wrote stating that after making enquiries he was satisfied that Mrs Burchell was a fit subject for charitable a, RKXT.—Mr T. Hunt forwarded £10, rent for the Hospital endowment leased by Tayi.oh.—Mrs J. E. Taylor, of Shaftesbury, applied for help for her children, as she was unable t.i provide for them herself. She said her husband was in regular employment, but would not support the children, although able to do so. She had no claim on her husband as she had a protection order, and under which the children were given into her control, and she was unable to provide for them now. The members of the Board were of opinion that the order did not release the husband from the maintenance of the children, and the Secretary was instructed to make the usual enquiries through the police, Resignation'.—Mr George Finch, one of the Waipa representatives, being unable to attend the meetings, forwarded his resigation which was accepted. Reports.—ln his monthly report the secretary stated that 32 persons were receiving charitable aid and sick relief at a cost per month of £3OaGd. The bankbalance was £307 7s Id, which with £2,115 15s 8J to come in including contribution fees and subsidy gives tho total available balance of £2,428 18s 5d which, after paying the accounts for the past month, £180 18s Id, would leave £2,24S Ss Id available.—The doctor's monthly report was read and both reports wore received. Lauxuiiv. — Quotations were received from Messrs Moriin and Go. for centrifugal

wringers, mangles and stoves lor use in the laundry.—Mr Mills moved that the House Committee be authorised to purchase the necessary furniture for the laundry.— Seconded by Mr Teasdale and carried. JiKLiKt'.—The usual relief for the month, with the exceptiou of that to Vorbes (tordon who had been admitted to the Refuge, was authorised to be continued. This concluded the business.