HOSPITAL & CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Ths monthly meeting wu3 U.ld }c. tenlay afternoon. Present : — Messit McQajlnm, (chair), «Jadey, Houlds -worth, Foster, Trevor, Neville, Par ker, and Matthews. dr oleghobn's resignation. THe following letter from Di Oleghorn was received : — As I aa about to leave the district, I beg tc tender you my resignation as medical officer to the Hospital, an appointment I have had the privilege of holding for more than twenty years. It is with feelings of the deepest regret that I do* bo, and I have to thank your Board and its predecessors for the confidence that has been reposed m me, and for the kind and courteous manner m which I have always been treated. My thanks are also due to the Matron (Miss Bees), and the nurses she has trained with so much care and ability, for the assistance they have given me m establishing the Wairau Hospital m the position it holds among the Hospitals of the Colony. I have also to thank Dr Anderson for the valuable assistance he has rendered me during tho last two years. By his course of lectures, and practical instructions to the nurses, he has done much to render the training they have reoeived as thorough and complete as any that can be obtained m the larger hospitals. I have also to thank Dr Nairn for the care and ability with which he has administered the anesthetics at the Hospital during a long term of years. 1 shall esteem it a favor, gentlemen, if you would relieve me of my office at the end of the year. Dr Anderson is willing to take over my duties until you fill the vacancy caused by my resignation." The Chairman moved "That Dr Oleghorn's resignation be accepted with regret, and the Board plaoe on record its high appreciation of the able manner m which Dr Oleghorn has consistently carried out his duties as medical officer of the Wabau Hospital during his long connection with it/- He was sure that the Board was unanimous m regretting the departure of the gentleman who had so well filled the position for such a length of time. The motion haying been carried, Mr Houldsworth said that not only the Board, but also the whole town and district, regretted that Dr Cleghorn was leaving. He moved that the Board present Dr Cleghorn with an illuminated testimonial expressing its appreciation of his services. Mr Neville Seconded the motion, which was carried ; and the Chairman, Meesis Macey, and" Houldsworth were appointed a Committee to prepare the token of esteem from the Board. DB OLEGHORn's SUCCESSOR. The appointment of a medical officer to succeed Dr Cleghorn was discussed at considerable length. The Chairman explained that some time ago the salary was raieed from £100 a year to £250 with a view of settling the question as to the Hospital being used by the medical officer as a private practitioner. He did not tbink it would be wise to give erch a high salary m future. The average of the number of patients at the Hospital had considerably decreased ; formerly, it was about 30, now it was 15 to 18. The Board had two courses — to made a new appointment, or promote the assistant medical officer (Dr Anderson), who had been carrying on the Hospital since the first of the year. The staff was as follows :— Medical officer, assistant medical officer, and the anesthetist (hi . Nairn ) Mr Foster asked as to the claims of Dr Nairn. Mr Macey understood that Dr Nairn wished to have an assured position on the staff, and to have equal privileges with the medical officer with regard to his own patients at the Hospital (which was a trouble m former years). Drs Anderson and Nairn wished to make some such agreement and work harmoniously. The question as to whether another doctor would come into the district was touched upon. Messrs Houldsworth and Foster thought that Dr Anderson would require some assistance if appointed medical officer. j Mr Matthews thought that was hardly a matter for the Board to discuss. Mr Houldsworth suggested that the whole question might be deferred pending the action of the Friendly Societies. In the course of further discussion, the Chairman said that what they had to consider was the interests of the ratepayers. In the past they had paid £370 a year to the medical staff, and he thought this might be reduced. Suggestions were made that the Board should first consult Drs, Anderson and Nairn, and that a committee should be appointed to go into the matter. r -^sfeß-^gfß9a'-i?^ ~^E*oster m the opinion that two doctors ,w ere hardly enough for a growing district, proposed that applications be advertised for outside, the salary to be, say, £200, The Chairman pointed out that the present staff (Drs. Anderson and Nairn) would have to be consulted as to what they would do under certain circumstances. Finally the Board adopted a proposal made by Mr Neville, that Dr. Anderson be asked to retain the position till the end of the financial year (March 31st) and Dr. Nairn be asked to continue on the staff ; the whole question to be fully gone into m the meantime. This proposal was carried unanimously, GENERAL. A donation of one guinea, carrying the subsidy, received from the Rev. Father Goggan for comforts for the inmates of the hospital, was acknowledged with thanks. In answer to an enquiry from the Board, Dr. Cleghorn wrote stating that Nurses Robinson and Massey were entitled to full certificates both for theoretical and practical knowledge. All the other nurses had also proved themselves capable, and deserved modified certificates according IT IS PERFECTLY BELJABLE. " We have sold many different cough remedies, but none has given better satisfaction than Chamberlain's," says Mr Charles Holzbauer, Druggist, Newark,' N.J. "It la perfectly safe and can be relied upon m all eases of coußbs, colds or hoarseness." bold by Q> M. McKay,

to length of service. No certificate should be given for less than two years' service.— The Secretary stated ihat he would ascertain the practice 3 m o?her centres. Correspondence was received from 1 Bergt.-Major Maeon with regard to a olaim that the police had made on the Board for the balance (£8 17s 6d) ottfetofixpenses of burying a destir tflHfeeased peison, and which 1 claurTthe Secretary had questioned. } — It was resolved to write to the Inspector General for guidanoe m such cases. 5 The action of the Chairman m allowing £1 a month out of his penr sion to an old man at the Hospital who made himself gonerally useful was confirmed. Dr. Oleghorn forwarded £7 12s 6d 1 received by him from Mr Beattie, of , Nelson, m consideration of the attention given his daughter m the Hcs- ' pital. — It was resolved to thank Dr. ! Cleghorn for his present, and claim the usual Government subsidy. ' The Architect (Mr Dobson) reported that the new drainage at the 1 hospital was being completed. It ' was of importance that the hospital 1 should be re-painted at once. 1 It was decided to call for tenders for the painting the Board to find the material. 1 Accounts were passed for.payment. 1 Mr Matthews, for the Visiting | Committee, reported a satisfactory state of affairs at the hospital. ' The Charitable Aid Committee had no fresh cases to report. 1 The Secretary reported that the 1 receipts of last month were;— Con 1 tributions £19 7s, patients' fees £41 15s, donation £l Is, subsidy £583 ; 14s; total, £645 17s. The number of patients m iLe Hospital at the end of last month was 17 (12 males, 5 females) and the number of old men 4. The Collector of Customs notified that thirty-seven volumes of boobs which had been detained aa they infringed unexpired copyright, had been sent on to the hospital. Dr. McGregor, Inspector of Hospitals, wrote that he did not care to advise the Board on the question that had cropped up between this and the Ficton Board with regard to payment of the expenses of Wairttu Pah natives treated at the Wairau Hospital, for the reason that the matter was one not beyond the possibilities of litigation.