CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 237, 6 October 1891, Page 2

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

A meeting of the above body was held yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs Charles Atkin (chairman), A. Kidd, J. M. Lennox, J. Swales, R. Udy, P. Dignan, J. Bollard.

Tenders.—The following tenders were received for the removal of the cancer ward, erection of the lodge gates, and painting of the HospiDat : — Handcock, £122 ; W. Hutchison, £103 ; J. W. Jones, £93 10s ; Stephenson, £110 ; C. Layer, £133 ; Collier, £87 19s; J. Swanson, £73. The estimate was £110.—The lowest tender was accepted.

Deposit Remitted. — Mr Larer having taken over the contract for the Nurses' Home, ib was decided to return the £10 deposit to Mr Sfcephonson.

Hospital.—The House Surgeon reported thab there were at present 75 males and 24 females in the Hospital.

House Porter.—Ten applications were received for the posibion of house porber at the Hospital. These wero referred to the House Committee to report.

Thanks.—A letter was received as follows from the Star of Auckland Lodge, No. 26, 1.0.0. F. :—" I am requested by the members of my Lodge, in meeting assembled, to convey to you their deep sense of the obligation they aro under to your Board, for the able, kind, and careful treatment accorded to our afflicted brother, John Rawlings, while in the District Hospital, and to thank all those who have contributed to his welfare. We desire particularly to mention the many kindnesses received from Mr Schofield, for which we heartily thank him. I have much pleasure in forwarding the above, and can assure you that it represents the feeling of my Lodge.—(Signed) John Bokchell."—The Chairman said that was a pleasant change. Mr Lennox said it was very gratifying to receive letters of that kind. Mr Udy said it was sauce to the unpalatable one received the week previous.—Mr Kidd moved, " That the letter be received, and the writer thanked." Hβ considered that it showed a different feeling to that shown in the letter received from Mr Dines. He believed that the feelings entertained by Mr Dines wer6 only held by that gentleman himself. The Friendly Societies always wished to work well with the Board. Every member of a Friendly Society who had been in the Hospital came away satisfied with the treatment he had received.— The moiiion of Mr Kidd was agreed to. — The Secretary said he had forwarded the previous resolution of the Board to Mr Dines. He had received a reply to the following effect : —"I not having written to your Board re Joseph Sylvia, muet return your letter."—Mr Dignan said the fact was that the first letter was writteu to the house steward.—The letter was laid on the table.—Mr Kidd mentioned that after the last meeting he had received a letter, bub as it was anonymous he did not notice it.

Costley Home, —The manager reported 131 males and 36 females at present in the Home. The Board decided to admib to the Home Mary Ann Bristo, aged 37 (a halfcaste), for three months ; Michael Stanley Ireland (an old soldier aged 67 years), also for three months.

Accounts. — The Secretary mentioned that the outstanding districts thab had nob paid for last year were Avondale and Reniuera. The total amount paid from all districts, including the current year, was £3,329.—Mr Udy said that ib meant the Board had bo pay iuterest on an overdraft to meet this deficiency.—Mr Lennox moved thab an imperative letter bo senb to those Boards whoee accounts were Overdue. —The Chairman said thab some bodies did nob pay until the accounts had been sent to the treasurer and the amount was stopped.—Mr Bollard said some of the Boards could not pay, as their revenue had nob been collected.-—Ultimately it wis decided to send the accounts to the Government Treasurer. The Secretary notified that the present ovordrafb was £1,263 17s 4d.

The Maternity Ward.—The Chairman said the next business was Mr Bollard's motion re establishment of a. maternity ward at the Hosdital. He musb say he did nob see how the Board was going to carry out the suggestion. Ib was already committed to £500 for the Nursea' Home, and £100 passed thab day. He did not see how the money could be honourably taken from the Costley money. Besides, thab was now invested, and realisabion would mean sacrifice at present values. Some investments were in a peculiar position. Citizens had cried stinking fish toget their valuations reduced, which was a suicidal policy, and in many instances properby had depreciated fully fifby per cent. He was quite satisfied the money could not honourably be taken for the erection of a maternity ward, and as the Board was only elected for another two months he would rather see the motion take the form of a recommendation to the new Board. Their present financial posibion was most unenviable. —Mr Bollard asked bhab the motion be deferred until next meebing. He did nob bhink ib fair to discuss the matter with only a bare quorum. As far aa the power to U36 the Costley money for this purpose was concerned, he considered thab a' lyingin hospibal was as much a hospibal as another, and therefore would come under bhe Costley bequest.—The motion was deferred.