HOSPITAL ANN CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 5 September 1893, Page 2

HOSPITAL ANN CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was hold yesterday afternoon, when there were present, Mr J. Bollard (in the chair), and Messrs J. Gordon, Swales, McCabe, Glover and Bruce.

St. Stephen's Orphan Home.—ln consequenco of Air Gordon's request, a roturn of the children maintained nb St>. Stephen's Orphan Home, Parnell, partly maintained by the Board, was laid upon the table. It showed that fourteen children were co maintained, that a!l but one, who was suffering from a diseased hip, were in good health, and were attending Bchool.

St. Mary's Orphan Home.—A similar return from Sb. Mary's Orphan Home showed that there were nino children in that institution maintained by the Board, and that three were recoveriug from measles.

Costley Home foe Aged Poor,—-It was decided to admit Geo. Crow, aged 68, Sabourer, to the Costloy Home, if the medical officers of the gaol did not recommend him as a fit patient for the Lunatic Asylum. Duncan Campbell, C. M. Cameron and Mrs Bethel were also admitted.

The Late Robert Pearse.—Ab the ordinary meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, the chairman brought up the matter of the drowning of the man Robert Pearse who had been discharged from the Hospital the day before. Ha eaid so many comments had been made by correspondents in the press about the action of the authorities in " turning a poor incurable man out ponnyloss on the city " that be had asked the chairman of the medical staff and the House Steward to report upon the matter. Dr. Girdlor's explanation was as under :— "I find on inquiry that the deceased, Richard Pearse, was admitted to the Hospital under the care of Dr. Lawry on August 14th, suffering from chronic muscular rheumatism. (He had no heart disease.) Ho was relieved by treatment and was discharged on August 22nd. Pearse asked permission of Dr. Lawry to stay in the Hospital until Saturday, as he wishod to make some arrangements with his friends. This was granted, and ho remained until Saturday, Augusb 26th. When he loft he had a letter given to him by the House Steward to take down to cho office asking for farther assistance. This letter, lie said, ho ehould 'most likely not' make use of, as he expected to got help trom his friends. Dr. Forbes, the house physician, communicated with the coroner, stating that as Dr. LiStlo was away at the Supreme Court a3 a witness, ho was in charge of the Hospital, so id was not possible for him to leave. The coronor, before tho inquest, thereupon gran tod Dr. Forbes permission to be absent, but asked him to send someone down who could identify the body, which he did. I may add that all patients are if, possible, discharged in the morning, in time for them to make arrangements with their friends.—l am, etc.'E. Girdler, chairman of hon. staff." —Tho house steward reported :—" The deceased was brought to my office for discharge between 9 and 10 a,m. of the 26th of August. In conversation with him I gathered that lie was in need of assistance, and anxious to got up Helenaville W3y. I then gave him a letter to Mr Garland, aslt-

ing him to assist Pearse on the way. The deceased stated that if he meb any of his mates in town he would not present the letter, bub geb assistance from them. I subsequently heard that he did not leave the building until after the dinner hour. The rule I adopb on the discharge of patients who are in need of help is to give them a letter to the secretary for assistance." Mr Garland said it was always the rule of the Board to afford holp to such men as Pearse. The members of the Board each expressed tho opinion that neither the Board nor its officers were to blame in the matter, and asked the press to publish the foregoing letters.