HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 252, 25 October 1898, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

held yesterday afternoon, there being present Mr J. Stichbury (Chairman), Messrs Reed, Swales, Becroft, Jamieson, Taylor, Warren, Dr. Baldwin (Me.real' Superintendent of the-Hospi-tal) was also in attendance.

Cost ley Wards.—The Chairman announced' the following further donations to the Costley Wards:—Licensed Victuallers (per Mr R? T. Michaels, treasurer). £10 10/; Mr aud Mrs Leigh (Wade), donation £3; Court Newmarket A.0.F., £5 5/; Otahuhu Trotting Club (per Mr W. L. Lockhart, sec), £10 10/: Mr S. Rout, 50 books; Colonial Sugar Company (per Mr W. J. W. Plnison), £10 10/.

A Wellington Bequest.—Miss Grace Neill wrote from the InspectorGeneral's office at Wellington as follows:—As you are probably aware throu_r*i the newspapers an inmate of the Ohir., Road Home died recently, leaving a large bequest to the matron and hei daughters. I see that "at a meeting of the Benevolent Trustees the CI airman is reported as saying that "a precedent had been established for the trustees' action in connection with thf> Costley Home.' Would you tell me if the statement is correct, and whether Mr and Mrs Moss have benefited" by a bequest from any of the inmates under their charge"? —The Chairman said he did not think there had been anything of the kind at the Costley Home.—Referred to Mr Moss for an answer.

A Complaint. —A letter from Thos. F. Gooch, of Nelson-street, as to treatment in the Auckland Hospital, and a reply by Dr. Baldwin thereto, were read. —The Board considered that Dr. Baldwin s reply was satisfactory.

Convivial Pensioners.—Dr. Maeg-reg-or. Inspector of Hospitals, intimated that a circular had been received from the Imperial Government, requesting information as to the possible abuse of colonial cha-itable relief by certain Imperial army pensioners, with a view to amenoment of the regulations, in the direction of paj-ment being made direct through the regular channels of poor relief in the colony. He therefore asked to be informed: — (1) Whether any Imperial army pensioners were on the Board's books as recipients of any form of relief, either outdoor or within an institution; and (2) whether, ii such pensioners were recipients, of relief, the Board could inform him if they sought relief in an institution, or otherwise, during the greater part of the year, leaving it periodically when instalments of pension had been paid, to return within a few days, and again become a charge on tie institution. Mr Stichbury said that was what the Board had" been waiting for so long. The proposals were made with a view of getting the regulations altered, so that- the pensions of Costley Home inmates eouhl be drawn by the Board, and do away with the great nuisance caused to the Board by the old men leaving the home on pension day. and returning when th-a pension was "knocked down.' He mentioned one instance where an old fellow had "knocked down' his pension in three days, and then turned up smiling at- the home again without a cent.

Costley Home Church. — Mr Reed moved: "That the resolution fixing the amounv for the- Costley Home Church at £250 be rescinded, and that the tender -./f.Mr Malcolm for £26S be accepted.'—The motion was carried, the roof of tne church tc be of slate. —Mr Jamies.au strongly opposed the acceptance of the tender.- —Mr Warren asked what h >v been done to provide furni-

ture for the church. He thought the different denominations should contribute towards the cost. The Chairman said nothing had .been done so far. He agreed with Mr Warren's suggestion. —Mr Jamieson mentioned that he had spoken on the subject to the Rev. W. E. Gillam, and the latter had proposed that the Board should purchase the furniture itself, and so have sole control of the building.