HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4195, 7 January 1879, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The Board held its usual weekly meeting yesterday, at 2 p.m. Present —Mr H. Thorn-' son (chairman), and the Mayor of christdhnrch. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Mayor of Sydenham excusing his absence on account of being I summoned for attendance at the Supreme 'Conrt, and one from Dr. Turnbull, pleading a prior engagement. THE ORPHANAGE. A letter was received- from Mr Cunningham,"' introducing a Mr McKerrow, of Timaru, who, on being introduced to the Board, stated tbat a man named William Berry had been left a widower with three children, and wished to obtain their admission into the Orphanage, being, at the same time, willing to pay for their sup- j port. He was originally left with four, and for three years he had maintained and brought tbem up, but now they had arrived at a time of l : fe when he found it was no longer advisable, or scarcely practicable to look after them pro- j perly. j The Chairman explained the method to be adopted in such cases for obtaining admission for children into the institution, and the secre-tary-was instructed to facilitate Mr McKerrow's "wishes in the matter. RESIGNATION OF DB. DONALD. The Chairman said that on the retirement of Dr. Donald as medical officer to the Orphanage,.! he, the chairman, had communicated with the ] Government as to the appointment of some medical gentleman to replace him. An answer had been received that the Government had received no intimation of Dr. Donald's resignation, y The Chairman further said that Mr Sopp had written to ask what medical man he should call in now in cases of emergency. . It was decided to forward a copy of Mr Sopp's letter to the Government. CONFERENCE. A letter was read from ihe clerk to the Selwyn County Council, forwarding the following resolution passed at the last meeting of the Council on the subject of hospitals and charitable aid, and enquiring if the chairman would take the initiative steps for calling the conference if he concurred in its desirability. Copy of resolution:—" That it is desirable that the proposals of the Government respecting hospitals and charitable aid should be considered by a conference of representatives of counties end boroughs situated between the Huiunui and Bangitata. That the chairman be requested to communicate with the temporary Board of Management and other bodies on tbis subject, and that if such conference be agreed to, the chairman and Dr. Turnbull be authorised to represent this Council thereat." it was decided that the proposed conference should be held on Friday next, at 10.30 a.m., in the Provincial Council Chambers. A letter, dated December cOth, was read from the town clerk of Rangiora, announcing that at a special meeting of the Council held on the pre--1 ceding Saturday evening, his Worship the Mayor, Mr Henry Blackett, was duly nominated to act as member for Rangiora on the proposed Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for Canterbury, to be holden in Christchurch. ADMISSIONS. Fourteen cases of admissions into the hoßpita for the week ending January 4th were reported of whom ten were males and four females. HOSPITAL BEDDING. In presenting his report, ihe house surgeon called the attention of the Board to the necessity of providing a supply of new beds for the wards, aa also the need of those now in use being restuffed. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter from' Dr. Guthrie, of the Akaroa Hospital, was referred to the next meeting of the Board. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The house steward reported nine discharges and two deaths, for the week ending January 4th. Of the nine discharges, five were males, and four females. The house steward endorsed the honse surgeon's advice as to the re-etufiing of the beds, and it was decided that a competent tradesman should be called in to advise as to the best means of. renovating the beds in question. SUPPLIES. Permission was granted for the purchasing of certain necessary supplies of sheeting, cutlery, utensils for medical pnrpose3, Ac. ' THE BREAD CONTRACT. A letter was read from Mr Hopper, the late contractor for bread to the hospital., complaining of the arbitrary conduct of the house steward with regard to his contract. The fact, as stated in the letter, was that, the bread supplied last Saturday week was accidentally heavy, and was, therefore, returned to the contractor by the house steward, who purchased thirty-nine -41b. loaves, at 5Jd per loaf, which was id more than the ruling price at the other shops in Chriat.eburcb. This was the arbitrary conduct complained ofThe Ho».se Steward explain*! to tbe Board that tbe bread in question was too heavy for consumption, »iud on informing tbe contractor of the fact, an answer was received from him that no better would be supphad that day. In consequence he- had to purchase the-required quantity at a variety of 'shops, and had much difficulty in getting the loaves even then, at the halfpenny advance, and this accounted for the trifling extra cost, which after all only amounted to Is 7§d, which was more than counter balanced by the .rouble incurred in obtaining them. The Board considered the explanation satisfactory, and authorised the secretary to write to the late' contractor, explaining the circumstance of the extra charge, and exonerating the house steward from blame. Boer, adjevsed uoti. Monday it i j>.a*