HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10384, 29 June 1899, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

. ■ , — _ - 0i The ordinary meeting of tlie 'Hospital Board was held yesterday, .when ttiere .- were present:—Messrs* J." M. Douglas* (chairman), W. Dunlop, G. Payling; G. H. McHaffie, C. M. Gray, J. Wolfe, J. Dobson, G. Wallace, E. Feldwick, and W. Jacques. Apologies .were, xeceived from Messrs H, WHite and J. G. Murray. The receipts sSnce last meeting were stated 1 to have been £409 lis 3d, and the expenditure £422 3s id, and since May 22nd, £837 6s 6d, a total expenditure £1269 9s 7d. Ac* t-ortßts Ware passed ,fo_*" payment. Dr. ¥ox wrote (1) Thanking the Board for tha increase of his salary j (2) resigning his position aa House Surgeon, and a-ddng for a testimonial covering the period of his connection with, the hospital; and (3) under date June _--/.-._, stating that owing to arrangements he had made it was impossible for i hipi to recon-nder his decision to resign. ! Letters were .received from the res-dent • staff, the nursing stair and others asking the Board to make an effort to retain Dr. Fox's 1 serviqps. Mr -uoHaffie moved, "That Dr. Fox's resignation be received with regret.''-. Mr Payling seconded the motion, and pointed out that Dr. Fox had given entire satisfaction; not only with the medical staff, but with the nurses. Mr Gray said he would not be hypocritical enough to vote for the motion as proposed, as he took exception to the words "with regret." Speaking for himself, he did not- regret it—he was glad of it, and he recorded his dissent from the inclusion of tho words "with regret." Mr Dunlop considered the doctor had not treated the Board in quite a proper way, for within a day of receiving an increase of his salary ho had resigned his position. The whole thing hrd been cut and dried. Mr Wallace concurred in ttiese remarks, and added that apparently Dr. Fox had only retained his position for the purpose of gaining a victory over the Board's late chairman. Mr McHaffie pointed out that Dr. Fox i_ made no application for an increase of salary, but had made certain statements to clear up a misunderstanding. He (the speaker) had every confidence that Dz*. Fox had no more idea, "of going into private practice prior to making that statement than he (tlie speaker) had of studying for the medical profession. Dr. Fox, he considered, had resigned because of the presence of a volcanic element on the Board, and the possibility that owing to changes of the membership of the Board a similar difficulty might arise again. The motion was agreed to, and it was decided to grant DrFox the testimonial he asked for. " Dr. Henry C. E. De Renzi wrote, intimating that circumstances unforeseen when the Board did uim the honour of electing him to the honorary visiting staff necessitated the resignation by 'him of that position. Owing to a dissolution of partnership he had determined to leave Ohristchureh and start practice in Dunedin. Upon the dissolution of the partnership, ho continued, his late partner insisted in. enfc.~-mg a provision in the deed of partnership which compelled him, on the dissolution of the same, to cease practice in Christchurch or within a radius of thirty miles thereof, for a period of ten years. Dr. De Renzi expressed his sincere thanks for the confidence reposed in him by the Board during the short period lie had been connected with the and also his appreciation of the assistance and courtesy he had received from the resident medical and nursing staffs. Dr. Foi had, subject ib tlie approval of the Beard, kindly consested to act as his locum tenens for the remafeder of the year. ItAras decided to accspt Dr.Deßenzi's rcsijßy.n' with' regret. Dr. Fox was appjufiHeito* the remainder of Dr. Deßenzi's 1 were eight applications for the Jpcfeition of Houso Surgeon: Fram Dr. Campbell, fc*ivamp, Otago; Dr. Irving, Napier; Dr Gain, Sydenham; Dr. Aubin, Auckland; Dr. Crooke, assistant House Surgeon, Christchurch Hospital; Dr. Maude, Ashburton; Dr. Inglis, Darfield, and Dr. Drew, Timaru. Mr Wolfe proposed that Dr. Crooke be appointed. Mr Feldwick seconded the motion. Mr Dunlop moved that Dr. Gain be appointed. ' • ,~-\ Mr Gray seconded the motion. Dr- Crooke was appointed; only Messrs Dunlop and Gray voting for Dr. Gain. It was decided to call for applications for the position of Assistant House Surpeon. The House Committee reported that the pkntering of the Marks' Wards was proceeding, and. that authority be asked to draw cheques on production of the architect's certificates; that th.. electric lighting contract was progressing, the main wards being now in hand; that the" X rays apparatus had arrived by the s.s. Gothic, and a porter should be appointed in place of one leaving. It was decided to empower the Housa Committee to draw cheques on production of the architect's certificates for the works mentioned, amd all other works under contract. It was resolved to postpone the question of the appointment of a porter until a report on the question of wages h.d been submitted by the House Committee. The report was then adopted. Miss McNicoll, probationer, was appointed to the nursing staff, and Miss Alice Hiii as ccok. The receipts since the last meeting were Umjj lis 9d. ■ I