HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10462, 28 September 1899, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The oidiaary • meeting of the Hospital Board was held*yesterday. Present —Messrs Douglass (chairman)/ Feldwick, Jacques, Dobson,; MoHaifie, ivfuriuy, Gray, i J ayhng, White, Wolf, and Wallace.". . : -..-. Accounts'to''.the amount of £1163 19s Id were passed for payment. / Mr Dunlop moved—'That'the matter of the bacteriological instruments be referred to the House Committee to see whether they are required or not in the institution." A letter was read from the Audit Office, certifying to the correctness of the balancesheet of the ihospital* It was resolved that the balance-sheet be printed and distributed. Correspondence '..was rertd as under: — From Messrs Herman and Stevens, ■ agents for Airs Elizabeth Watson,.-forwarding a cheque for £13 14s, in aid'of the Hospital funds. On ' the motion of Mr Dun Lop ,, seconded by* Mr Gray, it was resolved that the special thanks of the Board be given to Mrs Watson *for her donation, and that the amount be expended in the purchase of chairs. - From Mr Acton-Adams, with reference to a special washable distemper which he thought would be useful for the Maria* Ward. It was resolved to thank Mr Adams for his services in the matter, and to bring the question under the notice of the architect. Frpm the Charitable Aid Board, with reference to tho test case against the Amuri County Council, and asking the Board to join with them. It was resolved that the Hospital - Board join in the test case. From the Old Age Pensions Department, stating that in two cases of inmates owning old age pensions in the Hospital, the money accruing to them would no doubt be awarded to the Board. Air Wallace moved—"That the pension accruing in. the case of the man who had died in the Hospital be applied for." Mr Murray seconded the motion. Messrs Gray and Payling objected most strongly" to the confiscation of old age pensions when there were relatives, or where the man was still alive. It was resolved to apply for the pension of the deceased inflate, * but that in the case of the man who jfca,? still living no action be taken. A letter was read from the Southland Hospital Board, forwarding a resolution passed by them witl* reference to the repeal of the present Hospital* .and Charitable Institution* Act, and a remedy for the defects which they claimed existed, and asking the Board to co-operate with them on the subject. The matter was referred to the House v*>mmittee to consider and report. The House Surgeon reported that during the month of August 141 patients had been admitted, 128 discharged, and 14 had died, leaving 99 remaining. Fifty-six operations had been performed under anaesthetics, and there had been 1022 attendances to the outpatient department. . The House Committee reported on various matters connected with the institution. The report was received and adopted. A lengthened discussion ensued on the recommendation of the Committee to raise the wages of the porters by 5s per week. Ultimately tbe'proposals of the Committee were agreed toA letter wa* read from «the house surgeon with reference to the nurses completing their these years' course. The matter was referred to the House Committee to deal with, and to luring up a report. Cγ. Gray brought under the notice of the Board the neaessity of having some means of getting the patients out of the Marks ward on the south side in case of fire. He moved —"That the architect be requested to famish the Baud with a scheme for a fire escape at the sooth end of the Hyman Marks ward, and also what recommendations he proposes for doing away with the dampness existing in the south tide in the air shafts.' , Mr Jacques seconded the motion, which ■was agreed to. . The Board then adjourned.