HOSPITAL BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 667, 18 November 1909, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

LAST MEETING. OF THE YEAR. " SOME COMPLIMENTARY SPEECHES. Tho final meoting of the year, in connection with the District' Hospital Board was held yesterday morning, Mr. J. P. Luko,.M.P.,: pre-' siding.'..There were also present Messrs. R. C. Kirk, C. J. Crawford, James Godber, John Smith, and M. Murdoch. , Tho monthly report of the matron of tho Otaki Hospital stated that 11 patients were admitted to the institution during October and U were discharged, At tho date of reporting there were 3 males and 7 ' females under treatment. Two deaths occurrod during the month, and fivo .operations were carried out. Three patients,had been admitted to'tho Otaki Sanatorium during the month, and three discharged. At present there were 11 males and' 15 females-under treatment. ■ • ■ ; . Tho chairman stated that ho had paid a visit to Otaki on Saturday last, and found-that tho new shelter would bo ready for patients in another week or two. Some delay had 'been occasioned in waiting for ■ properly . seasoned timber, which was absolutely ■ necessary for such a structure.' The-building of tho : shelter had been. capably. supervised by tho overseer. The new, nurses' homo was almost ready for occupation, and the floor coverings and furniture were being placed in position on Saturday. Tho chairman remarked that thecottago had not been erected a day too 500n.,. Nurses had to be comfortably housed in order to. do their best work in tho treatment of the sick. Looking back on the work done.for tho year, ho thought that the board could congratulate themselves that. they had been. the first body in New Zealand to initiate the open-air'treat-ment for tuberculosis.. There were opponents of the system'in Now Zealand and olsewhere, but; personally, ho considered open-air treatment a ; big factor in the fight against, tuberculosis; The-board should, feel some satisfaction at knowing that they hJd acquired about 100 acres.of land, and had established an up-to-date institution, which would- more than meet..'the requirements of the city and district for many years to come. Ho could not* conclude without a special word of praiso. for the work done by. Messrs. Murdoch, and Godber, two of the retiring members, and to tho work dono by the board generally. Mr. Crawford, who had also visited Otaki last week, commented 'favourably on the manner in which the work.of beautifying tho board's: property was'progressing. . 'The care bestowed mi tho stock would also tend to make the institution self-supporting. If tho new Act" now before Parliament was passed a reciprocal arrangemenrt might be entered into whereby Otaki might supply vegetables to the Hospital and other kindred institutions... .. Mr. Kirk remarked that during tho many years he. had been connected with'the board better individual', work-had'never been-put in by members. He mentioned the chairman and Mr. Crawford particularly. As to tho general management of tho institution, he.thought tho whole of tho staff had worked zealously, and the work dono by tho patients was.particularly gratifying. ; ~.'- ..-;'-■•. \,-V .: '. ; . Mr. Godber paid a tribute to the work done by the secretary, Mr.-Geo. Willis. "When tne latfc secretary left he • had some doubt about his youthful successor, but. now. that. ; Mr. Willis had been thoroughly tried he would like the excellent work which he had'done to be'recognised. :'..,. ■ Messrs.. Murdoch-and Smith also made complimentary reference to the work of tho chairman, tho doctor, matron, and to Messrs. Crawford and Kirk, • and the secretary. The chairman, speaking as a of the Hospital Board and the Charitable Aid Board, also paid a tribute to tho work dono by Mr...Willis, who had proved himself a most capable man.; Tho'.reports of tho hospital'and sanatorium wore'.adopted. Tho Wellington, Pipe Band was granted per-, mission to play in the Otaki: Hospital grounds during a .Sunday'in: November. '■'..". ; Dr. Huthwaito was granted four weeks' holiday leave. ... '- , '• ' It was decided that - a. small expenditure should be made on the X rays apparatus, the battery of which was'not in order. Members agreed that the apparatus :must be,kept in the best working order. '.'..,." The financial statement showed'a credit balance of -£2551 10s. 2d. Accounts'amounting to, ,£1852 7s. 9d. were passed, for. payroont, leaving'a credit,balance of,■ J .£69!).'2s'.' > 'sd'.' > "'". .