GREY RIVER HOSPITAL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 4926, 10 July 1884, Page 4

GREY RIVER HOSPITAL.

ANNUAL MEETING. A meeting of the Committee of Management of the Grey Eiver Hospital, and of subscribers thereto, was held at Gilmer's Hotel last evening, at 8 o'clock, the chair being taken by his Worship the Mayor (F. C. Dupre, Esq.). There was a smaller attendance of the public than at last year's meeting. Several representatives of country committees were also present. The Hon. Secretary read the minutes of the proceedings at the last annual meeting, which were confirmed. The annual report (the 18th) of the outgoing committee was read by the Hon. Secretary, as follows : — "In presenting the eighteenth annual report to the subscribers of the Grey River Hospital, your Committee have pleasure in handing over their trust to the new committee in an efficient state, and with a fair surplus of funds to carry on the Institution for many months. "As was pointed out in the last annual report, the withdrawal of the subsidies formerly given by the County Council and Borough to the Hospital, amounting, with the Government subsidy of £ for £, to £750 per annum, was a serious loss to your Committee, and compelled them near the end of the year to ask the General Government for special grants in aid towards the funds, which were generously given to the amount of ,£4OO. This enabled the Committee to carry on till the end of the financial year, when the usual annual subscriptions come in. " Your Committee beg to return their heartfelt thanks to the various Local Committees in the district, who, in spite of the prevailing dullness, have generously contributed both time and money in their efforts to advance the interests of the Hospital, and to whom in a great measure the present position and popularity of the Institution is justly due. "Your committee also desire to thank those favors of books, newspapers, old linen, &c, &c, which have been received at the hospital during the last twelve months. " JDuring the past year several improvements have been effected in the buildings, the main one having been re-roofed with iron, and one ward of the new wing converted into a dining and sitting room for convalescent patients. A new morgue has also been erected. These improvements have been done at a cost of nearly £400 sterling. " Your committee have pleasure in hearing testimony to the manner in which Dr Morice, (surgeon), the honorary physicians Mr Williams, (supt), and the other members of the staff have carried out t>. -Jr duties during the past year. ' *"]'.!<- t.h."i!! s el* the committee are also due ti. Mo;-> . uP-tnisn and Arnott, Hon. treasurer, and' Hon. Secretary, for their very valuable services. .

l^ Appended will be found the balance sheet for ;the past; year, which shows the receipts were £2812 9s 7d ; and the expenditure £2380 13s lOd; leaving nbalance of £432 15s 9d in favor of the Institution. " The medical report shows the number of patients treated during the year. " Twenty -nine meetings of the committee have been held to 9th July, r.t which the individual attendances were r.s follow:— Dupre ... 24 Cameron ... ... ... 29 Blackmore 23 Thomas ... 11 Tonks ... 14 Walton ... ... ... 22 Arnott , ... ... ... 27 Holder ';.. ... ... 26 Warner ... ... ... 11 Yarrall ... - ... 28 Lahmah ... ... ... 24 Smith, Dr ... 12 Petrie ... ... ... 13 Hildebrand ... 9 "Mr Thomas retired on the 13th February, 1884, and Mr Hilderbrand was elected on 13th February. Total, 29 meetings." On the motion of Mr Whall, seconded by Mr M 'Gavin, the report was received and adopted. - The Eton. Treasurer read the statement of accounts as to receipts and expenditure for the past twelve months,' which showed the receipts to be as follow: — Town subscriptions £255 14s 6d ; county subscription £676 14s 6d ; Government subsidies, £1249 6s. The total expenditure was £2379 13s lOd. Proposed by Mr M'Gavin, and seconded by Mr Kettle, that the balance-sheet be adopted.— Mr Sheedy said that he would like to -sec how the liquor charges were made up— say as to respective quantites of beer, spirits, and wines. It would be more satisfactory to see the consumption of these articles separately stated. — Mr Kettle said if that plan tvas adopted some of the subscribers would want to see how much tea, how much sugar, etc., were consumed stated in the balance-sheet separately.— The Hon. Treasurer said that the whole amount was £77, and the half of that as nearly as possible was for beer.-r-Mr Kerr said it would not be right to circulate the assertion mdc by Mr Sheedy to the effect that he had known as much beer per month to be consumed in the Hospital as was drawn in his hotel. He felt quite certain that the statement was an exaggeration ; and it was of a nature calculated to reflect injuriously upon a most deserving institution in the minds of unthinking people. —Mr Sheedy maintained that he had a right to put any question he thought necessary to obtain information. He had not the slightest intention of reflecting upon so admirably conducted an institution ; but he did not care to put his question privately or in a hole-and-corner way. After some desultory discussion, during which it was said that for the last 18 months the Hospital had been conducted in a more satisfactory manner than was ever the case before, and that speakers should confine their remarks to matters relating solely to the administration of the last 12 months, the balancesheet was adopted. The report of the Medical Officer of the Hospital was then rcvl and adopted. The report furnishes the following information : — Patients in Hospital, on July 1, 1883, 21 ; admitted during year, 101 ; total, 122. Out-patients, 321 ; total in and out-patients, 443. Discharged cured and relieved, 91 ; died during year ; 10 ; remained in Hospital July 1, 21. The Hon. Secretary moved in the most complimentary terms a hearty vote of thanks to all the local committees. — The Hon. Treasurer seconded, and also paid a very high compliment to the energy and earnestness shown by these committees in their efforts to promote the welfare of the institution. — Carried. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Dr Morice, the honorary physicians (Drs Acheson and Smith), Mr Williams (superintendent), and the staff.— Mr Sheedy endorsed all that the Chairman said as to the credit due to Dr Morice, the j other medical gentlemen, andtotheSuperi intendent and staff. He was as familiar with the conduct of the institution as anyone, and could, bear the heartiest testimony to the way in which the Hospital had been conducted. Many people who came from elsewhere were also struck by the admirable way in which the institution was conducted. — Carried. Moved by Mr Whall and seconded by Mr J. Hall, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the outgoing Committee. — Carried. •' Mr Barrowman moved a special vote of thanks to the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer for the extremely creditable and praiseworthy way in which they had discharged their respective duties. — Carried with applause. The Chairman, in reply to a question put by Mr Barrowman, said that in respect to one or two little matters suggested in the way of improvement at last annual meeting, they. : had been attended to, and there was nothing now to complain of. The election of the new Committee for the next twelve months was fixed to take place on Saturday between the hours of noon and 6 p.m. Mr J. A. Whall was re-appointed returning officer. Messrs Fred. Davis and A. Tew were appointed scrutineers at a remuneration of a guinea each.— Mr Blackmore proposed that Messrs Eussell and Skoglund be appointed auditors at a remuneration of two guineas each per annum. Mr J. Arnott proposed Mr F. Davis. Mr J. Walton proposed Mr A. Tew. The result of the ballot was as follows : — A. Tew, 16 ; F Davis, 16 ; J. T. Skoglund, 10 ; R. Russell, 9. The two former gentlemen were elected auditors for the ensuing year. Mr Girdwood proposed that the whole of the old committee be nominated as a new committee. The following other gentlemen were also nominated : — Messrs A. Matheson, John Barrowman, W. R. Kettle, J. G. Thomas, Jos. Kilgour, F. B. Waters, J. W. Hall, Jno. Hogg, Ja3. Barkley, R, C. Forsyth, and W. Barkley. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.