WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1929, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

(From Our Correspondent.) WESTPORT, Apri] 17. The number of members of the State School Committee being insufficient to make a quorum, the meet-iiig which was to be held on Tuesday evening lapsed. The Education Board will s’-t in Westport on Wednesday week, 24th inst. Th 0 Westport Harbour returns for the month of March are as follows: — Output of coal: Westport Coal Coy 34, 632 tons. Westport Coal Coy, coke 225 tons, Westport-Stockton Coal Coy 12,904 tons, Co-operative Mining Parties 10,765 tons—to al 57,626 tons. Export of coal: Westport Coal Coy. coal 35, 064 tons, coke 225 tons, WestportStockton Coal Coy 11984 tons, Co-op-erative Mining Parties 10,765 tons — total 58.038 tons. Of this amount 3122 tons were shipped Io foreign ports, viz, to Papeete, pier s.s. Tasmanian Transport on March 21st. Export of timbe r 26,939 sup. feet. During the month 43 steamers and 4 auxsailers, representing 41,738 tons, en tered the port and 44 steamers and 4 aux. sailers, representing 40,664 tons, left the port. Total tonnage for the month 82,402 tons. Mean high water: River 25 feet 10 inches; bar 22 feet 6 inches. Rainfall', 9.57 inches for 17 days’ rain. ’ BULLER HOSPITAL BOARD. The Board ml t in the County Chambers. Present: The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre (Chairman), Mrs Patterson, Messrs W. Caldwell, J II Powell, M. McLean, R. Hawkes, E. R. Fox allt ' J. Griffiths.

Dr P. L. Foote, Medical Superintend! tat, reported for the month: Patients admitted 38 males and 24 femalles, discharged 33 and 21, died 1 male and 2 females, remaining in the hospital at the end of the month 33 nmi a and' 15 femaleW. Dr. Foote asked the Boarl to make provision for purchase of a new X-ray apparatus, the present machine being very old and might get out of order st anv time. The Matron report id Miss Cameron who had resigned pro tern, asked that she be allowed to resume training when her health beeOini e again satisfactory; also the Sister of the women ’s ward owing to indisposition, would not resume duty for a few weeks. She asked the Board to consid r a more- satisfactory means of dealing with refuse. A door for Use of nursing staff’s entry and exit would be of the greatest convenience. Enclosed was a catalogue of gas stoves, with on,* specially recommended. Some new lockers were required and others to be repaired. Members consider 'd they could get a stove locally and there was no need to go outside for one. —Mr Powell said in Westland they had an electric stove doing all th,’* work. Me ’thought one costing about £7O would meet 'requirements. The Chairman said the cost of heating by electricity would bo prohibitive. Mr McLean moved that th" stove recommended by the Matron be proeurred.—Seconded by Ml- Powell and carried. It was resolved that the Board next month consider the question of disposing of refuse; also the converting of a window in the nurses’ dining room into a

door. It was resolved that Mr Hagedorn’s offer to repair old lockers, make four new ones and six chairs be accepted. Mrs Patterson reported she had made enquiries re dieting list, but received replies sc far front only one hospital. What was wanted was a change; they got tired of the same diets. —Resolved that the diet senile presented by Mrs Patterson be submitted to tHs Matron for trial for one month. In report to the Hospital Board, the secretary, Mr G. M. Powoll stated: At last meeting, I estimated sundry receipts, apart from subsidy dui”, at £2OO as between the mooting, and the close of the financial year. Unless the receipts exceeded this, it was plain there would b,i a debit balance of at least £3OO. That debit balance would have been ’mon (, for I had omitted to take into account accuring interest and certain payments, the exact amount of which was uncertain, in connection with Medical Associations and Denniston Hospital. Altogether, the payments, ihsead of being about £5OO as estimated, exceeded £7OO in which cast had the receipts been no more than £2OO, the debit -would have been about £5OO.

It is gratifying to the Board, and also to myself, to know that instead of the debit anticipaed, here was « credit of £172/11/10 by the 31st, thsum of £B2l/18/1 being received in fees, etc.., for the twelve days, which is easily a record. The response *o your appeal will be very gratifying to the Board. Estimates: The Chairman and myself have compiled the estimates for tH» ensuing year and levies on the local bodies are practically the same as last yliar in regard to maintenance. Considering that an increase was expect'-A, due to mtore patients being treated and the establishment of the Maternity Hospital, this is a matter for gratification. In capital levies thlA-e is an increase to provide for part payment of tho loan for Maternity Hospital and additions thereto, as the donation from the Maternity Ward Committee with subsidy thereon is short df the amount by about £125. Thi i Secretary said £B2l was got in in 12 days. Members all thought tho report very gratifying and a credit to the Secretary. The Chairman said they had found -31200 for extra expenditure and yet finish'd with a credit of £172. Mr J. Powell considered there was nothing to justify the large ex-

penditure on the Maternity Hospital. Mr Caldwell said that all the .expenditure could not be met in twelve months. He moved that the Secretary be accorded a h; arty vote of thanks. Seconded by Mrs Patterson —Mr Fox said every credit was due to the Secretary. Approximately £40,000 a ytVr wit« handled. He congratulated the Secretary.—Motion cajrrldd. Mr tha»nked kbe Board for the vote. A far larger percentage of fc/is was collected row than formerly. He did not make fish ‘of one and flesh of another. The Boa;rd had helped him.