HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5600, 5 February 1879, Page 6

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held last night at the Hospital. Tho following were present;—His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch (in the chair), Messrs Montgomery, J. E. Brown, His Worship the Mayor of Sydenham, and Dr Turnbull. HOSPITAL IItPBOVEMENXS. The Chairman said that he had received a telegram from the Colonial Secretary’s office as follows: —“ The Hospital improvements papers are with the Hon Mr Macandrew in Dunedin, A. S. Smith, Assistant-Under Secretary.” BBTISIOS OP BOXES. It was decided that the Committee appointed to revise the Hospital rules should meet at half-past 7on Friday evening next. BALASOB SHBBT, &C. A return of the receipts and expenditure for the half year ending Deo. 31, 1878, was laid on the table, also statistics of patients, to the following effect: —The total receipts for the peat half-year were £344 5a 6d, as against £Bolßs for the previous half-year. The total expenditure for the pa*t half-year was £2273 3s 6d, as against £2571 17s lOd for the halfyear ending June 80, 1878. The expenditure for the corresponding period of tho preceding year was £2744 4s 7d. The following is a comparative'statement of the expenditure classified during the half-years ending June 30 and Deo. 31 respectively :

I attach details of the expenditure for the half year ending Dec. 81, and for the corresponding period of 1877. The summary and companion is as follows :

fit will be seen from the above that the half-year ending Dec. 31, as compared with the half-year ending June 30, shows a decrease of £367 18s Pd on the items of salaries, rations, bedding and stores, drugs and instruments, medical comforts, and incidental expenses; and an increase of £69 4s 4d on the items of fuel and gas, printing and stationery, and burials, while the half-year ending Dee. 31,1878, as compared with the half-vear ending Dec. 31, 1877, shows a decrease of £514 Is lOd and an increase of £43 Os 9d on the same items as already mentioned, with the exception of burials and incidental expenses, which appear, the former on the “ Decrease ” list, the latter on the c: Increase.”] The daily average number of patients in the Hospital during the past six months was 69. The daily average number of patients in Hospital for the previous six months was 72. The average cost of each patient for the last six months was 3s 7d per day, as against 3s ll|d per day for the previous six months. The average monthly number of out-patients for the six months ending Dec. 31, 1878, was— Males. Females. July 68 53 August ... 65 83 September ... 77 96 October ... 70 130 November ... 39 86 December ... 33 45 KSDICAXi STAFF. I

Mr J. E. Brown said that he would, out of courtesy to those members who were absent, prefer to postpone the discussion of his motion, ft would only be a waste of time to take the discussion at present if it was to be again taken at a subsequent meeting. In reply to a question, Mr March said that he had posted notices containing a copy of Mr Brown’s notice of motion to all the members on Monday morning. The opinion of the majority was in favour of Mr Brown bringing on his motion, but that gentleman expressed a strong disinclination to go on in the absence of Mr Thomson, the Chairman of the Board.

The question of Mr Brown’s motion standing over was about to bo put to the vote, when Air Booth said he considered that the feeling of the mover of the resolution should be considered.

Dr Turnbull said he had made special arrangements with the medical staff to represent them. He could not promise to be able to attend at the next meeting. Mr Montgomery would vote for the postponement, rather than allow it to be supposed that he wished to press the matter on in the absence of anyone.

Dr Turnbull said he would undertake to settle the matter in five minutes. The Chairman called for a show of hands.

Mr Booth asked if all were obliged to vote ? Mr Montgomery said, if Mr Brown wished to postpone the motion he need not move it. The show of hands was taken, when one Land was held up on each side. The Chairman called upon all to vote, when the postponement was voted by three to one. ABHBUEXON HOME. Mr Brown’s motion relative to the Ashburton Home was also postponed. HOUSE SDEGEON’b EBPOET. The House Surgeon reported that he had engaged a nurse for No. 6 ward ; that the creek running through the grounds is choked with weeds and wants clearing out, and that the Engineer to the Drainage Board had informed him (Dr Chilton) that the creek could be diverted, a coarse which would be advantageous on sanitary grounds. The report was received. Dr Turnbull said that the report showed the necessity for the appointment of a House Committee. The House Surgeon’s duties should be confined altogether to the interior of the Hospital. Mr Montgomery moved, and Mr Booth seconded —“ That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the question of the creek referred to, and to report to the Board at ita next meeting.” ( On the motien of Dr Turnbull, Mr Booth and Dr Turnbull were appointed the Committee. ADMISSIONS. Dr Chilton reported that only two patients had been admitted since the last meeting. dxschabgbs. The House Steward reported that during last week 13 patients had been discharged, Among these was the patient who had been sent from Pates suffering from ophthalmia, and who had been cured. The discharges included one death. ACCOUNTS. In answer to Dr Turnbull, the House Steward stated that no one examined the accounts until they were laid before the Board. CHABITABLK AID. A number of accounts connected with the Charitable Aid were passed. OEPHANAGH. Mr March reported as follows: —Number of boys In the Orphanage on the books Jan. 1, 1379, (58; admitted, none ; left, none ; total, 58. Number of girls on the books Jan. 1, 1879, 39 j admitted, none j left, 2 j total, 37. Total number in the Oiphanage, 95. An application for two boys from the Orpbange was dealt with, and it was sug-

gested that two who were suitable should bo sent on a month’s trial. After discussion, it was resolved to inform tho applicant of the conditions on which boys were sent out from the Orphanage, and that upon receipt of tho applicant’s consent to the conditions, the boys should be sent. Dr Turnbull moved, and Mr Montgomery seconded, —“That tho Colonial Government bo recommended to appoint Dr J. T. Rouse as medical officer for the Lyttelton Orphanage." Tho motion was agreed to. COUMITTBKB. Mr Montgomery gave notice that he would at next meeting move, —“That there be appointed an Hospital Committee, a Charitable Aid Committee, an Orphanage Committee, and an Ashburton Home Committee." After dealingwith a number of charitable aid cases, the Board adjourned till Tuesday next at half-post seven.

HalfJune 9 r ending— Deo. 31. £ 8. d. £ 8. d. Salaries 822 1 4 699 8 10 Buttons 920 12 0 842 2 4 Fuel and gas ... 279 12 2 327 14 8 Bedding and stores 101 8 11 55 8 4 Drugs and instru* 95 6 5 63 meats 1 S Printing and sta20 tionerr 4 7 3 1 7 Medical comforts 230 17 9 167 2 6 Burials 12 17 6 18 6 0 Incidental expenses 104 14 6 74 19 0 Total ... 2571 17 10 2273 3 6

Half-year ending— Dec. 31,1877. Dec. 31.1878. Salaries £ s. d. 913 1 10 € s. d. 699 8 10 Kations 903 11 0 842 2 4 Fuel and gas 324 7 11 327 14 8 Bedding and stores 161 19 2 55 8 4 Drugs and instruments 114 1 10 68 1 3 Printing and stationery 8 5 6 20 1 7 Medical comforts.. 252 1 3 167 2 6 Burials ... 19 15 0 18 5 0 Incidental expenses 47 1 1 74 19 0 Total 2744 4 7 2273 8 6