CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL DESTITUTE PATIENTS’ FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7224, 25 April 1884, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL DESTITUTE PATIENTS’ FUND.

A meeting of the Committee of the above Fund was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon; present—Dr Deamer (in the chair), Drs Nedwill, Anderson, Stewart, and Robinson, and Mr Bell (the Secretary). The Secretary submitted the following report “ Christchurch Hospital, April 24.

“ I beg to append a statement of receipts and expenditure since last meeting to date, showing a credit balance of £722 3s 9d, which is made up as follows:—lnvested with Mutual Provident Building Society, at 6 per cent per annum, due June 30,1884, £500; invested with Permanent Loan and Investment Society, at 6£ per cent per annum, due August 10, 1884, £IOO j balance in bank, £ll6 12s sd; balance on hand, £5 11s 4d; total, £722 3s 9d. I also append a list of stock of goods on hand and in use in the wards. The latter are wearing out very fast, and will soon require replacing. There is a large picture in the staff-room, presented to the fund by Mr Griffiths (through Dr Prins), and I shall be glad to know your wishes as to its disposal. There are also one and a-half cases of brandy and about one and a-half gallons of port wine remaining from the contributions to the fancy dress ball. In the administration of the fund it has always been the' object to give the relief as much as possible in ‘kind,’ and not give cash, except in urgent cases, so as to prevent any injudicious expenditure on the part of the destitute patient relieved, and the money in most cases has been given for payment of board and lodging and travelling expenses. The prevailing idea has always been to retain and establish this fund on a permanent and solid .basis, so that it might become self-supporting from the interest money on its own investments.— Robert T. Bell, Secretary .’ r In reply to- Dr Stewart, the Secretary said that out of the amount to the credit of the fund since its initiation, the sum of £367 14s 3d had been received from the Government as a subsidy of £ for£. Dr Nedwill said that, looking at the expenditure for the period just closed, he thought it had been rather heavy. There was one item of £22 for wheel chairs for the use of the Hospital patients, which he thought should have been paid for by the Government.

The Secretary explained that advantage had been taken of an opportunity to purchase these chairs considerably under their selling price at a time when they were very much required.ru the Hospital. He would desire to mention that immediately preceding their purchase. Dr Grabham, Inspector, when visiting the institution, dwelt strongly on the necessity for such chairs being provided for the use of the inmates.

After some further remarks, the Secretary was instructed to confer with one or two members of the Committee before making any future expenditure, other than small donations, to outgoing patients. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which was carried.

On the motion of Dr Ncdwill, it was decided that another meeting of the Committee should be held early next month. The meeting then adjourned.