HOSPITAL BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11226, 25 March 1897, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

A meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board was held yesterday afternoon ; present—Messrs R. D. Thomas (chairman), W. Moor, J. G. Murray, J. Hamilton, D. Wallace, J. Dobson, C. M. Gray, E. Westenra, J. A. Caygill, H. W. Peryman and W. Dunlop and Dr Stewart. An apology for absence was received from Dr Hunt. Mr Caygill moved pursuant to notice — “ That it be an instruction to the housesurgeon to mention in his monthly report any cases -where patients are brought to the hospital in a moribund condition, and to state on whose recommendation such cases have been sent into the hospital.” Mr Gray seconded the motion, which was carried.

The receipts were reported to be:— Akaroa £25 15s fid, Kowai £ll 8s 4d, Waipara £3OB 13s, Christchurch £74 4s 4d, Amuri £l4 9s sd, Ashley £2O Ss 6d, Akaroa £25 15s fid, Mandeville £l3 9s 2d, Cheviot £69 11s, Linwood £9 12s lid, Kaikoura £7 Is Bd, fees £55 6s, waste £1 4s; total £649 5s ’ 2d. Amounts received from local bodies during current month £789 19s Bd, subsidy £BOO 4s Bd. The expenditure was as under-.—Sala-ries £l9B Is Bd, wages £53 2s, groceries £62 15s sd, meat £4l 6s ,3d, fish and poultry £lO 15s 6d, milk £22' 6s 3d, bread £l3 8s lOd, drugs £3411s Id,gas £l2 10s6d, coal (carting) £2lss 7d, malt liquor £2 los Bd, aerated waters £5 ss, hardware £lolls, drapery £5 11s lid, printing £2 7s, burial £1 6s Gd, legal expenses £4 9s Gd, members’ travelling expenses £4 3s 4d, miscellaneous £6 19a Bd. Marks Ward account—Contractor £6OO, Clerk of "Works £l4, Akaroa £2O 17s 7d, Lyttelton £lO 16s 8s; total £ll4O 17a 2d.

Tho House Sm’geon reported that, during the month of February, 86 patients had been admitted to the Hospital, and 82 discharged, leaving 95 patients on Feb. 23. Seven deaths had occurred, the following being the causes: (1) Phthisis pulmonahs, (2) alcoholism, (3) paraplegia, (4) septic pneumonia, (5) heart disease, (6) sarcoma, (7) aneurism. Thirty-four operations had been performed under anaesthetics, and 252 patients had been attended at the out-patients’ department. The House Committee’s report was as follows: —During the past month nothing calling for special reference has occurred. Estimates for the ensuing year are before members. They have been prepared with a due regard to efficiency and economy, and are recommended for adoption. The committee call your attention to the pleasing fact that no additional levies will be required from local bodies, notwithstanding the fact that increased accommodation for patients will be provided when the new ward is opened. A considerable saving has been effected during the past year. Your committee anticipates that the ordinary expenditure of the ensuing year will be covered by the same levy that was made for the past year. Special expenditure will be required in connection with water storage for use throughout the hospital, the present tanks being at too low alevel to supply water on the upper story of tlie new ward. The old stands will probably require replacing with a brick or concrete water-tower. The furnishing of the new wards must also be provided for. Both the last-named items of expenditure will, however, it is anticipated, be covered by tho proposed levy. The following tenders for supplies for the ensuing year are recommended for acceptance: —Groceries, P. A. Cook; meat, H. S. Harris; fish and poultry, W. Dennis; broad, F. W. Edwards; milk, S. Sparks; coal, G. M’Clatchie; wines and spirits, J. Shand; aerated waters, J. Lister; burials, G. Barrell; sweep chimneys, G. Mills; drugs, H. F. Stevens; drapery, J. Ballantyne and Co. On the adoption of the report being moved, Mr Caygill proposed, as an amendment—That the clause beginning ‘ Special expenditure will be required,’ &c., be struck out,” as he objected that no decision had been come to by the House Committee on the matter.

In the discussion which followed, it was pointed out by members that the adoption of the report "as it stood did not commit the Board to anything. The amendment was lost, and the report adopted. The Board accepted the following tenders for supplies for the Akaroa hospital : Groceries, T. E. Taylor; meat, P. J. Hart; bread, F. T. Anning; milk, D. Fife. Mr Gray moved that the name of Nurse Littlecot should be added to the permanent staff.

The motion was carried after some discussion, some of the members wishing to have the matter deferred until the position of the whole mu-sing staff had been considered.

Tho estimates for 1897-9 S were considered, They set forth the amounts required as follow Christchurch £8548, Akaroa £4OO, Lyttelton £IOO, furnishing new ward £4OO, painting present buildings £2OO, contingencies £500; total £10,148. The credit balance at the end of the year 1897 was put down at £ISOO, and fees at £3OO, making £IBOO. Against this there were liabilities of £1652, thus leaving the amount to he raised £IO,OOO. Of this, £SOOO would be raised by levy on the local bodies and £SOOO by subsidy. The adoption of the estimates was moved and seconded. Mr Caygill moved as an amendment—- “ That tlie estimates be referred back, as a protest against the insufficient information given.” After some discussion the estimates as presented were adopted. The usual formal resolution with regard

to the levy on the local bodies was passed. A letter was read from the House Surgeon applying for an increase in his salary, which, he pointed out, was far below that paid to the house surgeons at the Wellington and Auckland hospitals. Consideration of the letter was deferred till next meeting. On the motion of Mr Moor, seconded by Mr Gray, the House Committee was empowered to call for tenders for painting the hospital buildings. The meeting then closed.