HOSPITAL & CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 85, 16 April 1901, Page 4

HOSPITAL & CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting was held yesterday. Present—Messrs R. McCallnm (chairman), Priddle, Houldsworth, Maeey, Matthews, Trevor, Neville, and Parker.

; TEN'DEH.S

The tender of. C. Parker to deliver and stack 20 cords of willow wood at the Hospital for 16s a cord was accepted.

The following tender from Mr Yarral was accepted :-^-Fifty cords of matai at 27s a cord,.aud 50 cords of bircli at 235.

The Committee appointed to open tenders for the annual supplies to the Hospital reported that the followinghad been accepted :—Meat, J. Draper, £76 13s lOd; bread, J. Scott and Co., £26 13s 5d ; milk, Mrs Newman, Gd per gallon ; coal, W. E. Clous ton. and Co., £1 17s 6d per ton ; groceries, Mr J. Benning, £191 2s 6d; wines and spirits, Mr J. Benning, £19 3s ; drapery, Messrs Smale and Hay, £115 4s ; funerals, A. Sowman, £2 9s (sd.

With respect to the supply of drags, etc., a tender of £203 16s had been received from Mr F. Shaw ; but the Committee recommended that, in view of the , increase in the payments being marie in this direction as compared with the figures of past years, the Board re-consider, the whole matter of the supply of drugs, surgical appliances, etc. A suggestion had been made by the medical officer that, with the object of lessening the expense, the Board take into consideration the question of purchasing such requirements independently of the contract system, importing the goods, or procuring them locally according to the advantages of the market, and that an arrangement be made for the carrying out of the dispensing work at the Hospital.

By invitation, Mr Shaw attended the meeting, and explained the details of his tender. The medical officer was also present. The suggestion that the Board import in bulk certain surgical appliances met with favor. After discussion it was resolved (Mr Shaw agreeing to this course) that he be requested to re-tender, after consultation with the medical officer, for the supply of drugs and other items, the charge for dispensing to be re-adjusted also, and that the Committee have power to adopt the new arrangement.

OJENEnAJj,

The medical officer's report showed that there were four old men in the Benevolent ;Home, and 13 patients in the Hospital.

The Visiting Committee reported a satisfactory state of affairs.

The Charitable Aid Committee re--9 nmnended, with regard to a widow's ease, that the Secretary write to the Good Templars asking that the balance due to her be paid over, and that relief be granted by the Board if necessary; that 10s a week be granted to a woman whose husband was disabled by illness ; and that the grant made to a woman in charge of a child be increased from 4s to 6s.

The annual balance sheet was laid on the table.

Accounts were passed for payment

A donation of £30 collected by Mrs C. J. W. Griffiths was acknowledged with thanks, and the Secretary was in trueted to apply for the usual Government subsidy of 24s to the £. ■ *

On the motion of Mr Maeey, the ■-Secretary was instructed to present at each meeting a financial statement showing the receipts «i:jcl expenditure.