THE NASEBY HOSPITAL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 24, Issue 1260, 18 January 1894, Page 3

THE NASEBY HOSPITAL.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the above body was held in the ffowu Hall on Thursday evening, 11th of January, 1894. There was a large number of subscribers present] and Mr Mitchell was elected chairman. MINUTES. The chairman called on £he secretary^to; read the minutes of the,last annual meeting which were confirmed. . THE DOCTOR'S REPORT. . , •The secretary then read Dr Church's report, which was to the : following effect:— His duties commenced ou the Ist of March, 1893. .When" he first took the Hospital over it was in excellent condition so far as cleaniness and order were concerned. Shortly after his arrival the wardsman and matron resigned, and were succeeded by Mr and Mrs Arthur Ring,, to whorii Ho referred in the niost eulogistic .terms. :. . During the year they had a fair number of p'atients under treatment, many of the cases being The number admitted during the year was 88—67 males, and 21 females.— 82 werti ; discharged,.. three .died, and three remained on December ■ 31st; The outdoor patients were 46, and outdoor attendances 148.

The localities from which the in-patients came were :—Naseby, Ky.eburn, Eweburn, Wedderburn,' Sowburn, Gimmerbiirn, Gore, Ida Valley, Dunedia, Blackstone Hill, Hyde, St. Batbans, Cromwell, Cambriaria, Bendigo, Hamiltons, Highfield, Rough 1 RidgeV arid Balclutha.—The average individual stay was 15 - 4 days. The payments received by the wardsman from the patients were not as much as could be desired, amounting to £Bl 2s.

During the year various improvements, many of them absolutely necessary, had heen effected. The outside improvements included alterations in the drainage system, laying on water, fencing about an acre of land, improving the garden, &c., while the inside improvements consisted of flooring, improving the ventilation, and the addition of several articles of furniture. Various.friends had, during the year, made presents consisting of,-.—Books, : pictures; linen, vegetables, poultry, butter, eggs, and flowers. Those of the patients who were confined to cheir beds greatly appreciated the flowers, and great thanks were due to all those who had remembered the hospital in the way they had. The attendance of visitors throughout the year had been good, especially on Sundays. Visiting was one way of manifesting an interest in the institution; and would remove many absurd notions which some people had as to what an hospital was. The time had come when the people ought to be thinking of building a female ward. There was a little box of a room which contained three beds, but hyglenbally there was not cubic space enough for two. Another little bed-room gave an extra bed, so that by overcrowding they could only accommodate four female patients. He could, not conclude without expressing how helpful his patients had been to him. Mr and Mrs King were, undoubtedly the right people in the right.placo. Their treatment of the patients was always kind,-con-siderate and thoughtful, .and rot a few had told him how well they had been treated. It was proposed, by Mr Goldsworthy, and seconded by Mr Kirl»y—That the report of Dr Church be adopted as read. Mr J. R. Smith desired to know whether, if the r«port were adopted, the meeting bound themselves to increase the accommodation ot the female ward as recommended by Dr Church. Mr Mitchell thought that did riotriccssarily follow. . i .

Mr B. F. Inder spoke of the necessity of enlarging the female ward. ,'"'.'. Mr H. Wilson thought that this contributors should make recommendation to_ the committeo to have the accommodation* of the women's ward mode equal to that? of the moil's; and if necessary to encroach upon the fixcel deposit of the institution. The chairman fchen put the motion to the meeting, which waa carried unanimously.

v ■, IMPROVE'MEN'TS. '_ . ._ . Mr M'Carthy then proposed, and Mr H. Wilson it be a recommenda•tion to the committee that an • inspection of the premises be made to ascertain wiffher alterations wereiiecossary. . ; Mr Guffie.-was.of opinion that it would be unwise to interfere with, the sum of money placed on fixed deposit, and. suggested that application be made to the Otago Central Hospitals Board for an increase of the grant to the local hospital, adequate to the amount required for the improvements. Mr Wilson said he thought Mr Guffie's idea was a good one. - Mr B. F. Inder said that as the hospital had to serve such a large district, and as the female patients had increased from five last year to 21 this year, he would be in favour of having Dr Church's recommendation carried out.

Mr M'Carthy then moved, and Mr Wilson seconded a resolution -to the effect that the Otago Central Hospitals Board be requested to grant a sum sufficient for. the .ejection of a female ward.—Carried uriamniousljr: .TRUSTEES. The Chairman then said that as the next business would ,4>e to elect two trustees in the place of. himself and Mr Jackson, he would vacate the chair. Mr Guffie was elected chairman pro. iem., and referred in laudatory .terms to the way in which the two. retiring trustees had carried out their duties. • ... Mr Dawson proposed, and Mr Donnelly seconded—That Mr Jackson be re-appointed ; and Mr R. F. Inder, proposed, and-Mr A. Jones seconded—That Mr Jas.' Mitchell be 'reelected. There being no other nominations, Mr Guffie announced.amidst great applause, that he had much pleasure in declaring Messrs Mitchell and Jackson re-appointed to the position of trustees, for the ensuing term. * GENERAL. Mr Jas. Kirby desired to. know whether the balance-sheet for the past year .was to ba read: The secretary said the accounts had not been audited as the 1 present meeting had been called solely for the election of trustees, but as several contributors desired to know the financial position of the institution, he would ; read out the accounts from the time of the last meeting, which were as follows:

Messrs JV R. Smith and Dawson took exception to the' amount of £39 i6s 4d being expended in fencing, but it. was pointed out that the expenses of laying new pipes, drainage, &c, were included in that sum. The proceedings then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.

RECEIPTS. Contributions by Government . ..£77 1 7 Central Hospital Board . .. 350 16 1 Interest on deposit .... •;'',. ;; id q o Receipts on account of patients. .. 81 2 0 Subscriptions and Donations . ..73 17 0 £592 16 § Due by Central Hospital Board. .. 113 11 1 £706 7; 9 : EXPENDITtrRE. Bedding and clothing ..£15 15 0 Funerals.. ..', ... .12 14 0 Fencing in grounds; &c. ; ; -/.; .; 39 16 4 Incidental ••-. . .44 9 3 Interest on overdraft ■•.'.""".;■"■.'■ .. 0 12 3 Insurance ... ~ .V'_:■; -700 Printing and advertising V . :■: :i45ov o Rations and provisions-~ i: 4 10 Fuel and light ... . 22 10 8 Buildincp and:.repairsf ..'; 23 14 4 Salaries and wages ... y.. : 395 8 0 Surgery and dispensary ■'". .. ... 36 7 11 Washing and laundry *. ;.'■ 12 17 6 Wines arid'spirit! ...' - .:.'.. :.- B^10& Water supply ... ., . 12 0 0 Cheque book :■„" : ■■.'"'■ .. .'.■■■■■•; 10 6 Stamps, stationery, telegrams ;, ... 4 10 11 £749 11. J)