HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9370, 21 May 1889, Page 6

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

TIIK regular meeting of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held hist evening, present. :— Mr. C. Atkin (chairman), Messrs. Mays, Gooseinnu, Colonel Dawson, Bell, Udy, Dignan, and Lennox. Elkction. —Mr. Swales, nominated by the City Council as a successor to Mr. J. J. Holland, resigned, was on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. O. Mays, elected a member of the Board, and took his seat. Rki'outs.—Ordinary reports wore received from the House Surgeon and other officers. The House Surgeon's report showed that there were at present in the Hospital 73 males and "28 females. A list of persons who had been in the Hospital for over three months was appended, arid this was referred to the House Committee. Rejxuts were also received from the house steward, the lady superintendent, and the master and matron of the Refuges. There were complaints from the house steward and the master of the Refuse as to the shortness of supply of milk, and the matter was referred to the House Committee to inquire into. Hodsk Committee. —This committeo reported as to the acceptance of tenders for bedding, etc., and other matters transacted fiince hwt meeting of the Board. A dispenser had been appointed at a salary of £50 a year and board. The report waf adopted. Charitable Aid Committkk.—This committee reported having having paid the passage of a boy to Melbourne, and submitted a statement of accounts. The report was adopted. The accounts were: — Ashdown account, £1 Iβ ; Auckland Benevolent Society, £134 9s 10d ; Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society, ,£3'2 10s. The last t wo items were subsidies received from the Treasury ujion voluntary contributions paid in. The committee recommended that they be not paid until the society's statements of account for the year ended 31st of March last be handed to the Board in a complete state of audit. A letter was received from the Auditor-General on the subject, and it whs agreed that the Board's officer should ascertain that none were obtaining relief from the Charitable Aid Board as well as the societies. Assistant Surgeon.—No report having been received from the modical staff, the matter of the appointment of an assistant surgeon could not be dealt with. A letter on the subject was received from Mr. Ernest E. Tooks, hon. secretary of the Dunedin Medical Students' Association, but its consideration was deferred, and the whole matter was referred to the House Committee to consult with the medical staff, and report to next meeting. Medical Association Circular. — Tho circular from the Medical Association of Christchurch, recoir. that the chairman of the medical stall should have a seat on the Board, was again brought up. This hud been referred to the hon. medical stall', and Dr. Knight replied recommending that tho Act should be amended so that one or more of the medical stafl' should ex ojjicio havs seats on the Board. It was resolved to report the resolution of the Board favouring tho recommendation to the Medical Association. Rules ok Medical Staff.—Mr. Bell moved, "That a committee consisting of Messrs. 0. Mays, W. F. Buckland, P. Dignan, the chairman, and the mover bo appointed to consider and report at next meeting upon the rules relating to the Hon. Medical Staff." He thought it was a matter which should be inquired into, and a better system adopted. Mr. Mays seconded the motion. Mr. Lennox thought the Board should have something more before it before passing such a resolution. If they were to have an alteration in their rules let them know the reason why, and the nature of the amendment proposed. Mr. Mays said he would prefer to see a committeo of the whole Board, and Mr. Dignan supported this view. Mr. Bell amended his proposition accordingly, making tho committee the whole Board, and in this form it was carried, the committee to meet at the Hospital next Tuesday, at four o'clock. Mr. Dignan moved that the question of the formation of a House Committee be referred to this committee to consider. The motion was agreed to. Rkfuge Contract.—An application was made to transfer the contractor's (Mr. Matthews) interest to Mr. J. J. Holland. A deed of transfer, prepared by Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond, was submitted, and the Chairman moved that it be signed.' A question was raised by Mr. Udy as to whether Mr. Matthews from the first was not a myth. The Chairman said there was a Mr. Matthews, but he believed he knew very little about the tender. Colonel Dawson said that he was more than surprised that a gentleman who had sat at this Board and advised as an expert wua now himself the contractor. Mr. Lennox said that they had called for tenders and the lowest was accepted. Colonel Dawson said that he was imputing nothing to Mr. Holland, but when Mr. Holland was there and gave his opinion as an expert he considered it was highly irregular. The Chairman said he had objected to Mr. Holland's name being placed in the contract and re-

ferred them to Hesketh and Richmond. The motion was put and carried by 5 to 2. The Chairman said that it had been reported that bricks other than those named in the specifications were used at the Refuge. Mr. Mays asked who made the report ? The Chairman said that did not affect the question. The fact remained, and they hud inquired into it. Ho instructed the secretary to write to Mr. Bartley, the architect, who reported that 6000 bricks from Mrs. Hepburn's yard were delivered under a misapprehension. They were dearer than Hunt's bricks. Mr. Mays said that the complaint —as he understood it—made to Mr. Garland was by a disappointed contractor, who stated that Holland was> getting buck? 10s a thousand cheaper than those contracted for. Mr Garland said that he did uofc know the man who made the statement- He made it when he came for the leturii of his deposit. Mr. Lennox said he had seen Mr. Holland, and asked for an explanation. Mr. Holland said he had bought the bricks from a widow woman. They were first-class bricks, and no cheaper than the others, and he did not permit them to bo delivered before he had consulted several members of the Board. Mr. Bell eaid that, after twelve months' experience of Mr. Holland, who had erected their building, one of the most expensive in Auckland, he was satisfied he would not do anything underhand. Mr. Dignan said that Mr. Holland had. instructed Mrs. Hepburn not to send the bricks until they were ordered, and the first he knew of it was when lie saw the bricks on the ground. They were pushed on him, and he ordered her to take them away. Mr. Holland was under contract to use Hunt's bricks, and no doubt ho must abide by it. Mr. Swales saw no reason why lie should not be allowed to use them. Mr. Barbloy, architect, in answer to the Board, said the bricks were very good. Mr. Mollftnd had bold Mrs. Hepburn that ho would use them if the architect allowed them. She came to him and asked if they were good. He said they were good, and upon that she sent the bricks. The Chairman said the question was whether they should adhere to the contract or not. It was the principle of the thing he stood up for. Mr. Bnrtley said before ho received the letttcr from the Board he had stopped tho delivery of the bricks. The matter then dropped. Mr. J. Aitken Conncll wrote asking that the "acme" corrugated batten might be used in the new buildings. The letter was received. Clehk ok Works.—Mr. Bell moved in accordance with notice that a clerk of works be appointed for new refuge at, Epsom, at a salary of £3 a week. Mr. Lennox seconded the motion. Tho motion was ugreed to. Annual Supplies.—The secretary drew the attention of the Board to the fact that the time was coming round for calling for tenders for annual supplies. They should bo made returnable in a month. Ho was instructed to advertise for tenders. James Hanna(;an.—-A report from Mr. Wickham, relieving otlicer, in regard to James ilannagan was received. He was brought to the office by Mr. Burlineon, master of the Albert-street school, and appeared to be very much neglected. He had him sent to the Home in Princes-street, intending to recommend that he should be sent to the country. He was removed next day and taken by Mr. Cox, and the father subsequently called and said ho had no deeire Unit tho boy should be a charge on t.ho Board. He would obtain a situation for him at Penrose, so as to remove him from the town. The chairman explained his action in the matter. Tho boy was in charge of a guardian, Mr. Cox, the restaurant- keeper, and the Board should not be called upon to provide for him. It was complained that the boy was kept up until twelve o'clock at night, but that could be prevented under the Act. He contended they had no right to add to their pauper ranku, and on those grounds ho sent the boy back. The relieving officer's report was received on the motion of Mr. Mays, who said that the whole matter arose out of ati error of judgment of Mr. Burlinson's, in not having y;oi>c to the police instead of the Board. They admitted that Cox's place was not a lit place for the boy, and ho moved, "That the Board request the Inspector of Police to take action in the matter." The motion was seconded by Mr. Utly, and carried. HosiTTAL CriAKUKS. —Colonel Dawson drew attention to a letter he hud received, stating that a struggling farmer had been charged £1 is a-weck for the support of his little boy in the Hospital. The child was only thirteen years of age, and he (Colonel Dawson) thought it excessive. On tho suggestion of Mr. Mays tho letter was referred to the House Committee. FISANCE. —The Board then wont into committee to consider financial matters in connection with the new Refuge.