HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10081, 17 March 1896, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The regular meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was hold yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs. J. Bollard chairman), Swales, Savage, Bruce, and Lennox.

Miscellaneous.—'The usual returns were laid on the table. The dispensing surgeon reported 71 new cases for outdoor treatment and 90 old ones. The average attendance was 18. Tho secretary stated that three letters had been Bent to the Inspector of Hospitals, and a reply was received from Mr. Suiter that Dr. Macjrregor was still absent from Wellington. The matter was deferred. North Auckland Board.—Mr. J. P. McKenzie, chairman of the North Auckland Charitable Aid Board, was present, as a deputation in reference to the action taken by the Auckland Board the recovery of the amount due from the North Auckland Board, and ho was courteously received by the Chairman and introduced to the members. It appeared that the total amount due was now reduced to £600, and in reply to a question, Mr. McKenzie said that in a short time they would be in a position to square that amount off, and he would endeavour to do so before he went out of office. He wanted to leave his Board clear of difficulties, and with that object in view he had induced his Board to strike the highest rate allowablo under the Act. The Chairman pointed out that the Auckland Board could not carry on its business without funds. They had no desire to shut out the North Auckland patients, bufi their overdraft at the bank was largo, and they were worrying their own contributing bodies to pay up. They in return reminded the Board that there was a large debit against the North Auckland Board, and so they were obliged to take action. Tho fact was that the previous North Auckland Board had allowed these debts to accumulate, and this was tho result. Mr. McKenzio thought the Auckland Board might have stayed their hands, and let them recover a little. The Chairman : We have no desire to press you. Mr. McKenzio thanked the Board, and retired. The Thames Board.—The secretary of tho Thames Charitable Aid Board wroto re tho case of Rose Peterson, treated at tho Auckland Hospital, for which a claim was made against them. The secretary pointed out that, in the opinion of Dr. Williams, the case was not an urgent one, and could have been sent to the Thames Hospital, and they declined to be responsible for her treatment. Referred to tho modic.d superintendent. Thore was further correspondence from the Thames Board as to the case of one Do Lensky. The Thames Board claimed that ho was an Auckland, not a Thainos, resident; also, that it was a case of consumption, and not urgent. The matter was deferred pending receipt of a report. A Cot.—Mrs. Rattray intimated to the Board that alio had forwardod a furnished cot for the children's ward, and had askod Dr. Lind.«ay to recommend a patient. It was agreed to accopt the gift with thanks. Finance.—The balance on hand per pass books was £2203 17s 2d, but the capital account was £3325, showing a debit overdraft of over £1000. Tho accounts for payment were £883 2* Gil. Tho receipts for February were £1053 7s, tho disbursements £1602 lis 9d, balance to credit £1459 16s lOd: total, £4053 7s. The chairman explained that there had been no meeting of the Finance Committee, as they had been unable to got a quorum, and the passing of tho accounts was deferred for a fortnight. Charitable Aid.— report of tho Charitable Aid Committee was received. Several cases in which application had been mado for admission to the Cost ley Home were considered. One cane was that of an old man who had been received by the Little Sisters of the Poor from the South, but he had left that institution, and now sought admission to tho Costley Home. A member raised tho question whether tho Sisters of the Poor should be allowed to receive inmates from othor places, and after keeping them for some timo allow them to becomo a burdon to the district. Mr. Bollard pointed out that these Little,, Sifters of the Poor maintained many who. would otherwise be chargeable on thdBoard, and this was tho first r.ise of tilt' kind that he romemberei. Sorely an isolated caso like this might well be lot puss, although it might be desirablo to call the attention of tho governors of the Little Sisters Institute to the undesirability of introducing paupers from other places without making provision for returning them to their own districts. The action of the committee in admitting the pationt was approved. John Hunter, 74 years of age, was admitted to the Home, John tland was admitted as an inmatn for two months, and John Earnshaw for threo months.

Escott's Estate.—ln consequence of a loiter received from Mossrs. He»keth and Richmond 1 in regard to tho property of a man namijd Eecott, an inmate of iho Costley Homo, it/was agreed on tho motion of Mr. Lennox to pay off the mortgage and inserest rather than that the mortgagee should foreclose, ■'

Tenders.—Seven tenders for cisterns and water closets were recoived, and that of Mr. Swales £57, being the lowost, was accepted, State of the Hospital,— medical superintendent, Dr. Baldwin, reported that the number of patients in the hospital was 89 males, 47 females : total 136. There had been eight deaths, including two fatal cases of tetanus, which required special nursing. He rogrottod to report that another case of typhoid had occurred on tho nursing staff. There were now six nurses off duty through illness, and the strain on the others was very heavy. Efforts were made to obtain outside nurses but without avail. There are two nurses now at work in tho hospital from outside, but that left four short. The nurses' home had been inspected by Mr. Bartley, architect, but nothing was found wrong with tho sanitary arrangements. A report was also received from tho lady superintendent, in which she complained bitterly of the long hours ontailed on tho nursing and house staff, furnishing a timetable showing the duties which each had to perform. These matters wero referred to the Hospital Committee. Costi.ky Homr.—The customary reports from the Cosfcloy Home Committeo, and from the manager of that institution, were received and dealt with.