OAMARU HOSPITAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1180, 28 January 1880, Page 2

OAMARU HOSPITAL.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Oamaru Hospital was held at' the Volunteer Hall last evening. There were about eighty gentlemen present, aiid Mr. T. H. Brown (President) occupied the chair. On the Chairman taking his seat, Mr. Shrimski said he hoped the business would not be proceeded with at once. A large number of subscribers were not then present, and he thought they should wait for a short time. It was usual to give half-an-liour's grace, and he would therefore move that the business be not proceeded with until half-past seven o'clock, in order to give absent subscribers an opportunity to be present. In reply to Mr. Fleming, The Chairman said the meeting had been called for seven o'clock. Mr. Clowes objected to an adjournment. It was the duty of subscribers to attend punctually. He had himself at great inconvenience made a point of being present at the proper time, and he did not' see why the forty gentlemen present should be called upon to wait the convenience of those who did not see fit to attend at the appointed time. Mr. M. Grant agreed with Mr. Clowes, and said the .business should be proceeded: with. As Mr. Shrimski's motion was not seconded, the Chairman decided to go on with the business. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read, the minutes of the last annual meeting were read arid confirmed, The Secretary then read the following report, the halanpersheet, and the Medical Superintendent's report EIGHTH ANNUAIi REPORT. Your Committee have much pleasure in submitting their report for the year ended the 31st of December, 1879, as, while adequately meeting the demands on the institution, there is a balance in hand to commence the work of another year of the sum of L 272 13s Bd, being the current balance and amount of deposit now due, as against a balance of LSO 5s lOd at the beginning of 1879, The subscriptions, donations, and pror ceeds of entertainments received during the twelve months then ended, amounted to L 326 53 9d ; Government subsidy for grant of 1878 and 1879, L 346 12s 3d; maintenance money received from patients, LB3 9s; rents from endowments, L2OO ; Interest on ijiortgage, LIOO 5s | .sundfiep 3 tA ißs~-tfiese various gums Aggregating 4 total revenue of Llo6l' 10s for the year, I which added to LSQ 5s lOd (the sura to

credit at its commencement), represent a total amount to be accounted for of Lllll 15s lOd. The ordinary expenditure for salaries, rations, stores, medicines, &c., as per balance sheet, total up to L 839 2s 2d, leaving, as before stated, an available credit balance of L 272 13s Bd. Your Committee are gratified in being enabled to report in highly, favorable terms of the management of the Hospital,; the medical superintendent and the warder and matron having, in their respective positions, given the greatest satisfaction. No complaints have been made, and the establishment has at all times been kept in the cleanest and most orderly manner. On the Ist of January, 1879, there were in the Hospital three patients, and since then there were admitted to the 31st December last 95, making a total of 98. Of these there were discharged, cured or relieved, 79 ; there died 12, and there remained in the Hospital 7 patients. The nationalities of the patients were as follow English, 24; Scotch, 20 ; Irish, 37 ; British Colonies, 8 ; foreign, 9. The last residents of the patients admitted being as follow : —Oamaru, 39 ; Kakanui, Otepopo, and Hampden, 11; Papakaio, 8; Upper Waitaki, 8; Teaneraki, 8; North Waitaki and Waimate, 9; Ngapara, 6 ; Dunedin and other places, 9. The average number of patients in the Hospital was BJ-; the average duration of stay of each patient was 22 days; the average total cost per patient was L 7 2s lOd, or per day nearly 6s 6d, a daily cost exceeding that of last year ; but this is accounted for by the fact that the greater part-of the sum expended in medicines ought to have been debited to last year's account, ' the purveyor thereof having failed to render his account in time to appear in last year's statement. No additional accommodation has been made • or- required in the institution during the yeaF,. and the only outlay on any permanent improvement has been the purchase" of a kitchen range, and its fitting up—an outlay that will be amply repaid by the greater facility of providing for the wants of the inmates.

Some changes in your Committee have been rendered ;necessary by the ill-health or removal of members to other districts, Messrs. Morris, Kerr, and J. Hassell, jun., having been appointed in lieu of Messrs. Dunlop, Christie, and Steward.

Your Committee have pleasure in reporting that during the year the funds of the institution have been materially augmented by the proceeds of several entertainments and lectures, kindly given by various bodies and individuals, and that suitable gifts from different donors have been made, all of which have been acknowledged from time to time. During the year your Committee held 12 ordinary, and two special meetings. At the ordinary meetings the attendance of members was as follow T. H. Brown, 11; W. J. Steward, 1; S. E. Shrimski, 7 ; J. Mainland, 8 ; A. J. S. Headland, 11 ; F. Dunn, 7 ; W. Christie, 2 ; J. Paterson, 3; J. Lemon, 7; D. S. Montagu, 9 ; W. M'lntosh, 10 ; F. H. Towsend, 11; and since their appointment in October, J. Hassell, jun., 3; A. Kerr, 3; T. Morris, 2. Towards the close of the year, Mr. D. Sutherland, one of the country members of the Committee, kindly presented a cow for the use of the institution, and it is found of considerable service in providing a good supply of milk and butter for the inmates. The thanks of the subscribers are due to that gontleman for his thoughtful liberality. "With a view to the better and more permanent provision for lighting the establishment, arrangements have been made with the Municipal Council for laying on gas, and it is hoped this work will be shortly accomplished. Your Committee desire to record their thanks to the honorary surgeons who have kindly assisted the medical Superintendent during the year.. In concluding their report, your Committee have to congratulate the subscribers on the satisfactory position of the institution, efficiency for carrying on its beneficent operations being maintained, while its financial state is healthy. In view, however, of the possible contingency of the withdrawal of the usual Government subsidy, there should be no relaxation in the energies of the future managers, lest its usefulness should be crippled when this source of revenue is taken away. T. H, Brown, President. BALANCE SHEET, DECEMBER 31, 1879. Dr. Receipts. £ s. d. To Balance from last year ... 50 5 10 Subscriptions, donations,. entertainments ... 326 5 9 Sale of stove ... ... ... 14 0 Government subsidy, IS7S ... 9S 17 6 „ ~ 1879 ... 247 14 9 Maintenance money ... ... S3 9 0 Rents from endowment ... 200 0 0 Interest from mortgage, &c. ... 100 5 0 Sale of grass on ground ... 314 0 £llll 15 10 Expenditure. Cr. By Salaries ... ... ••• 392 17 0 Rations ... ... ... ... 259 14 3 Stores and furniture 37 0 0 Medicines and nodical comforts ... _ ... ... 67 9 7 Bedding and clothing ... ... 7 3 4 Printing, advertising, stationery . ... ... ... 13 3 3 Burial expenses 26 12 6 Incidental expenses ... ... 11 9 6 Erection and maintenance of buildings ••• 21 13 10 Improvement of grounds, &c. 118 11 Deposit in bank ... ... 200 0 0 Balance ... 72 13 S £llll 15 10 Audited and found correct. GloR E GE A SuSrER, i Auditors - MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The Committee, Oamaru Hospital. Gentlemen, —I have the honor to report that during the year 1579 there were admitted into the Hospital 95 patients, and there were three remaining from 187S, out of which twelve died, five remained in Hospital at the end of the year, and the re' mainder were discharged cured, or (in two or three chronic cases) relieved. At first sight it may seem a large percentage of deaths—l2 out of 9S—but if we analyse the causes we shall find they were mostly incurables and accidents. Four died of consumption, two of heart disease with complications, one from fracture of the skull, one from injury to the spine, two from typhoid fever, one from inflammation of the lungs, and one after an operation for internal tumor. Four were brought to the hospital in a dying state ; so I think this will fully explain that otit qf the ourftble cases the percentage of deaths was not large. There were also thirty-two out patients treated during the year. I wish to record my thanks to the honorary surgeons for their assistance in all cases in which I have required their aid and advice ; also to the Warder and Matron,; jvho have performed their duties in a, most satisfactory manner.—l have, &c,, Jno. S. Wait, Medical Superintendent. Qn the motion of Mr, Headland, seoonded by Mr. W, Bee, the report and balance' sheet were adopted, The Chairman said this concluded the business of the year, and he would therefore ask the meeting to elect another. Chairman, in order that the election of office-bearers for the current year might be proceeded with. He expressed his gratification &t seeing so many present, as it showed that great. interest was taken in an institution that had done a large large amount of good, and would still tituie tq do goad. Mr. Brown was re-appointed Chairman, and the election of office-bearers was proceeded with. Mr. Headland proposed Mr. Shrimski as saying thatthat.gentleman had long held a prominent position in Qon* nection with the Hospital, He had had a; :l;vrge share of the work o.f establishing the institution, and no man had done more to promote its success, Mr. Watson seconded the motion,

Mr. Shrimski thanked tlio meoting for the proposal just made, and said he had already so many public duties to perform that he felt he would not be able to give a proper amount of time and attontion to the office. In fact, it was highly^probable that at the very time his services were most required, he would be absent. For this reason, he was to decline the honor/ He thought the office should be a rolling one, and though the present President had discharged his duties with every satisfaction, he had a gentleman to propos© who would meet with the approval of the meeting. He begged to propose that Mr. Mainland be elected President. No man had done more for the institution, no man had worked harder or given more time to promote the success of the Hospital than that gentleman. Mr. Mainland thanked Mr. Shrimski for his remarks, and said he must decline to stand. The Chairman said he hoped the meeting would prevail upon Mr. Mainland to allow himself to bo elected. There was no one in the community who had done more for the Hospital, and ho thought there was no one who would mako a better President. Mr. Mainland again declined. Mr. Hislop then proposed that Mr. Brown be re-elected. Mr. Kerr seconded the motion. Mr. Hassell proposed, and Mr. Familton seconded, that Mr. Headland be President. Mr. N. Fleming was proposed by Mr. Ronayne, and seconded by Mr. Grant, but declined to stand. A ballot was then taken with the following result : —Headland, 44 Brown, 19. Mr. Headland was therefore elected, ,-uid thanked the meeting for having by so large a majority placed him in such an honorable position. _ . Mr. Brown, on relinquishing the chair, thanked the subscribers for the confidence they had reposed in him during the past years. . Mr. F. H. Townsend was then elected Vice-President; Mr. J. Church, Secretary at the same salary-as last, year ; Mr. J. Lemon, Treasurer; and. Messrs. H. Aitken and G. Sumpter, Auditors. The salary of the medical superinten- | dent was then fixed at the same as last year—Llso. Mr. T. Dunn proposed and Mr. Townsend seconded Dr. Garland as medical superintendent. Mr. Mainland proposed, and Mr. Sumpter seconded Dr. Wait, the present medical superintendent. Mr. Grant proposed Dr. de Lautour, but that gentleman declined, saying that he had suffered too much during the past tive years under the present medical system pursued in connection with the Hospital to wish to inflict the same injury upon others. A ballot was then taken for the election of a medical superintendent, with the following result: —Dr. Wait, 39 ; Dr. Garland, 34. The following gentlemen were then elected as members of the Committee : Country : Messrs. E. C. Smith, Duntroon; T. Henderson, Otepopo; D. Sutherland, Omarama; P. Aitchison, Papakaio ; M. Morton, Kakanui ; E. Menlove, Teaneraki. Town : Messrs. T. H. Brown, J. Mainland, S. E. Shrimski, A. Kerr, W. M'lntosh, T. Morris, J. Hassell, jun., J. Markham, H. Watson, J. Allen.

Votes of thanks were then passed to the medical superintendent, the honorary medical officers who had rendered valued aid during the year, the officers, the outgoing Committee; and the warder and matron, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman.