WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 31

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

MEETING OF COMMIT! EE. The Waipiata Sanator : um Committee met in Dunedin on Tuesday last, there being* present Messis J Matheson (chairman), A. Fraser, J. Ritchie. J. Korrell, E. Morgan, and J. Clark, together with Dr M’Lean, representing the Department of Health. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs F. Macdonald (Fairlie), F. W. Watt (Ashburton), and J. Cumming (Arthurton), and the standing orders were suspended to enable Mr J. Clark to represent the South Otago Hospital Board in Mr Cumming’s place. The secretary was directed to write to Mr Cumming extending the committee's sympathy with him in the ilhrsss which has prevented him attending to his public duties for the past six weeks and wish him a speedy recovery. The Chairman (Mr Matheson), who was absent from the previous meeting, thanked th© committee for having re-elected him to the position of chairman for the ensuing term. Correspondence of a formal nature was received. s The Medical Superintendent (Dr A. Kidd) submitted his usual statistical report showing that on July 1 there were 82 patients in tho institution, all of whom, with the exception of eight, whose condition was stationary, were doing well or improving. He submitted his weather report for June, and advised having visited the different centres in July, with the result that at Timartt he saw 28 patients, six of whom were suitable for treatment in the sanatorium, at Oamaru five, two of whom were suitable, and at Invercargill he recommended five as suitable for treatment. —The reports were adopted and requisitions for sundry requirements granted. Matron Wilson reported that Mr Shand, of Kokonga, had presented the nursing staff of the sanatorium with a wireless set. and asked that tho committee might see its way to pay the cost of tho steel pole requited for its erection; also registrationand the upkeep of the batteries for a year. —This was agreed to, and the secretary was instructed to write Mr Shand thanking him for his generous gift to the staff.

The Secretary submitted his usual report on the patients’ bed state showing that at tho date of meeting the following Hospital Boards had patients in the institutions: — South Canterbury 23, Southland 24, Ashburton 12, Waitaki seven, South Otago five, Maniototo two, Vincent three, Wallace two, and one private patient. He reported that since last meeting 12 patients had been discharged from the institution, 11 of wh’om had the disease arrested. He also submitted a list of 53 patients awaiting admission as soon as beds are available.—The report was adopted. The Department of Health, m reply to the secretary’s inquiry, reported that' the Public Works Department hoped to have the plans and specifications for tho additional patients’ shelters ready for tendering by the end of the month.—The report was received, the secretary to take steps to advertise it in the Dunedin.and Central Otago papers as soon as the plans come to hand. The Architect (Mr E. R. Wilson) reported that Messrs Love Bros, had finished their contract for providing additional staff accommodation, and forwarded a progress payment of £241 12s 6d, which the chairman had authorised to be paid.—The matter was noted and approved. The farm manager (R. J. M'Naught) submitted his usual monthly statement of th© quantity of mutton and milk supplied to the institution.—Noted.

The Farm Committee (Messrs Ritchie and Morgan) reported on the visit to the sanatorium, and recommended that, by

way of assisting in the tidying up of tho grounds immediately round the buildings by some of the patients, it would be an advantage to have another horse, as at times the team was required for the farm " j ■'U On tbe moti on of Messrs Fraser au fL Horrell, the Farm Committee was authorised to purchase another horse”, harness, ■ and scoop for the use of the insti-

The same committee advised having arranged with Mr Cambridge, builder, I atearoa, to erect a cowbyre on th© lines indicated by the Agricultural Department and the secretary was directed to obtaii* the Health Department’s formal consent to the expenditure.

The Farm Committee was authorised to act in the matter of providing hou'siu" accommodation for the sanatorium gardener.

lhe committee also indicated that tn view of the increased number of persons to be catered for when tho new shelters ai© erected, it would be advisable to make provision for th© installation of an electric cooking range to supplement the present coal-fired range, as the committee has its own water power for generating electric current, and would thus b© saimi" in fuel. It would also bo advisable t-o take steps at an early date to increase tho storage capacity for water at the dam in case of a dry summer, and these matters were left in the hands of the Farm Committee to submit some workable proposition in connection therewith to a later meeting.

The secretary was directed to write the Maniototo County Council drawin" its attention to tbe state of the road from the sanatorium past the Hamiltons Cemetery, and ask that it be attended to, also portions of the road from the sanatorium to M aipiata township. Mr A. E. Ellis, hydro-electric engineer, reported that the standby engine plant appeared to be in a satisfactory running ojciGi t but that in the course of a week’s tune he intended to visit th© institution ana would report further in connection with the matter.

lhe Treasurer submitted a statement of the committee's receipts and payments, showing that there was a credit *at the Bank of New Zealand, Invercargill, of £3258 2s lid, while the actual maintenance receipts for the five months showed a deficit of £1124 6s lid on the amount estimated for the period, while on the other hand the actual maintenance expenditure was £960 less than th© amount estimated. —The report was adopted. The Chairman and Secretary reported having, as directed, paid salaries and accounts at the end of July, totalling £1903 0s 7d.—Approved. ' . ° Accounts totalling £473 6s 4d were passed for payment, the Secretary explaining that, owing to the meeting being rather earlier than usual, a largo number of accounts and wages would have to be paid by the end of the month, and th© chairman and secretary were authorised to attend to these.

It was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee at Waipiata on Wednesday, September 28. Before adjournment, Mr Ritchie, as cna of the original members of th© committee, took tho opportunity to present the Rev. T. Wilson Potts, formerly the South Canterbury Board’s .representative on the committee, and now stationed at Waikouaiti, with a framed photograph of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, and, in doing so, referred to the fine work Mr Potts had done on behalf of the sick and suffering who required treatment in the institution. The Chairman and Mr Fraser (Oamaru) endorsed these remarks, and Mr Potts returned his sincere thanks for the sentiments expressed and the kindly action of the committee in presenting him with tins memento of his association with the work of the Waipiata Sanatorium. Mr Potts also expressed his appreciation of the harmonious relations that had always existed between the representatives of the eight associated hospital boards and the splendid work that had been don© in the curative treatment of the patients admitted to the institution. He looked forward with anticipation to the tima when, on account of the fine climate at Waipiata, the sanatorium there would ba the recognised institution for the treatment of tuberculosis in the Dominion, and wished the present members of the committee continued success in the humanitarian work they are engaged in.