HOSPITAL BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 43, 5 April 1895, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The regular meeting of the above Board took place on Wednesday last when there were present—Messrs Me Kenna (chair), Brown, Death Fisher, Gibbons, Paterson, Peat, Eiddell and Thurston. . , Minutes of former meeting read and confirmed. Correspondence dealt with. Surgeon’s report read and received. Statement of account shewed deficiency JE36 19s od. ■ . A vote of thanks to the Presbyterian Ixxiy was passed for their donation of £2 6s 4d, result of the “Hospital Sunday” collection. , , ~ The visiting committee had no report to make, and Messrs Adams, Paterson and Symes were elected visiting committee for current month. The Board then went into committee to consider the evidence taken before the sub-committee re charges against the steward, and on resuming, the following report was adopted unanimously: REPORT, To the Members of the Patea District Hospital Board. Gentlemen,Your committee having held an exhaustive enquiry into the circumstances attending the grave charges made against the conduct of the institution, and having heard the evidence of the following •witnesses, namely, Miss M. E. Butcher, Mefldame? Hughes and Edwards, Messrs H. Gwyatt and W. C. Cadle, and Dr Perkins (no other witnesses offering themselves for examination), are ini polled to the conclusion that it is imperatively necessary for the safeguarding of the institution, and for the confidence of the public therein, that the services of the present matron and steward be dispensed with at once. And your committee feels called upon to express its strong disapproval of the conduct of the .steward of the Hospital when before yoixr committee on the enquiry, it having been’ rude and overbearing. Your committee have been unable to discover* any impropriety on the part of any of the male patients in the Hospital »t any time; furthermore, it appears from the evidence oi the surgeon, and that of Miss‘Butcher, that the rule as to the matron not leaving the Hospital has not been strictly adhered fto. It is matter of regret that the steward and matron did not offer their evidence to your committee in defence of the reputation of the institution and the .conduct thereof. ! The evidence suggests neglect on the ;

part bf *ha matron in not being more watchful over the female patients. Albeit, your committee regrets having to dispense with the services of the matron ; necessarily the exigencies of the institution requiring a most vigilant and constant attention. Of the witnesses notified to attend, Mr and Mrs Richardson and Mr A. Riches did not tender their evidences, and your committee were unable to procure the .evidence of Mrs Cotton (now Mrs Santlind). . , lu conclusion, your committee feels called upon to acknowledge the services of Mr Hefner, for the ready assistance rendered by him, and for his valuable tirao given during l a long day taking down evidence, and otherwise, and would 1

suggest that a u some acknowledgement of'bis services a {ob of one guinea pp passed for him. r J A, McKenna, Chairman of Committee. John Paterson, G. Death. W. Brown. T. W. Fisher. Patea, 3rd April, 1895. Mr E. C. Homer thanked the committee for its consideration of him, but declined to receive the gratuity. Tenders for supplies were opened, and the following accepted: -Bread, W. Howiti ; meat, 33arre.clo«»g:h & Co.; milt, butter and eggs, T, Irwin; gyocet/ea, I, Kells; coal and wood, G. William?. Board then adjourned.