ANNUAL HOSPITAL MEETING.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 18, 4 July 1885, Page 2

ANNUAL HOSPITAL MEETING.

The Annual meeting of the Hospital subscribers was held last night in the Public School rooms. There were 14 present—-The Ven. Archdeacon Williams (in the chair), and Messrs. Nolan, E. K. Brown, Adair, Matthewson, Bishop, McKay, Piesse, Agnew Brown, Feary, Finneran, Friar, Hall, and Dr. Innis.

The following Report was read and adopted:—

Your Committee, in submitting to the subscribers the Ninth Annual Report, have to acknowledge the very generous support which has been accorded them in the conduct ol their affairs of the Institution. Although there has been a considerable falling off in the subscriptions and donations received this year, as compared with the last, yet suffloient means have been provided to discharge all accounts which have been rendered up to the date of the last committee meeting, and to carry forward a credit balance of £5 15s lOd. The outstanding liabilities for the past month amount to £92 7s 4d, against which the sum of £ll7 2s is due as subsidy from the Government. Thus a clear credit of £35 10s 9d is shown, with which the new Committee can start operations for the ensuing year. From the Treasurer’s Report and Annual Balancesheet you will gain all the necessary information as to the details of receipts and expenditure. The number of patients admitted during the year was 112, of whom 88 were males and 24 females. This shows an increase of 46 admission as compared with the previous year. As compiled from the register the total duration of the 112 cases treated was 1960 days, being an average duration for each patient of 17J days. There were six deaths during the year; two resulting from pulmonary consumption, two from accident, one from dropsy, and one from typhoid fever. There were 21 typhoid fever cases treated during the year, as compared with eight in the preceding one. This increase should direct the attention of the incoming Committee to the necessity for having the fever ward finished in view of the probability of such another fever epidemic occurring in the district. It is suggested that a special appeal should be made for this object. With respect to the cost of maintenance your Committee have to report that considerable economy has been effected, and that notwithstanding the large increase in the number of patients, the general expenditure under nearly every head, has been reduced, and will bear favorable comparison with that of the previous ‘ year. It has been found necessary to engage the services of a night nrrse, which course has been approved of by the Inspector of Hospitals. This entails a slight extra charge, but more than a corresponding advantage is gained. Otherwise ths salaries remain as before. A great deal of the saving may be attributed to the fact of the recommendations made at last annual meeting in reference to the establishment of a kitchen garden and dairy in connection with the institution having been carried out. Vegetables, milk and butter are now altogether supplied from this source. It is also deserving of mention here that many improvements have been made in the grounds in the way of planting trees and shrubs. In March last Dr. Frank Innes was appointed medical officer for the term of office of the presnt Committee in the room of Dr. Pollen who obtained leave of absence. It is gratifying to state that Dr. Innes has ably performed his duties, and is at all times most attentive to the requirements of the patients. The services rendered by the Wardsman and Matron (Mr and Mrs Banfield) call for special remark. Your Cummitteo being of opinion that they have been unremitting in their work, and have shewn a thorough knowledge of the routine of the internal management of the hospital. As a mark of their recognition the Committee at their last meeting accorded them an unanimous vote of thanks.

A subject for discussion at this time is suggested by a letter written by the Hon. Randall Johnson (published in the Herald) directing attention to the inequality of the assistance given to the hospitals in the different districts of the Colony, and setting forth substantial reasons why this district should be placed on the most favorable footing in respect to the Government subsidy. It is desirable that some resolution on this subject be passed at this meeting. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, now before the House, will, ifpassod, require under its provisions that each existing hospital and bodies administering them shall elect before the 15th November next whether or not they propose to petition the Governor for the incorporation of such institution. The petition must have the signatures of 100 persons willing to contribute in yearly sums of not less than 5s each, an amount of not less than £lOO. As this work will devolve on the new Committee it may not be too premature to have an expression of opinion now, as to whether it is desirable that the Gisborne Hospital shoqld be ineornorated under the Act.

In conclusion your Committee trust that the support extended to this useful local institution in the future, may, as in the past, be in proposition to its needs, whether conducted under existing arrangements or any system introduced by the Legislature. Hv. McKay, Hon. Sec. G. Matmbwson, Chairman. Gisborne, July 3rd, 1885. The following committee was elected for the ensuing year-Messrs. Agnew Brown, C. Grey, Nolan, E. K. Brown, J. Booth, Adair and McKay. Mr. Piesse was re-elected auditor, and Dr. Pollen Medical Officer.