WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 10

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The Waipiata Sanatorium" Committee met in Dunedin on Tuesday, October 26, there being present J. Matheson (chairman), Rev. T. W. Potts, Messrs A. Fraser, J. Cumming, J. Ritchie, J. Horrell, E. Morgan, vZ. Bryant, Dr Shore (Medical Officer of Health), and Hon. R. Scott. Leave of absence was granted to Mr F. W. Watt (Ashburton), Mr Bryant representing that board. The secretary was directed to accept the offer of the Palmerston North Hospital Board to sell to the committee a Tullis two-roller ironing machine, while the offer jof a Central Otago Dairy Co., to sell a ' 16 h.p. boiler was declined. | By mutual arrangement it was agreed that the associated boards would accept i liability for the maintenance of any of i their patients who after their discharge ; from Waipiata Sanatorium and while still resident in either the Maniototo or Vincent Hospital Districts had a recurrence of their i tubercular trouble within a period of two I years from their discharge, and this recommendation was adopted. The Medical Superintendent reported that on October 1 there were 36 males and 45 females in the institution, a total of 81, all of whom, with the exception of seven, whose condition was stationary, were either doing well or improving. He submitted his weather report for the month of September, and advised regarding his visits to Timaru, Ashburton, oamaru, Invercargill, Balclutha and Milton and the number of patients examined in these cen tres.—Adopted. The secretary submitted his usual bed state report showing that at date of meet- ; ing the following boards had patients in the institution: South Canterbury 25, Southland 27, Ashburton 14, Waitaki 8, South Otago 4, Maniototo 1, Vincent 2, and one private patient, a total of 82, and the three vacant beds were being filled by Ashburton, South Canterbury and South Otago Hospital Boards respectively. Five patiepts had been discharged since last meeting, four with the disease arrested, and one greatly improved with the disease quiescent. He also submitted a waiting list of 39 suitable patients who had been examined by Dr Kidd and recommended by him for admission. In connection with the hydro-electric scheme, Messrs Ritchie and Morgan reported that the plant had been running for the past month under automatic control. ’ They were, however, not satisfied with the condition of a portion of the pipe line which was still leaking very badly, and the secretary was directed to write to Mr Ellis, engineer, on the matter. They also reported what steps had been taken to further increase the storage of water at the committee’s dam. Messrs Adams Bros., solicitors, repoYted that the purchase by the Maniototo Board on behalf of the committee of Mr Frank Roberts’ property had been completed and registered, subject to some minor adjustments in connection with rates and rent. In this connection Mr Morgan reported what had been done with regard to getting a price for the renovation of the house and i the shifting of certain wooden buildings from the sanatorium to the site for the accommodation of farm hands, and the report w’as received, Mr Morgan being thanked for the trouble he had taken, and consideration held over until next meeting. I Mr Scott reported regarding an old account from the Maniototo Couhty Council for the supply of pipes, and road work done iin the time of the County Council’s late I engineer, and the recommendation of Mr Scott and Mr Morgan in the matter was agreed to, and the account to be paid. R. McNaught, farm manager, reported on the work of the farm for the month and submitted statement of the amount of mutton and milk supplied to the institution, and the purchase of farm requirements for the month.—Adopted. Mr J. L. Bruce, Agricultural Adviser to the Department, forwarded copy of the report he had submitted to the DirectorGeneral of Health on his recent visit to the sanatorium and the lines on which the com mittfee should carry out its future farming operations.—Received. The treasurer submitted a statement of the receipts and payments to date, and stated he had £648 *l3/9 on hand to pay . the month’s accounts. He also reported jon the increase of expenditure over the committee’s estimates, outlining the different items that had brought that about, ! and the report was adopted, the treasurer to 1 make arrangements with the bank re tem--1 porary accommodation pending the receipt of the board’s quarterly levy next month. Accounts and salaries stalling £1042 14/2 were passed for payment. On the motion of Messrs Ritchie and Potts, leave of absence was granted to ' Matron Wilson who at present is off duty owing to ill health. The secretary reported that as Mr Matheson, the committe’e’s chairman, had tendered his resignation as a member of the Southland Hospital Board, he was only a member of the committee until the Southland Board appointed his successor. Mr Matheson thanked the committee for the consideration and loyal support they had given him during his occupancy of the chair and expressed his regret that circumstances had arisen in connection with [ his own board which had made it necessary , for him to sever his connection therewith. He trusted that the Sanarorium Committee would still carry on as successfully the fine humanitarian work it had emb.arked in and stated his associations with the members of the committee during the past four j r ears had been of the most pleasant character. Mr Potts, in a few brief remarks, stated I that the members of the committee regret very much the circumstances that have arisen and have led up to Mr Matheson’s severance of his associations with the Waipiata Committee, and trust that the way might yet be opened up whereby the associated boards of the South Island and the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee might still have the benefit of his valuable services and advice. He moved, “That a letter be sent from the committee to the Southland Hospital Board indicating to that body the great loss that was falling upon the Waipaita Committee and trusting the difficulty that has arisen between Mr Matheson and the Southland Board might be solved in such a way as will enable the committee to have the benefit of Mr Matheson’s guidance and advice in connection with the administration of affairs connected with Waipiata Sanatorium.” This was seconded by Mr Ritchie and supported by every member of the committee, Mr Potts being asked to convey the resolution to the Southland Hospital Board. It was decided that the next meeting of the committee be held at Dunedin, on Tuesday, November 23.