HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12508, 8 April 1909, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

o. The monthly meeting of the abovo named Board was held last night, when there were present Messrs Baigent (chairman), Everett, Field, Grace, Bislev, Hoult, Maemahon, and Gill. * • , The Chairman said he was sorry to report that Mr Blomfield, the secretary, was ill. He had seen Mr H. V. Gully, who had kindly consented to talco tho minutes of the meeting. The Chairman reported that Dr Mason, the Chief Health Officer, could not come this month to consult with the Board, as was intended, respecting making some -provision for consumptives on leaving the annexe. He would , come on Wednesday, May sth. The Chairman said he had replied that .that date would be convenient. * The Board .endorsed the action of the. Chairman in so replying. Tho Chairman introduced his Worship the Mayor, who waited on the Board respecting a bed being provided at the Hospital which could be used by any stewardess who was sick, the bed being deemed a memorial _to Mrs Jacobs and Mrs Hope, who were stewardesses on the ill-fated steamer .Penguin. The ladies, whom he represented, had collected £40. which they w r ould hand over to the Board for that purpose. _ After some discussion it was decided that tlie Board could only accept the money as a gift, but the wishes of the donors would be borne in mind, and that the ladies be thanked for their gift. . Mr "Piper thanked the Board, and said ho would report the deoision to the ladies interested. - Mr Griffin, architect, attended as desired by -the Board, to explain the matter of supervision charged for in connection with the new Home. - In answer to questions, he stated tho Board authorised him to employ a clerk of works to : supervise the. concrete work at 12s per day. Tho concrete was put in in four batches, at intervals. If the supervisor- had been put off during an interval,- he would not have, come back to the job again. He mentioned to the secretary of the Board about the intervals occurring, and not hearing anything from the Board oh the matter he kept the man on. Mr Everett said tho charge for supervision was £91 4s, which represented 152 days' pay. which was a ridiculous nayment for supervising tho concrete work for a £4000 building. .-.-.- Mr Field said he had some recollection of it being reported that the concrete work was riot going on, and tho Board then decided to keep the clerk of works on, ...-.■ After some- further discussion -the matter was adjourned for a month, in the meantime the minute book .to be searched for any minute recorded bearing out Mr Field's recollection. Accounts were passed for payment for the Hospital amounting to -£281 13s Bd, and for the charitable aid £1203 18s Bd. Included in -the latter was" £1015, the last payment. to the contractor for the' new Home, the building- of which cost a total sum of £4060,. . ...•-■ An application ■ for a position on the nursing staff of the Hospital was filed for'future reference, there being no vacancy, at present. The report of the Master of the Old People's Home was read. Misconduct was reported on the part of two inmates, also that two persons had__been '.admitted into; the Home during the last month, .bringing the number of-inmates up- to '3s, It was resolved to institute a class at the Hospital for the nurses to receive insruction, under the Technical School, in cooking for invalids. It was resolved that Misses O'Brien and Wix be appointed probationers at the Hospital. After r considerable discussion it tho matter "of arrears duo to a.n old age pensioner, who had 'died' 'owing a considerable sum for Hospital fees, was left to Mr Gully to act for tho Board. '■ The Relieving Officer's report was adopted. It was resolved to sympathise with Mr Blomfield' in his sickness, and to appoint Mr Selby, under instructions from Mr Gully, to act -during Mr Blomfield's temporary absence. . The Relieving Officer applied for an increase v of salary.' .It was resolved to increasp that officer's salary Irom £64 to £80 per year. It was resolved, after- a division, on the casting vote of the chairman, to insure the now Home for £2000 in the Norwich Union, £1000 in the Royal, arid £1000 in the. North Queensland offices', and that the Chairman soe to effecting same- day.It was resolved to Jnvite tenders for the gravel 'necessary for; the grounds of tho new Homo. The Board decided to visit the new Homo at four'-'o'clock this afternoon. Some minor mattters were attended to. The Hospital return showed that, 22 patients wpre received during the-last -month, and 18 left, Of the : latter, 10 were cured, 5 relieved, and 3 died. ■' . ' i.The Board adjourned shortly 'after ten o'clock.'