HAWERA PUBLIC HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1934, Page 10

HAWERA PUBLIC HOSPITAL

OFFICERS’ MONTHLY REPORTS. POSITION OF OPUNAKE NURSE. The monthly meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board was held yesterday. Those present were Messrs. J. S. McKay (chairman), F. Gillanders, I. J. Bridger, A. G. Larcom. A. L. Campbell, E. A. Washer, S. J. Bennett, W. G. Simpson, E. Gifford and C. Harrison (managing secretary) and Dr. J. Cairney (medical superintendent) . Dr. Cairney reported that the number of patients in hospital at April 30 was 62, 84 had been admitted during May, 96 had been discharged or had died and 50 remained in hospital at the end of May. The daily average of occupied beds was 51.8, compared with 60.6 for the same period last year, the daily average of patients to each of the nursing staff being 1.9. X-ray cases dealt with numbered 24 (hospital 11, private 13) and in the physio-therapeutic department there had been 12 new cases during the month and 23 still receiving treatment at the end of May. Out-patients attended during the month numbered 160, the number of treatments given numbering 545. The matron (Miss C. Hunter) reported that Sister Spence was on annual leave and that Nurses O’Shaugnessy and Larsen would be going on leave shortly. The engineer (Mr. M. Smith) reported that a good supply of steam for heating purposes was being maintained in the cold weather. Tests were still being made with electric water systems at the Old People’s Home. The master of the Old People’s Home (Mr. P. Rastall) reported that there were 19 men in the home. The Salvation Army and the Scottish Society gave concerts, the Rev. H. Whitby James papers, and Wanganui Collegiate School Old Boys, Whareroa Women’s Institute cakes and sandwiches. The Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt) wrote to the board regarding the upkeep of the services conducted from Opunake by Sister Jewiss, whose district covered 'the area from Warea to Mokoia. The Hawera and Taranaki boards were both being asked for a contribution of £5O. Mr. Simpson considered the money would be well spent. The sister was concerned with the care of Maori patients and her assistance was of value to the hospital. Mr. Bridger asked that the matter be deferred till next month as he had a scheme to be explained in connection with the Red Cross nurse. The board decided to do this and on the suggestion of Dr. Cairney, Dr. Watt will be invited to meet the board at its next meeting to discuss the matter. The Department of Health wrote approving of the board’s estimates of 193435 expenditure as folows: Maintenance levy £7128 18s 3d, maintenance subsidy at 17s 5d in the £ £6205 10s 7d, total £13,334 8s lOd. Capital levy £2093 19s 9d, capital subsidy £2093 19s 9d, total £4187 19s 6d. The rateable capital value was £9,936,951, the estimated expenditure on maintenance £19,029 Bs, estimated receipts £5694 19s 2d, leaving net estimated expenditure £13,334 8s lOd. The rate per £1 would be .172 d. Estimated capital expenditure was £4217 17s 7d, and estimated receipts £29 18s Id, leaving a net estimated expenditure of £4187 19s 6d. The rate of levy was .051 d. The total maintenance and capital levies were £9222 18s, the local rate per £1 on rateable capital levy .223 d and total subsidy payable £8299 10s 4d. The Stratford Hospital Board wrote asking if patients in the Hawera hospital could be treated by outside doctors if they wished, if outside doctors could perform any operation in the hospital, and if the medical superintendent was a full-time or part-time officer. A copy of Hawera rules and by-laws was also requested. The secretary’s reply was confirmed, advising that all cases in hospital were treated by a full-time staff, consisting of a medical superintendent and a resident physician. Local practitioners did not enter the hospital at any time except in an emergency or for anaesthetics when a hospital doctor was on leave. The system had been very satisfactory and although it might appear the medical services were rather expensive, there had been considerable saving in other directions. The chairman reported on the tuberculosis conference of Taranaki hospital boards’ representatives held at Hawera on May 28 to discuss the erection of annexes to deal with all Taranaki cases. Committees were re-elected as follows: Farm, Messrs. McKay, Washer, Larcom and Bennett; finance, Messrs. McKay, Gillanders, Washer and Campbell. WATER FOR HAWERA SCHOOLS. CHARGE FOR EXCESS QUANTITIES. Six schools in the Hawera borough area are to be granted a certain quantity of free water, the Hawera Borough Council decided last night on the recommendation of a special committee. Any excess will be charged at the rate of Is 3d per 1000 gallons. The committee went closely into the matter of water supply to the schools concerned, stated the report, and was concerned at the big wastage that was occurring. It was recommended that free watei’ be granted as follows: Main school 250,000 gallons, infant school 120,000 gallons, Tawhiti school 145,000 gallons, Turuturu school 85,000 gallons, Convent school 180,000 gallons, Technical High School 230,000 gallons. Any excess of these quantities should be charged at the rate of Is 3d per 10000 gallons. The council adopted the report and will instal meters at the Convent and Technical High schools. There was no desire on the part of the council to restrict the use of water in the schools, said the Mayor, Mr. J. E. Campbell. The whole idea was to prevent obvious waste. WRESTLING MATCH TO-MORROW. SHIKINA VERSUS DEAN DETTON. Fresh from his defeat of Rene Michot at New Plymouth on Saturday night, Oki Shikina, Japan, will wrestle Dean Detton, America, at the Hawera Opera House to-morrow night. The match is one for which both the Auckland and Wellington associations have been angling for some time and is likely to be an encounter equal to any that could be staged by any other two wrestlers in New Zealand at present. In addition it will be a perfect set-off to the Rugby ’ match between Wellington and Taranaki in the afternoon. Both men are considered to be among the best of the visiting matmen. Shikina, who wrestles in bare feet, has extraordinary ability in escaping from seemingly impossible holds, and he knows all the tricks of the game. Dean Detton is a ‘‘cagey bird,” j too. Some of his previous bouts in New, Zealand have been notable for the bewildering speed at -which he goes about his work. Selected amateurs will provide the early part of the night's enter- ’ tainment.