THAMES GOLDFIELD HOSPITAL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2061, 3 June 1875, Page 3

THAMES GOLDFIELD HOSPITAL.

Thb usual monthly meeting- of the committee of the hospital was lield yesterday afternoon in the Salutation Hotel, Marystreet. Present—Mr Eowo (in the chair), Bev J. Lush, Eev J. Hill, RevJ, Crump, Messrs Hudson, Brown, Frater, iTcnnan, Gudgeon, Mcllhoue, ■ Sims, Bagnall, Davies, McCullough, Comer, C, Hill, H. Adams, Benney, Dewar, Macnab, Eenshaw, J. Johns,. Minutes.—The minutes of tho previous meeting were road and approved of. Eepoet of House Committee.—The report of tho House Committeo was read, as- follows" Your committee

have to report that k accordance to instructions the dark or eye ward of the hospital was papered and varnished under the superintendence of' Mr Mollis, and it has been done to tho satisfaction of your committee. A list of instruments-required for the usoof tho hospital has been furnished by the surgeon, but your committee deemed it advisable to refer the matter to your consideration. The warders during tho moatli, through sickness, were unable to attend to their duties, and two other persons were engaged until such time as they could take their places again. Accounts to the amount of £91145, and wages £5(1 9s 7d, are recommended for payment. An amount also of £6, wages for attendance at the measles hospital, not rendered last month, i 3 also recommended for payment. l?irewocd will be required within the next month,"—A letter was also read from Mr Hollis stating that tho ophthalmic ward had been completed to his satisfaction, and he

thought the plan adopted had been successful.—The House Committee's report was received and adopted.

Teeastjbeb's IIEPORT.-Mr Eengkaw then read the report of the hon. treasurer

for the month ending 31st May as fol-lows:-To bank balance, £205 8s 3d; cash balance, £12 ss«Gd; subscription account, £16 14s 6d; donation account, £1; patients' charges, £10 13s Id—total, £246 Is 4d. By salaries, £52 15s 4d; maintenance, £52 4s 3d; building and repairs, 9s; funerals, £2 3s 6d; printing and advertising, £1 17s; medical comforts, £1 16s 8d; commission, £2 lis; miscellaneous, 4s; measles hospital, £5 ss; bank balance, £120 is 7d; cash balance, £6145—£246 Is 4d. Liabilities —Salaries, £54 9 a 7d; general account, £9114s 3d; measles hospital wages, £6. Assets—Bank balance, £120 14s; cash ditto, £6 14s; Provincial Government account (two months),■ £166 13s 4i— £294 Is 4d; less liabilities, £152 3s lOd —£14117s Gd.—lfc was agreed to recoivo the report, and that the accouuts should be paid. t . House Stjegeoh's Eepobt.—The following report was read from tho House burgeon" Tho state of the Thames Hospital during tho past month has been as follows:—.Remaining in hospital, 30th April, 20; admitted from May Ito 31st, 30; discharged, 23; died, 2; remaining in hospital, 25; daily avorage of sick, 26j; number of out-patienfs treated, 85.

One death occurred from fever, and one from hepatic disease. Tho average number admitted is the largest since Juhe, 1872, and when I state that wo havo treated a large number of severe cases,

including ten of fever of a low type, many of which have been sent from tho distant

out-districts, it follows as a couscquenca that the resources of tho institution havo been heavily taxed to meet the extra work involved. From this cause, I regret to say, both tho wardsraca havo been compelled for somo days to relinquish their duties through illness, I have thus found it necessary to engage the services of extra wardsmen, who havo performed their duties to my satisfaction. The work finished in the eye ward, by order of tho

committee, seems to be woll calculated to' meet the necessities of tho case, and I consider its immediate extension to the rest of tho wards as being urgently called for. The instruments belonging to the hospital I have carefully revised and arranged, furnishing, moreover, a list (with prices attached) to the House Committee of such new instruments or appliances as I consider necessary for hospital use; and I have also indicated what repairs aro required for those in in stock. A list of drugs has also been prepared for fresh stock, to form an order from Messrs Burgoyne and Company."— A list of instruments and drugs required was read.—Mr McCullough .stated that the doctor informed them that tliey- had previously had to use instruments belonging to private parties, but he had a caso which he could let them have for £5; —Eev Y. Lush said ho would recommend that a case be ordered, which would cost £12 12s.—Mr Bagnall proposed that tho report be adopted, and that flio Secretary be authorised to order the ease of instrumenta.—This was seconded by Mr Sims, ■and agreed to,—Some discussion took place as to whether they should send home for tho drugs required, or to get them from the wholesale firms in AucklandAMr K'ennan moved, and Mr Mcllhone seconded, that tho instruments and drugs should be procured from England.

Thkdehs for Supplies,—Tho committee then proceeded to consider tho tenders which had been sent in. Tho first-class was for groceries, for which tho following had tendered: —J*. E. Hansen, B, French, W. Deeble, Hcwin Bros., P, Norbury, A. Balcke, Mr Davies did nob see how tho committee could como to a decision if no samples were sent in. Thero was a great difference in tho tea, soap, &e. Ho thought samplos of some of the classes of goods should ba before tho committco. Tho highest tondercrs might let thom' havo the cheapest articles. Thero was a great deal of difference in groceries, and yet none of them could be condemned. —Bev J. Crump said tho whole matter rested with the'grocer and those iu the hospital,—Mr McCullongh proposed that Mr Balcke's tender be received.—Mr Eenshaw proposed that Mr Deeble's tender bo accepted.—Mr Sims proposed that Mr French's tender bo accepted. He was a conscientious man, and ho bolieved would supply everthing of the best quality.—An examination was mado between the tenders of Mr Balcke and Mr Deeble, when it was decided that the former was the lowest, and it was therefore accepted.—There was only ono tender for butchers' meat, from G. Dalzicl, which was accepted.—For bread there wero tenders from James Forgie, and Bollerson and Son, both at 7d. Mr Forgie's tender was accepted.—For milk, thoro were two tenders givenThomas Williams, at 5d per quart, and from' William Hirk, .at per quart. The' tender of Mr Hirk was accepted.—The only tender for funerals was from Mr Grigg, the present contractor, which was accepted. Washing—There were tenders from Henry Snelgar and Mrs Lomas. Tho tender of Mrs Loma3 was accepted.

Elkction op House StruaEON.—There were three applications for the office of house surgeon, from Dr Fox, from Dr Lethbridge, andfrom DrPayne, aud imme-diately-on these applications being read, several members said they thought tho voting ought to be by ballot.—Mr Ben< shaw proposed that the election should be by opeu voting.—This vm seconded by Mr Kennan,—Mr Hudson proposed, and Mr Mcllhono seconded,'that the voting should be by ballot.—A vote was taken on this subject, when it was decided by 12 to 9 that the voting should be by ballot.-Mr Bagnall moved that the names should be taken down. He thought it was quite unheard of that they should proceed to an election of that kind by ballot.—Mr Mcllhono said ballot was now tho order of tho day.—The Chairman said it was quite right that the ballot should bo adopted. There was nothing in the rules to tho contrary.— Eev Y. Lush said the' practice of the committoe was all to the contrary.—Mr Bagnall said ho supposed the majority must rule, but it did not follow that the majority were right —The Chairman said Mr Bagnall was out of order, and had no right to. make such a remark, It was out of order to have any discussion after the matter was decided.—Mr Sims moved that Dr Letbbridge Bhould be appointed house surgeon for the cusui'tfg twelve months. He thought they wore sufficiently acquainted with Dr Lothbridgo as a gentleman, as a medical man, and as a surgeon, to make them feci that they could not better their position by electing any other person. lie had be£n connected with tho ho'spital for six years, and he believed ho was correct in staling that not a single complaint had been proved against him during that time. lie thought >that the hospital would suffer if they did not elect Dr Lethbridge, He would venture to assert that iaappointing DrLethbridge they would bo acting in -accordance with the opinions of tho, majority of the sub-scribers.--Mr C. Hill tho motion.—Mr Davies. supported the motion, remarking that he rose merely because it had-, beeu decided that on tliis subject the voto should be by ballot, and ho for one would deeire that the public should know for whom ho voted. He did not think that on a committee of. that nature they should vote in the dark. He did not know that Dr Lethbridge had done anything to disqualify him from the position which he had held.—Mr Kennan ' also supported the motion. Ho also would like tho public to know for whom he voted. Dr Lethbridge had dono nothing to disqualify him in their estimation.—Mr Brown said ho had supported the ballot. He intended to vote for Dr Fox. There might bo gentlemen who agreed with him, and did not care about reviving tho party spirit that ruled some timo ago. Dr Lethbridgo's friends had spoken as if they expected Some imputation on his character. They all kuow that the old committee had had a considerable amount of trouble and discussion about Dr Lethbridge's affair, and ho thought by voting for the ballot that that would not bo revived. Ho might also mention that on the committeo there were four men from ono mine and three from anothor. If it was a matter of right and wrong, no doubt thoy would voto independently, but as a matter of good feeling they were likely to voto together.—Kcv Y. Lush said that the gentlemen who had spoken before Mr Brown, had not alluded to any past circumstances in the committee, but as they did not approve of vote by ballot, they took the opportunity of slating for whom they were going to vote, lie did not wish to conceal who he was going to voto for, and would say that ho intended to voto for Dr Lethbridge.—Mr Kennan hoped that, in speaking of members connected with the same mine, Mr Brown did not mean to insinuate that there was any -disposition to bias those .coming from tho same mine.—Mr Mcllhono said that, as the matter had taken this shape, ho thought

it would bo best to submit the three names, and let each exercise his'own judgment. Dr Lethbridge's friends had apparently anticipated some opposition, which he thought was wholly unwarranted. They all 'knew that the public mind was much taken up a short lime ago with the proceedings of that committee, and no doubt these matters wero scarcely buried yet. Ho thought the less said upou thesubjccfc the better. The three gentlemen proposed were pretty well known.—Mr Comer said they had three candidates,' all known to the whole of them. He did not want to speak as to their abilities, lie. would proposo Dr Fox.—Mr Frater seconded this proposition.—Mr Bagnall asked if tho Secretary had taken down tho names in the division as to the use of the ballot in this eleetioii.—7 lio Ghairman said that ho would' take a division as to whether tho names should be taken down.—Several members thought- Mr Bagnall was entitled to have the names put down without a division.—Mr Macnab thought the names should not bo taken down.—Tho Chairman said ho would take a division on tho point of whether the namos should bo takon down, as moved by Mr Bagnall.—A division was then taken, when the Chairman declared it carried by nine to eight that the namos be takeii down.«»Bcv J. Hill said that tho motion was not unde'rftood when (bo Clmirmau put it.—Mr Dewar said he had not understood tho motion as put;—Tho Chairman' said ho would put it again, which was done with the result of reversing tho former decision. Tho following, however, was the division list: -For the ballot: Mcllhone, Hudson, Brown, Gudgeon, McCullough, Dewar, Rev Hill,- Johns, Frater, Comer, C. Hill, Macnab. Agahufc : Bagnall, Sims, Davies, lennan, Ecnshaw, Lush, Eenney, A dims, The ballot was then proceeded with, when there voted—For DrJUethbridge, 9 ; for Dr Fox, IB,—Tho Chairman declare'] that Dr Fox was duly elected, the duties to commcnce from tho Ist July,—Mr McCullough thought that the list of drugs and instruments should be submitted to Dr Fox for his opinion, —Tho Chairman said ho would bo sorry to lako a courso which would be subject to misinterpretation. Dispenser.—The only application for the office of dispenser was from Mr Aitken, who was rc-clected. Mr Honiss was re-elected secretary and collector, tliero being fio other applicant. Mr Macnab said it would bo in tho recollection of members that Mr Honiss -had for ono or two years got £10 for extra services, Mr Honiss had had a great deal of extra work the last year.—Mr Bagnall said if tho committee thought the salary was too low they ought to have advertised the salary as £40, and not £30. There was no use to advertise the salary as £30, and always pay £40. Besides, the £10 hadbeen given after the last annual meeting,'so that it was becoming a half-yearly vote.—Mr Mellhono said he believed tho practice of voting this annual £10 was entirely wrong.—Mr Kenshaw and Bev. Y. Lush supported tho motion. —Sev J. Hill supported the motion for tho granting of the £10. He admitted it was wrong as a principle, and ho would vote for it on the ground that the secretary had had a great deal of extra work. —The motion was carried.

House Committee,—Tho House Committee for next mouth ,were appointed Messrs Comer, Eenuan, Bev. Y. Lush, Hev. J. Crump.