CHARITABLE AID AND HOSPITAL BOARD. .

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3212, 24 July 1878, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID AND HOSPITAL BOARD. .

This Board met last evening at the Hospital ; present — His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch (in the chair), his Worship the Mayor of Sydenham, Dr Turnbull, and Messrs Montgomery and J. E. Brown, and the Acting Secretary, Mr March. The Chairman read a letter from the Colonial Under-Secretary, as follows : — " I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of July 11, requesting to he informed whether the Government wish the Charitable Aid and Hospital Board to supervise the Lyttelton Orphanage, and in reply to state that the Government, having ascertained that by error in the transmission of telegrams the intentions of the Lyttelton Borough Council have been misunderstood, and as it now appears that the Council do not wish to take charge of fche Orphanage, the Government accept the offer of your Board with thanks. The Colonial Secretary desires mc at the same time to draw your attention to the Destitute Persons Act, 1877 (of which a copy is enclosed), and to say that he thinks a strict enforcement of its provisions would compel the relatives of destitute persons to contribute to their support, and thus materially reduce the expenditure from public funds. The police have been instructed to give every assistance to your Board in carrying out the provisions of the Act referred to." The Chairman said he had communicated with the authorities at Addington for prisoners to do the out door work in the ground of the Hospital, but it was found that the limited number of men employed would necessitate the dividing of the prison gang, to do. which they had not enough warders. ; ; - On fche suggestion of Mr Montgomery, '^ The Secretary said that he could arrange with Mr Armstrong of the Domain to have the -work done by recipients of charitable relief. The Secretary read the following report : — I have the honour to report that returns have been p epared in terms of resolution passed at the last meeting, showing the oinuunt due for maintenance in the Christchurch Hospital for year ending Dec. 31, 1877, aud lor the half year ending June 30, 1878:— The total amount due from patiunts in £ s. d. Uhristchurch Hospital for maintenance during the year 1877 was 3555 15 0 Ditt • ditto for half year ending June 30, 18,-S 160. 15 0 Total £5160 10 0 Creditor— By payments under guarantee, 1377 ... £'8 15 0 Ditto not guarantee.., 1877 ... 141 12 0 Dittouuderguaranf.ee, 1878 ... 31 10 Ditto Lot guaranteed. 1878 ... 46 17 0 By amount remitted 14 15 0 By u mount re''eive>l at the Hospital, 1877 aud 1878 ... 191 15 0 517 15 0 Balance £1612 15' 0 Of this balance a very Lirge proportion is without doubl bad. I have gone over the accounts, and consider that over £200j cannot be recovered; several of the patients have die;!, and many others are not in a position to pay the claim. I addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Hospital Staff in terms of resolution passed at the last meeting. I have not yet received »ny reply. In compliance wi'h th 9 wisl-iei of the Board, I proceeded to Ashburton yesterday, and I now lay on the table plans of t..e im__i<ration depot there. There is ample accommodation for the 21 men who are at present located at the Selwyn, and the building could be m-ide very comfortable for them. The day-room is 34ft hy 21ft Sin, and is furnished with the necessary tables, forms, etc. ; it has one largo fireplace. There aro two dormitories (or, strictly speaking, married people's comp rtments), each 60 by 18; these again are divided into _0 compartments, each 14ft by 7ft 3in, with a passage down the centre Sft 6in wide. Each compartment is quite large enough for two beds. The whole of the interior requires to be lime washed. lob aiued an estimate of the cost, and find it would be £30. The grounds surroundhnr the depot have an area of about three anres. It will be necessary to obtain some additional atretchera and more bedding. I would ask the authority of the Board to purchuse what is absolutely required. With respect to placing the building at the disposal of the Board, I sent the following telegram to the Under-Secretary for Immigrati'»n yesterday: —"The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board ar« anxious to obtain accommodation i'or 23 ..ged and infirm mcv now located at Selwyn. The building they at present occupy is in a most dilapidated condition. The Board wish to know if they <wi une tho Immigration Depot at Ashburton ftro teia. until suiable buildings are erected. I see no objection in giving the Board the use of the building for three mouths." I have received th ■-■ following reply : — " July 23, 187», Wellington. " Immigration Onicer, Christchurch. "Hospital and Charitable Aid B->nrd can have temponiry use of depot in terms o; your recommendation. " H. J. H. __.IOTT." I was instructed to make enquiries respecting a pifceof land, live acres in extent, iv the Burougu of Sydenham, and fronting Hamilton's ro.d. Thiland was purchased by the la-e Provinoial Government from Mr aeweil for a cattlo market, but it ha.

not been used for any purpose up to tbe present. The section is dry, and appears very suitable for buildint* purposes. lam molined, however, to think that the 10 acres reported on lost Saturday would be far more suitablo. I would strongly urge the necessity of tailing immediate steps to secure a convenient and suitable site for the erection of a benevolent institution. The contractor for bread has been informed, that his tender will expire at the end of tho present month. Fresh tenders have beoa invited. It appeared that there were about 12 old men in the Hospital, four at the Armagh street station, and two at Addington. Mr Montgomery was of opinion that the obtaining of the building at Ashburton shoidd not interfere with the building of a permanent asylum. In the discussion which ensued, other members concurred in this opinion. Mr J. E. Brown moved — " That tho Immigration Building at Ashburton, be temporarily used as a home for the aged and infirm persons who aro destitute, in terms of the consent given by the Minister of Immigration." Agreed to. Mr Pridgeon was called in, and was asked to say how many inmates of the Hospital were fit subjects for the home, and replied that thero were eight. Mr J. E. Brown moved—" That the building at Ashburton bo put in a proper state of repair, and that bedding and other necessaries be purchased." Tlie motion was agreed to, and it was further resolved to call lor supplies to the Home. Mr Montgomery moved — " That as there are now 38 aged and infirm persons who are depending for support solely on charitable aid, and as it is probable the number of such persons will be increased in proportion to the annual increase of the population in the district, the Board is of opinion that a home should be established on a permanent footing for the reception of aged and infirm persons who are now, or may become, destitute." Mr Brown seconded the motion, which was agreed to. It was resolved to inform the Government of the action being taken, and of the cost. The matter of securing a piece of land on which to erect a permanent home was then discu ffd. Mv Pridgeon read his report, which stated that the number of bottles of medicine supplied to outside patients of the Hospital averaged 2000 a year, and the average cost ir medicine about one shilling each. To the Asylum the number supplied was 400 ; to the Gaol, 150 ; to the Police, 50 ; to the Charitable Aid, 100. No estimate could be given for the Immigration Barracks. Selwyn Home, 50; Refuge, SU; Armagh street, 50. The number of bottles of medicine dispensed for the Hospital during tlie last twelve months was 10,950, and to other institutions 2550 — total, 13,800 bottles yearly, not including powders, pills, &c. In answer to Mr Montgomery, Mr Pridgron said that nothing was paid to the hospital for the medicine supplied to the other medical institutions. Mr Watt was then called- in, and gave a great deal of information in detail to the Board. The staff asked for longer time in bringing up their report in the matter of the appointment of a house surgeon. Time was granted. Tlie Board then adjourned.