HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4341, 23 March 1882, Page 4

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Tho usual fortnightly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at 4 p.m. yesterday. The following were present : —Messrs H. Thomson (Chairman), J. G. Hawkes and E. 0. J. Stevens, tbe Mayors of Ohristchurch, Lyttelton and Sydenham, and Dr Prinß. A letter of anology was read from Dr Turnbull. PERSONAL In reference to a discussion which had taken place at last meeting, in which his name had' been mentioned, the Chairman explainedthat he had been appointed by name and not as Mayor of Christchurch four -years ago, at the same time that Messrs Montgomery; Evanß, Brown, and Dr Turnbull were nominated. It' was since then that the various Mayors had been appointed. HOSPITAI. COMSIITTEB. < ' The following was read :—" The Hospital Committee has the honour to report that during the fortnight ending March 18 twentythree patientß were admitted into the Hos-' pital, and twenty-five discharged, leaving, sixty-five patientß in the institution. During the same period four deaths occurred. For the corresponding period of lost year 80 patients were in the Hospital. With reference to the erection of a new kitchen and servants' hall, the Committee requested the HouseSurgeon and House-Steward to furnish them with a report pointing out any special reasons which exist for thiß expenditure. These reports are attached, and the Committee would recommend that application -.be made to the Government to have the work carried out." The reports from Dr Robinson and Mr Bell referred to in the report, both staled that the suggested improvements were- very necessary for the convenience of the Hospitol servants. Tho present kitchen arrangements were stated to be defective, and there was no diniog-room for the servants. Mr Hawkes considered that the Board should try and prevail on the Government to erect the proposed buildings, which he knew were greatly needed. They could then do i away with a number of old dilapidated buildings that wero a pest and eyesore about the Hospital. He had consulted with Mr Mountfort, who had prepared plans and estimated the cost of erection at about £1000. Mr Stevens proposed — " That the Colonial Secretary be written to, and the plans, estimates, and letters of the house surgeon and steward forwarded to him with a request that the Government would place on the Esti.mates the necessary amount for the erection of the building referred to." Dr Prhiß seconded the motion. He con- - sidered the building proposed would be a very desirable and necessary addition to the . Institution. The resolution was carried unanimously. A letter was read from the House Steward, stating tbat he had recently made an examination of the wood-work and walls of the Hospital, and found many portions in a decaying state. He recommended that the walls should be painted to . prevent further damage. The Hospital Committee endorsed tho-HoußO Steward's recommendation. Mr Hawkes considered that the painting recommended should be put in hand at once. He^ knew that the walls of the building had not been weather-proof during last-winter.

Tho -May or of Lyttelton t thought it would be advisable to obtain tho opinion of some experb before tho Board -sanctioned the work proposed. Painting might not remedy the defective-walla.

Mr Stevens proposed that application be made to the Government 40 -allow an officer of the Public Works Department ito inspect and report on the necessity of -repairing and painting the walls and wood-work of 'the Hospital, and also give an estimate of cost.

The Mayor of Sydenham -seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. The House Steward wrote -suggesting -that patent governors should be attached to the three principal gas meters in the Hospital. He was urged to make the suggestion, in view of the foet tbat the pressure of gas through the pipes in the neighbourhood of the Hoßpital would probably be excessive during the Exhibition period, and hence lead to an unnecessary -expenditure for gas. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Stevenß, that the recommendation be adopted. HOSPITAL BALL. A letter was read from the Hospital Destitute Patients' Relief Fund Committee, asking the co-operation and assistance of the Board in an endeavour to arrange for a fanoy l dress or calico ball during the period of tbe Exhibition, and suggesting that the Board give permission for a contribution box to the fuuds of the Committee to be placed at the lodgo entrance. It was resolved that the Board approve of the suggestion, and would give every assistance in their power. THB ORPEANAGB. A letter was read from the Education Department, Wellington, covering the Inspector General's report en tho Orphanago, as follows-; — " Accompanied by Mr March, Secretary to the Charitable Aid Board, I paid a visit to Lyttelton Orphanage on Febu 27. The state of tho institution with regard to cleanliness, order, discipline, diet, and clothing, appears to be Quito satisfactory, the only exception being that the efforts made during the year to exterminate insects -afesting the dormitories have been only partially successful. The arrangements for the instruction of the children are, in my opinion, very defective. The reading throughout the school is certainly much hotter than it was a year ago, and the boys' school in, I think, improved in most respects. But on the wholo the children — and especially the girls, are not making such good progress as thoy probably would if thoy were sent to the Lyttelton public school. The elder girls chow a lamentable ignorance of tho most elementary principles of arithmetic Power is wasted in maintaining two separate schools for boys and 'girls. The master of the institution teaches all the boys, assisted by a monitor, the assistant master (a former inmate) boing now too ill to work ; and a mistress teaches all the girls. Thoy could be better classified and more economically taugb,», if thoy were dnided according to attainments, instead of according to sex. But it would be still more to the

children's ■ advantage to send them to the public school, where they could be classified mere carefully, and would have the benefit of intercourse with ohildren not in the institution, at leaßt this course might be adopted with oil except those who ore too young, or too backward, to enter a class preparing for the first Standurd. - Perhaps .it would not be too much to expect the maßter to teach them up to the poiut at which they could enter such a class. No other teacher would then be noeded. I would recommend that ullwho wore bid enough to go out to 6chool should go, were it nob that overy child thus sent to school would, under the Education Act, cost the Kducation Department £3 15s a yoar. 'J he course that I propose would rot bo bo expensive, as probably not more than- 40 or 50 would be sent. Mr Rest-ell will shortly examine the school moro minutely than I did. I shall, however, be very much BWrprieed if his report does not disclose defects that would justify stronger terms than I have used.

" William Jambs Habens. " 21st Nov., 1881." At Mr Joke's' request, the Secretary read Mr Bestell's l*st report on tho Orphanage. After a short, discus sion, it was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor of Sydenham— ''That the two reports above-mentioned, together with Mr ReflteH'B letter, be roterred to the Orphanage Committee for consideration.' It wus reported that there was only one patient in the Akaroa Hospital and Lyttelton Casual Ward respectively. There were -32 inmates in the Ashburton Home.

After the transaction of some routine business, tho Board adjourned.