TUAPEKA GOLDFIELDS HOSPITAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVI, Issue 979, 6 October 1883, Page 3

TUAPEKA GOLDFIELDS HOSPITAL.

The ordinary meeting of the Committee of Management of the Tuapeka Goldfields Hospital was held in the Council Chambers last evening;. The attendance was as follows : — Messrs Browne (President), Jno. Thompson (hon. Secretary), Fraer (hon. Treasurer), Walker, Tanton, Uren, Chalmers. Miller, Harrop, Michael, Jefifcry, and Morrison . The minutes of the preceding monthly meeting were read and approved of.

CORRESPONDENCE

The inward correspondence consisted of a letter fromMr John Findlay (Dunrobin), stating that he was unable to pay the amount he was indebted to the Hospital, but, if acceptable, he would forward a donation of £5. — Mr Harrop moved : "That the letter be referred to. the Finance Committee, to enquire into the circumstances, and, if deemed advisable, to accept Mr Findlay's offer. — Mr Thompson, in seconding the motion, said Mr Findlay had sustained a great loss in the destruction by tire of some of his stacks, and that he had not yet recovered from the effects of the accident that compelled him to become an inmate of the Hospital.— Motion agreed to, THB SURGEON'S RESIDENCE.

The following communication from Mr G. S. Cooper (of the Colonial Secretary's office, Wellington) was read and received : " Adverting to my letter of the 14th June, stating that the application of the Hospital Committee for a Bum" of money to be placed on the Estimates for the Surgeon's residence should be considered, I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to express his regret that there is not sufficient money at the disposal of the Government to enable them to give effect to the Committee's request."

THE TREASURER'S STATEMENT.

The financial statement submitted by the Treasurer showed that the receipts for the month amounted to £38 Is, including a donation of £10 from Court Havelock, A.0.F. ; £22 from the Tuapeka West Entertainment Committee ; and £6 Is from paying patients. The expenditure for the month amounted to £128 03 lid, which, added to a debit balance of £180 0a lid from the previous month, brought the indebtedness to date up to £273 0s 3 ld. The assets were set down at £312 12s 3d — amount of subsidy due by Government to the end of September.— The statement was received.

VISITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The following report was submitted by the Visiting Committee :—: —

We hare to rep art that we visited the Hospital frequently during the past month, and "were pleased to find affairs in connection therewith in a very s >tisfactory state. In accordance with a resolution passed at last meeting re reduction of staff, we waited upon the doctor, who informed us that he could not, under existing circumstances, recommend any reduction. His experience during his term of office had been that it was a very difficult matter to procure a night wardsman at a minute's notice, and even when obtainable, he could not always be relied upon, besides being inexperienced and requiring almost double the rate of wages at present paid. Under these circumstances,* your Committee considered it best to leave lha matter in the doctor's hands.

During the month,' I he Wardsman, with the aid of his assistant', has been busy whitewashiug the various wards. This will be a saving of about £10 to the institution— the amount ch>rg?d for the work on a former occasion. The spouting around the building and the water tanks have also been thoroughly cleansed.

The vegetable garden hue been planted with a selection of garden-seeds, and. the fljwer* beds have been well looked after.

The report, on the motion of Mr Fraer, seconded by Mr Harrop, was received and adopted.

xhr surgeon's report.

The report submitted by the Resident Surgeon showed that there were 16 patients in the Hospital at the beginning of September. The number admitted during that month was 15, and the number discharged 17.

ACCOUNTS.

The following accounts were, subject to being found correct, passed for payment : — Wm. M'Nickle (coal), £11 8s 6d ; A. Felachi (fish), 13a ; Mrs Dimmock (washing), £1 10s 6d ;G. Henry (night attendance), 10s ; A. D. Silk (bread), £2 7s lid; W. Draper (meat), £10 Is 6i ; R. "Nichols (milk). £3 Is ; Thos. Arthur (groceries), £19 23 lOd ; Peter Miller (splints), £1 5s ; A. Mitchell, £1 10s ; Mrs Geeves (nursing), £1 ; M. Fraer (drapery), £2 11s 8d ; J. Harrop (drugs), £16 ; T. Wilson (medical comforts), £1 Is ; Weatherall and Rowe, 7s.

GENJBKii BUSINESS.

Mr Fraer mentioned that some time ago the Secretary had communicated with the Tuapeka and Bruce County Councils, requesting a donation to the funds of the Hospital. The Bruce County Council intimated tha.t the matter would be dealt with at their next meeting. Since then two or three meetings had been held, but nothing forthcoming. He moved: "That the Secretary write to the Bruce County Couucil reminding them of their promise, and asking them to favorably consider the matter ; and that a deputation, consisting of the President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer, wait upon the Tuapeka County Council at its next meeting with regard to same matter." He (Mr Fraer) believed that a deputation would have more effect than sending a letter : if the matter were laid before the Council, he thought the deputation would meet with success. — Mr Harrop seconded the motion, hoping that the deputation would be successful. —The motion was carried.

Mr Jeffery said that since th© Yiaiting Committee's report had been sent in, the Resident Surgeon and Wardsman had informed him that the cocoauut matting required renewing, as in its present state it was dangerous, being worn through in many places ; and as there was a large quantity required, he thought it advisable to bring the matter before the Committee. There was also another matter which required investigating : he was informed that the cook was in the habit of disposing of the fat and getting the proceeds. He (the speaker) thought this should be prevented, otherwise it might lead to extravagance on the part of that official. — Mr Miller remarked that the matting was in a bid state of repair. — Mr Harrop moved : "That the Visiting Committee be empowered to deal with the matter re matting." — Seconded by Mr Tanton. — Carried.

Mr Jeffery moved: "That no Hos-pital-servant be allowed any perquisite accruing from the institution." —Mr Miller seconded the motion. The pernever intended for the cook. — Before putting the motion, the President remarked that, by allowing the cook to dispose of the perquisites of the kitchen, it had a tendency to make him extravagent.— The motion was carried.

It wan resolved that all accounts iv future be presented on the first day of the month, otherwise they will not be recognised until the following meeting.

Mr Morrison succeeded Mr Jeffrey as a member of the Visiting Committee. A vote of thanks to the President concluded the business.