TUAPEKA GOLDFIELDS HOSPITAL

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1142, 6 May 1885, Page 5

TUAPEKA GOLDFIELDS HOSPITAL

The monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of the above institution was held in the Council Chambers on Friday evening last. Present — Messrs ■fKffery (in the chair), Browne, Webb, Morrison, Chalmers, Dodds, Copland, and Craig. CORRESPONDENCE. After the ordinary routine business had been transacted, the following letters were received and dealt with :—: — From John C. Love (Secretary of the Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F.), enclosing cheque for £10. 10s to the Hospital, being a donation through the Lodge from the District Meeting, and requesting that Mr P. Miller's name be enrolled as a Life Governor of the institution. —Mr Chalmers moved, and Mr Dodds seconded — "That Mr Miller's name be recommended to the subscribers for enrolment as a Life Governor." — Carried. From Dr Withers, stating that Mrs Corrison had handed him, when Mr M'Gregor was ill, £2 from Mrs Barron, £1 11s donation from Mrs Hall, and £1 donation from Mrs Boltom ; and that Mrs Corrison Baw him hand the money, with a memorandum, to M'Gregor. — The Chairman said that the donations appeared in the books but not so the £2. — It was deemed unwise to prosecute M'Gregor, as it was stated that he had nothing. From Dr Withers in the following terms:— "ln Wednesday's issue of the Tuapeka Times, Mr G. F. 0. Browne is reported to have said 'that a man was brought in from an outside district some time ago, and the doctor was away on private practice at Waitahuna or elsewhere, and the man died. Such might not have been the case had the doctor been at the Hospital.' If Mr Browne is correctly reported, the charge is a most serious one, and in justice to myself, and in the interests of the Hospital, I must give it an unqualified denial. Mr Browne must have been misinformed, as no such occurrence could possibly take place without my knowledge, and my connection with the Hospital extends over a period of nearly ten years." — Mr Browne said the matter cropped up at the quarterly 1 meeting of subscribers, and as a subscriber he mentioned it. He was told such was the case. What he meant to imply was that Dr Withers should be on the premises. He had no desire whatever to cast a slur upon the doctor ; rather the reverse, for he intended the remarks as a compliment to the Resident Surgeon's skill and ability. — Mr Morrison said when he read the report, he concluded it was complimentary. He thought no reply was needed.— -The matter was allowed to drop.

VISITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Visiting Committee's report as follows was received :—: —

Your Committee, in submitting their report for the month of April, beg to state that they visited the institution on several occasion?, and were nleased with the way things are being carried on generally. Your Committee would recommend that any moneys remaining in the hands of the Treasurer on account of the new residence be utilised in asphalting or gravelling the back and front of the building, which should be done at once before the bad weather sets in. A fence will also be required to be erected at the went side of the building, between the residence and the outbuildings. No works of any great importance have been done during the month.

. Mr Browne explained that he was not aware that a Building Committee existed, and the Visiting Committee considered if there was any money in hand tbe improvements suggested were requisite. — Messrs Craig and Morrison stated that they proposed carrying out-,the improvements in the grounds as mentioned in the report. The BuildingCommitteehad also arranged with Mr Watson to finish off the grounds and make a drain, but the time had not arrived for the work to be proceeded with. They were quite agreeable to let the Visiting Committee take the work over, so long as the money was judiciously expended. Mr Chalmers remarked that the Visiting Committee did not wish to usurp the functions of the Building Committee. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were referred to 1 the Finance Committee : — G. Burnett, ss ; A. Briscoe and Co., £4 Is 9d ; " Lyttelton Times," 93 ; Insurance, £1 7s 6d ;£. Harrop, £6 193 lid ; Arbuckle, Robertson and Co., £19 Is 2d ; T. M'Kenzie, £11 0 a6d ;R. Nicholis, £3 18s 2d ;'T. Arthur, £13 9s 3d ; T. Wilson and Co., £1 16s 3d. treasurer's report. The Treasurer's report showed the receipts to be £97 19s 9d, and the accounts for the month £105 13t> Bd. The amount due the Bank was slated to be £96 4i 7d. — The report was received. AUTHORISED COIAEGTOBS 1 SUBSCRIPTION-LISTS. Mr Copland suggested that the subscrip-tion-list or moneys received by authorised collectors in and around the town be sent in quarterly instead of annually as at present. He intimated that it would be a great assistance to the finances of the institution if his recommendation were given effect to. — Mr Morrison considered the suggestion a most excellent one, and moved that it be given effect to, and that the Secretary intimate to the different collectors to send in moneys quarterly. — Mr Dodds seconded the motion, which was carried. — Mr Morrison asked if all the lists sent out were returned. — The Secretary said that out of about sixty sent out only about obe*tenth were returned. It was considered; advisable that all lists should be returned whether any moneys were collected, or not. "

Mr Dodds was appointed to take the place of Mr Pilling on the Visiting Committee. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.