SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

West Coast Times, Issue 2908, 30 July 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

A special meeting of the Hospital Committee was held last evening. There were present — Messrs Fowler (President), Meyer, Fisher, Walker, Lin&trom, Milburn, King, Upjohn, and Liston. The following report was read :— Your Committee beg most respectfully to report that the usual fortnightly meetings have been held, and the following is a list of the attendance of members. Twentysix general and eight special meetings have been held: — Messrs Upjohn, 33; Fowler, 31 ; Walker, 31 : Fisher, 31 ; Heinz, 29 ; Meyer, 26 ; Milburn, 25 ; Stonebridge, 23 ; Skone, 17, resigned llth February; Liston, 16; Cross, 16; King. 8, elected llth February ; South, 6 ; Lyons, 11. The House Committee have been unremitting in their visits of inspection, and from their reports from time to time your Committee are satisfied that the internal affairs of the institution are managed in a most satisfactory manner, and from enquiries made of the inmates every kindness has been shewn to the patients by the officers of the staff. The committee would observe there has been a large number of cases treated, tihough that number is under the aggregate number in any half-yearly period during recent years. It may be assumed, therefore, notwithstanding the very wefc weather, that generally the health of the community has been fair and ahove the average, with the absence of any epidemic. For the numbers treated both as in-door and outdoor patients, the committee beg to refer to the annexed medical report. For the details of medical transactions the Committee also beg to refer to the medical report. Tho?e interested in fch« enn^e of aaffering humanity may derive a knowledge of the very great amount of work the institution has performed, and of pain assuaged, 'suffering relieved, health restored, and a host of other good deeds accomplished by its means. Your committee have also to report that Dr Featherstonhaugh, through the serious state of his health, was compelled to tender his resignation as medical officer of the institution. Regarding the financial position of the hospital, your committee have much pleasure in stating that the Government fulfilled their promise, and paid over as a grant to your committee, the sum of £1100, which has enabled them to reduce the heavy debt owing by districts at the 31st December, which debt amounted to £1338 13s Bd, and at the end of tbe present year, viz., 30th June, the total indebtedness of districts is only £76 4s 5d ; a most satisfactory state of affairs. Your committee would also beg to state that a considerable reduction in the cost of I management has been made this half-year as compared with the half-year ending 31st December. The cost of the half-year ending December was £1979 3s lOd, and the cost of the half-year ending 30th June is £1628 9s 7d, being a reduction of £350 14s 3d. And your committee are in hopes that by a strict supervision, at tbe ' same time keeping in view the efficient working of the institution, a further saving can be effected. The public subscriptions, donations, etc., for the past half-year have been £491 4s 4d ; and your committee .beg to state that, the above amount will have to be considerably augmented, to keep pace with previous corresponding half-years. Your committee would, therefore, urge on the public to subscribe, so as to enable them to say that the public have done their part. The Government is prepared to act up to their proposals, and, which .proposals your committee consider fair and equitable, viz., £1 for £1 of subscriptions and income irom all sources. Your committee regret to state that the County and Borough Councils have not seen their way to subsidise the institution in the manner proposed by the Government in their circular. Your committee are convinced that had the County and Borough Councils acceded to the

request of the Government, the institution would have been putu t on a substantial footing, which it has not been for years. The committee in conclusion, beg to offer their beat thanks to all who have contributed to aid them in conducting this excellent institution during the half-year now past, and to solicit the continuance of their good services by all means in their power for the promotion of its success and prosperity in the future. The very important benefits which the County and Borough derive from the institution, should incite every charitable and benevolent inhabitant thereof, to strive that such benefits be continued and secured, for the sake of the sick and destitute amongst them. The committee therefore express the hope that full and adequate means may be spontaneously provided year by year/ so as to enable your committee iv the management of the hospital for the time being, to dispense its blessings to all the destitute and sufferiug who need its aid. The committee have much pleasure in expressing their approval of: the able -erviceß rendered to the institution by the medical officers, and also the clergy, who have paid their usual visits. Some discussion took place relative to a portion of the report in which it was stated that a great saving had been effected in the past quarter on the previous one. Mr Walker showed that this saving had been apparently effected, because expenses of removal of patients, of extra furniture, and of a steam boiler, had been incurred during the previous quarter. An alteration in this respect was agreed to. A discussion took place relative to the mode in which the future funds to carry on the hospital were to be obtained, but the President was eventually requested to communicate with the Government, and report to the next weekly meeting. The report was then ordered to be printed and presented to subscribers. The Bnancial statement for the last half year was received, but the only essential alteration in it was that the grant of €1100 given by the Government, and set down to " Maintenance," should be altered to a promise made by the Atkinson administration, and endorsed by Sir George Grey and other Ministers on their visit, as having been fulfilled by placing it as a rebate for benevolent purposes. Some farther discussion on the financial statement took place, atter which the Committee adjourned till Monday next.