Hospital Trustees.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 50, 6 May 1899, Page 4

Hospital Trustees.

O The adjourned meeting was held on Wednesday ; piescnt — Mes~,is Sinclan (chair), Haidie, Atwill, Petit, Nicol, Htudholuie, Henderson, Walker, Douglas, and Dr Barlay. The minutes of pre"\ ions meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Walker thanked the Board for the .sympathy and consideration shown himbelt and family in their bereave ment. Correspondence ■was lead as follows :—: — From Mr W. M. Hamilton, offering £20 in payment of bill for MS 7s lid, "medical tieatment, ineuired by the late A. Gunn. Deceased was only woith £52 at the time of his death. It was decided to accept the amount. From the secretary of the South Canterbuiy Hospital and Chantable Aid Board, stating that estimates had been passed, and the Boaid decided to gne .£l6O in ad\ ance, a cheque for Vv hich was enclosed. The Suigeon's report showed that 18 males and 10 females h.id been treated during the month, and 10 males and five females discharged, leading eight males and fi\e females under treatment. The matron's ropoit 'was read and approved. The visitors for the month reported e\er\ thing satisfactory, e\cept that the matron had not iecei\ed the nurses pa=s book, and also the notices for the ward. Mis Chapman had said eteiythrmj had been pleasant throughout the month. Dr Barclay said the matron had received the book, but had mislaid it and no entries had been made. The secretary Mas instructed to have the notices printed. The chairman said that the visitor's report should settle the whole trouble. Mr Hardie bi ought up his notice of motion, " That the Colonial Secretary be asked to appoint Dr Macgregor to hold a public enquiry at the hospital into the disagreement between the muses and the matron." Speaking to hi? motion, Mr Hardie -thought this the only way out ef the trouble. They could not hold an absolutely unbiassed enquiry themsehes, and it was better that an outside party should hold it. Mr Douglas said that after the report was furnished, instead of any satisfactory arrangement being arm ed at, it seemed as if matters were worse. There had been no satisfaction from top to bottom. When paople lived m a place lor a long time, and knew the people intimately, they could not help showing partiality when there was trouble biewmg. The members who constituted the committee ot enquiry were no doubt biassed one way or the other to a certain extent, and when the enquiry was over there seemed to be a regular ferment m the hospital. Neither side was satisfied, and to gne everyone fair treatment it was only right that an outside enquiry should bo held. In stating the result of the enquiry, great reflection had been cast on the nurses, and it practically ruined their characters for life. If they stayed in the hospital, from what they heard, they were not going to get a good time, and it they went they would never get another place. It was only right that they should be given an opportunity of clearing themselves altogether. Mr Walker could hardly agree with Mr Douglas that the committee appointed could not be impartial. He was ot opinion at the time and was still, that the committee v/as without bias. He thought the nurses were to blame themselves. They had every opportunity to bring forward evidence and if they failed to establish their charges the fault lay with themselves. He was fully convinced in his own mind that no good end would be served by holding a further enquiry. The Board selected a committee, had endorsed its report, and could do nothing more without casting a slur on the committee. Mr Petit had just said, as visitor for the month, that everything was going on satisfactorily, and the speaker thought the best thing was to let the whole matter drop and not disturb the present state of

peace. Mr Henderson said that the nurses had had an oppoitumtv of defending themselves and had declined to do so. If they were not satisfied as to the way the inqmn was conducted it was them that should ha\ c objected and taken steps to defend themselves. Mr Studholme had no objection to a public inquiry. The committee did its duty and could do no more in the light of the facts laid before it. The Boaid endoised the report at the time, but if another enquiry was held he himself thought no slur would be cast upon the committee. Mr Nicol thought the Boaid should manage the affairs of the institution and if there was peace after the inquiry it would be better to let things go. but there was not peace, only quietude. The speaker was m favour of getting Dr Macgregor as an unbiassed judge in the matter. The chairman said he had told Mrs Chap'imu that it would be better to hold a public enquiry. He thought Dr Macgregor should have ths thing sifted to the bottom. This was the wish of several of the committee, and on behalf the matron he would a ik them to carry the motion unanimously. Mr Henderson thought that if a committee was appointed to give a report it should be supported in that finding. If, however, the committee wanted a further enquny he would support them. Mr Walker also spoke in the same strain. Mr Harclie said that, in drawing up the motion, he had no intention of casting any slur on the committee. There was laid on the table an affidavit sworn by Mr J. T. Quinn that, hearing that Mr Dowser was to be called to give evidence at the enquiry, and that he was called by Air Sniclair, he (Mr Quinn) questioned Dowser on the matter on the Bth Feb. He admitted that he had been asked to give evidence, and on being pressed said that Mr Sinclair had asked him. Mr Douglas said this was somewhat contradictory. He had asked the chairman at last meeting it he had approached Dowser on the subject, and he had given a distinct negative. The chairman said he saw Dowser, and all he said to him was, " You are into it ; yoifare the man who is accused of cariymg the tales." Dowser asked for an oppoitumty to clear himself, and the chairman told him he could come down and give evidence. Nothing further was said on the subject. The motion was put and carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr Petit, seconded by MiHenderson, " That a committee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs Walker, Atwill, and the mover, be appointed to have plans and specifications drawn up and tenders called for next meeting for any work requiring to be done at the hospital, the same to be visitors."

" I understand, then," remaiked the lawyer, " that you absolutely refuse to accept the legacy bequeathed you by your wife's will ?" " That's ught," letumed Mi Henpeek. "This is the fiist chance I'\e ever had to oppose my wife's will, and I'm taking advantage ot it." Untamed camels are not the docile creatures they are taught to become after months ol breaking. In the wild state they are extremely vicious, and can. kick harder, higher, swifter, and oftener than a donkey. Five sons with their wives and six daughters with their husbands attended the tuneral of a man named Murray, at Wichita. Kansas. He was in his 84th year, and had 14 children, 60 graudchildren. 85 great-grand-children, and two great-great-grandchildren. MisShaip: "From what I hear of your husband, 1 should infer that he is a man of iron will." Mis Blunt : " You're light, he is, and pig-iron at that." Callahan (despondently) : Shure, and Oi've been leading a dog's loite ivei since Oi got married. Kenigan (thoughttully) : Peihaps yez wint to the wrong cleik, Callahan, an' got a dog license instid uv a mainage license.