HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 397, 7 November 1868, Page 3

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

A meeti og of the Hospital Committee was held last Thursday at the Court House, when -there were present, Dr. Giles (chair), Messrs O'Conor, Tyler, M'Farland, Field, and Munro, (hon. sec.) The minutes of the last meeting were read. Mr O'Couor moved that a portion of the recorded minutes referring to the late earthquake be expunged. The reference was only made in joke, and he did not think that it had any right to appear as had been written. Mr Munro thought that the secretary's duty was to take down minutes correctly, and it was not for him to say what members said in joke or otherwise. He gave it as a faithful account of what had passed. Mr Field certainly thought at the time that, the allusion to the earthquake was only a joke. Mr O'Conor ultimately moved, and Mr Field seconded, that the minutes be confirmed with the exception of the paragraph excepted to. Mr Munro defended the correctness of his minutes at some length, but the Committee ruled that the words in question be omitted, and the minutes were confirmed with that alteration.

Dr Giles, in reference to the bylaws, said that as one of the committee, he could not report that they had been completed. They had however met, and had made some progress. By the next meeting he hoped to be in a position to lay them hefore the Committee. In reference to shelving, and other additions in the new hospital, some conversation occurred,which terminated in Dr Giles saying that Mr Lowe had furnished a list of what was needed, and these would be supplied. Mr Tyler brought up the medical officers' report to the 28th ult., by which it appeared that on the preceding week there had been four patients in the Hospital; two had been admitted, and two discharged. On the above date, five were remaining. Since then there had been one discharged and two admitted, and there were, six in the Hospital, none of whom were paying patients. Enquiries had been made, and none of those at present receiving relief had any apparent means.

Mr o'Conor enquired as to the statements made in the paper in reference to the man Adams.

Mr Munro thought that they should not take any notice of what appeared in the papers. The proper course for any party aggrieved, would be to bring their complaint before the Managing Committee, who could then take cognisance of it.

Dr Griles did not agree in the general principle of not noticing things that appeared in the papers, in reference to hospital management. Things might be there stated which would do mischief to the institution, and if such were stated it was the duty of the Committee to enquire into their truth. Mr O'Conor remarked that the letter in question had created a good deal of bad feeling, and he had hoped that the Visiting Committee would have been able to offer some explanation.

Mr Muuro said that a gentleman in possession of all the facts this case, Mr M'Farlane, of the Caledonian Lead, had undertaken to write oil particulars for the information of the Committee, and he had expected to receive this before the meeting. Mr Tyler pointed out that a great many subscribers were under the impression that by payment of £1 Is they were entitled to admission, whether able to pay for treatment or otherwise. This impression, it was stated, was based on representations made by the late Provisional Committee, though he did not know whether this was correct or not.

Dr GHles remarked, if such wore the case, the Hospital would be placed in the position of a benefit society. A rather long discussion arose on this point, and on Adams' case generally. During this time a short note was brought in from Dr Thorpe, which said that what was stated in reference to Adams was a gross mis-statement. Eventually it was arranged that word should be sent to Dr Thorpe that, pending further information, any steps in reference to the complaint of Adams had been deferred. Mr O'Conor suggested that in reference to the qualification for admission, and in order to show who were entitled to admission and who not, the first part of the rules should be published.

After some other discussion, on the motion of Mr Tyler, it was resolved that Mr Daly be requested to ask not more than five nor less than three gentlemen at Addison's Flat to act as a Local Committee.

A similar motion by Mr Tyler was carried, and Mr Macfarlane was to be requested to act in a similar manner at the Caledonian. Some small accounts were then passed. Amongst others was a telegraph account for 14s cost of telegraphing to Dunediu for bedsteads, and this gave rise to a rather angry argument. It was stated by Mr O'Conor that Mr Longbottom had told him that he could have supplied the same goods at the same money, and that he thought it unfair that money should be sent away under those circumstances. Mr Longbottom also said that some unpleasantness had arisen between himself and Dr Thorpe, and the latter had, in consequence, gone so far as to order the warder of the Hospital not to get anything from Mr Longbottom's place of business. This drew out a further and rather personal discussion, Mr Tyler accusing Mr O'Conor of seeking out grievances which were committed to his ears alone. Dr Giles drew attention to the fact that now he was the representative of the Provincial Government, and it was resolved that as he now became an ex qffleio member of the Committee, steps should be taken to elect some one else in his stead.

Mr O'Conor reported, in reference to the late ball, that his hopes were disappointed, though many of the Committee and numbers of townspeople subscribed handsomely. This was owing to the lukewarinness of some, and the downright opposition of others. He expressed his disappointment at the probable result of the ball not exceeding £2O to the funds, and concluded by saving that he had done all in his power to bring it to a different conclusion.

Mr Munro, in reference to Mr O'Conor's remarks defended the acticn he had taken, denied that he had offered any opposition, and in conclusion threw the whole blame of the ill effect of his remarks, as to its being " a pauper ball," on the morning paper that reported them. Mr Tyler congratulated Mr Munro on his denial of any opposition to the "ball, as he (Mr Tyler) had heard it stated by at least a dozen persons, that he (Mr Munro) had used all his influence to prevent persons from attending. He warmly defended Mr O'Cnnor for the part he had taken in the matter, and said, that if the most expensive ball possible had been given, it could not have been got up better than this one was. In conclusion, he denounced the conduct of the Westportians, in absenting themselves, remarking that it was a disgrace that so few attended, and that any one allowed private feeling to militate against the support of a charitable institution. Mr Munro gave further details of his endeavors to check the publication of his remarks in reference to the ball. Dr Giles read the Committee a lesson on the personalities that had been indulged in, and hoped the majority would support him in repressing them. Mr Field expressed his perfect accord with Dr Giles' ideas on this subject. Mr O'Conor reminded Mr Munro of special occasions, when the latter

had done all in his power to injure the ball, and concluded by resigning his position as a committee man, rather than, by inviting steadfast opposition and creating bickerings among the committee, causing injury to the hospital. The Chairman and several members of the Committee unsuccessfully attempted to dissuade him from this course, but he insisted and his resignation was recorded.

Mr Tyler, in well-deserved terms, moved a cordial vote of thanks to Mr O'Conor for his exertions both at the late ball and at other times in favor of th hospital, and regretted that personal feeling had led to his withdrawal from the Committee.

Mr M'Parland seconded|the resolution, which was carried unanimously, the Chairman also adding some complimentary expressions from himself personally. Mr O'Conor replied saying that the committee's thanks were due more to others. He specially mentioned some of the business men who had given £5 or £6 wortb of goods for the occasion, and the Odd-Eellows society who had given their patronage. Out of the whole number of thirty gentlemen present, twenty were OddFellows.

This concluded the business, and the Committee adjourned till Tuesday the 17th inst.