The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-02-01 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL.

The annual meeting of the Committee and friends of
this Institution we, held on 'l.numi y la,t, when the
chair was taken by John Flom, ifoui., 3S. There
Were also present :—Albert Banks., Req., E. W.
Williams, Req. (Herringstcne), Col. Oldfield, Major
Williams, the Hon. and Rev. Spring-ltbis, Rev. T.
W. Knipe, Rev. G. L. Nash, Rev. H. F. Jonas, Mr.
Alfred Pope, Mr. R. Davis, Dr. Lugh, Mr. Galin,
Dr. Good, Dr. Hussey, Mr. Day, Mr. G. L. Nash, Mr.
J. F. Hodgee,Mr. H. W. Hodges, and Mr. T. S. Biggs.
Kr. FLOTIR having been proposed to the chair,
Mr. A. BANE= read the following report:

"The committee, in presenting their 40th report, feel it
incumbent upon them to express their special thankful-
ness to the Father of all Mercies for all the blessings
which, during that lengthened period, the hospital bee
iteelf received, and his boon permitted to confer; whilst
they would also acknowledge the grateful satisfaction that
this somewhat anxious year has been brought to • not
unsatisfactory does. It is true that the ordinary income
has been insuMeat to cover the expenditure by about
£lOO, and that the debt due to the treasurer has conse-
quently been increased to thet entrant; but the weekly
average of inpatients has ex..eteded that of last year by
more than four, having increased from 41} to 46} whilst,
through the generous donations of various friends, both
old end new, a sum of £BOO has been added to the capital.
The challenge, so kindly thrown down hut year by an
anonymous lady, to present .E5O towards wiping off the
debt, provided that nine others persons would meet it by
similar donations, was taken up only hy our noble and
honoured president and by Mr. R abort William; who each
gave CSO without conditiona Subsequently Mrs. Herbert
Williams has given 1,510 in memory of her hothead, so
long our valued treasurer. and one of the acknowledged
originators of the institution. A further donation of £lOO
has recently been made by Mr. George J. Ores in accord-
ance with the expressed wish of his late uncle. Rev. J. 11.,
Cress ; whilst • legacy of £lOl3 from that old and tried
friend, Kr. J. F. Hodges, and another of £7 from
the Rev. H. J. Fitzgerald, of Rest Lulworth, have
also been paid. The subecriptions have fallen short by
nearly 1.60, being £1,034 la 7d., against £1,093 6..; but
this deficiency his been more than compensated by a
most welcome increase in the congregational collections,
which have gradually risen from year to year since the
appointment of the Hospital iunday, and have this year
reached the highest point ever yet realised, being
£728 3s. 51., against £655 12s. last year. It will at once
be perceived what cordial thanks are ,clue to the kind
collectors, as well as the contributors, and bow entirely
impossible it would be to maintain the benefits of the
hospital at anything like their present amount but for
this most indispensable and gratifying source of income.
The increase in sundry articles of consum,tion may be
readily accounted for by the larger number of in-patients,
the only rather ineXPllcable Increase being in the
diapenaary, which has advanced from £251 lit. 31. to
£321 12s. 81., notwithstanding the fact that the number
of out-patients lase fallen from 70? to 637. and the casual
-sue hava etranzely been only 408 against 1,234 Certain
aud muon leratindiago which have arisen
between the physician and the boon, auraeon have
readied in the reeigocion of the latter; and the election
of his succeasor, at the govarnore are aware, is to take
place to-lay. Ae far as the committee are concerned,
they have always found him intelliaent and regular, and
slow in the perform an •0 of his duties, ~nd inanifestiug
unquaetienahle introit in the patieute and in the well.
being of the hospital. They, therefore, cordially wish
him success in his future sourer. The condition of the
hospital, as regards cleanliness and comfort, abundantly
testifies to the continual care and management of the
. . . . . .

matron. Within the last few days the charity has suffered
a severe loss, which it will ba most difficult to repair, In
tie death of their old and faithful clerk, Mr. John Brown.
Yew institutions, they loslieve, have ever possessed a more
valuable officer though some of his ditties were neces-
earcy not of • most popular character. Since his appoint-
ment, so long ago as the year 1847, he has constantly '
devoted his remarkable skill ni an accountant and unusual
habits to the service of the hermit il, and has very
largely contributed to the regularity of its affMrs and
general success. It is almost needless once more to
conclude this summary by inviting the beat thanks ed the
governors to the honorary medical stal! for their kind and
energetic labours during the past, as during many
nrevious year.. The subscriptions to the Chaplaincy
Fund, though very nearly sufficient to meet the year's
expenses, still leave It. debt to the treasurer remaining at
the sum of I:85 Ilk, in addition to the £559 16t. due to
him on the General Fond. It hat occurret to the coin-
mittsei that, seeing that, in these hard times, there is but
little hope of liquidating this debt by any economy in
management, or probable increase of contributions, it
might be advisable to diminish it considerably at least, if
not altogether to wipe it off, by selling out • portion of the
funded stock, which, together with the building of the
hospital, may perhaps be deemed a sufficient and not
unworthy evidence of the liberality of the present genera-
tion."
The adoption or the report was moved by Mr.
Barsze, and seconded by the Cliai anal!.