The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

Royal Alezandra Hospital, Rhyl. A Record Year. Bishop Edwards Gives a Word of Warning. THE .annual meeting of t'hf> suWriber« to the J'oyal Alexandra Hospital aIlli Children':? Con- valescent Home Rhyl, was held on Monday afternoon, in the Town Hall. The Bishop of St. Asaph presided, and he was supported by the Countess of Dundonald, Col. Mesham, Mr H. M. Hugh Jones, Mr S. Perks Mr V. H. Chambres, Major Williams-Wynn. Mr J. L. Muspratt, Rev Tlios. Lloyd (vicar of Rhyl), Rev. (). J. Davies (vicar of Prestatvn), Mr G. A. Taverner, Mr -T. H. Ellis, Di- A. EN-toii Lioi-d, IhHnghes Jones, Mr Green-treet, and a num- ber of ladies. The Annual Report. Mr H. M. Hugh Joiic-s presented the follow- ing report for 1905:— \e have again to report a record number of patienis, the number admitted in 1905 being 781, or 24 more than in 1904. Of these 145 were hospital cases, and a schedule of these is ap- pended: 636 were convalescents-, 53 have been in free cots. The following figures ,vill the localities from which the patients came:—Denbighshire, 60: Flintshire, 100; Carnarvonshire, 30: other Welsh comities, 18: Staffordshire. 148; Che- shire, 140; Shropshire. 97: Warwickshire, 56,: Lancashire, 43; other English counties, 87; Scotland, 1; Ireland, 1: total, 781. The statement of revenue account shows that the receipts and expenditure daring the year have almost exactly balanced each other, and the balance in hand at the end. £ 130 Is. 5d., is just a few shillings more than the balance on the 31st December, 1904. The annual subscriptions amount to £ 1,007 2s. 6d., that is £ 7 lis. 6d. more than last year. There are 46 new subscribers, and nine old subscribers have renewed their subscription, representing altogether the sum of E64 Is. On the other hand. 37 have ceased to subscribe, 9 have died, and there are 10 subscriptions as yet unpaid.' The working expenses show a decrease of £89 3s. Id. For 1904 they amounted to £3,901 9s, 4d., and for 1905 to £ 3,812 6s. 3d. The main saving has been in the cost of provisions, which is less be JE189 12s. 3d. than in 1904, and that notwithstanding an increase in the num- ber of patients. Under this head the commit- tee would venture to commend to friends of the hospital who have large gardens the appeal of the Lady Superintendent for vegetables and fruit. There has been an increase or 284 lis. 7d. in nurses' salaries and uniform, but this has been more than counterbalanced by an in- crease of £102 3s. 2d. in the receipts for nurses' services. The whole of the outside woodwork and ironwork in the ward block was painted last autumn, and this accounts for an increase of J652 in the item for repairs. The outside painting of the Westminster Block will have to be done this year. There has been an increase of £55 Is. 5d. for heating and lighting. £10 of this being for fuel and the remainder for repairs and renewals and other necessary expenditure in connection with the plant. The plant at the engine house is in good orer, and has been kept up to its usual good standard throughout the year. For this the committee are deeply indebted to the con- stant supervision of Mr Storey. It is very gratifying to be able to report that the building debt has been-reduced during the past year by £ 1,812 17s. 5d. This has been mainly due to the generosity of our President, the Duke of Westminster, who headed a spe- cial subscription list for this purpose with a donation of El,ooo. In addition to this, the Hospital League, revived by Miss Vizard. raised JE203 17s. lid., through the kind efforts of many friends, amongst whom we are special- ly indebted to Mrs Sandford. It will be re- membered also that at the last annual meet- ing Mrs Williams Wynn made an offer of £ 50 to meet nine similar sums, and five of these sums have been either promised or subscribed. At the same time an offer of £100 was made on similar terms, but so far only two other sums of £ 100 have been forthcoming. The committee tender their warmest thanks to all who have contributed to the reduction of this building debt, and venture to 'hope that other friends will come forward with sums of B50 or £100 during the present year to wipe off the balance. It will be seen from the statement of the hon. treasurer, that the following bequests have been received:— £ 100 from the late Mrs J. P. Lewis, better known to many as Miss Annie Tumour, a life-long friend of the hospital; JS31 Os. 7d. under the will of the late Miss E. M. Lloyd Roberts, of Bodonwen, Rhyl; and EI,400 under the will of the late Mrs Nicholson, of Nithsdale, Rhyl, who bequeathed that sum for the endowment of two Memorial Free Cots. These cots are to be named the "B. J. Nicholson Cot" and the "Anne Nichol- son Cot," and the nomination of patients to occupy them is entrusted to the hospital au- thorities. A legacy of JE500 has also been left to the hospital by the late Mr John Eyton Williams, of Chester, which will be paid as soon as the estate can be realised. A desire being often expressed to perpetuate the memory of friends or relatives in the hospital by some memorial of a useful char- acter, the committee have designed a small memorial brass, which anyone who so wishes can have attached to a bed with a suitable in- scription, on contributing not less than 225 to the funds of the institution. A board has been put up in the entrance hall at the hospital, on which the names of bene- factors may from time to time be inscribed. The committee cannot conclude this report without their expressing their deep sense of the great loss which the hospital has sustained by the death of Sir Robert Cunliffe, who was one of the oldest and most valued members of the Managing Committee. Treasurer's Statement. The Honorary Treasurer's statement for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1905. was as follows:— A statement of receipts and expenditure for the Revenue Account from January 1st to December 31st, 1905. has been prepared and audited showing: Receipts, £ 5,492 5s. 9d.: ex- penditure, 93,962 4s. 4d.; balance in hand, £ 1,530 Is. 5d. This balance includes EI,400 received on the 30th December. 1905, from the executors of the late Mrs Anne Nicholson, of Nithsdale, Rhyl, who left that sum to endow two Memorial Cots, to be known as the "B. J. Nicholson Cot" and the "Anne Nicholson Cot," which has since been invested in the pinclnse of £ 1,586 6s. 4d. of Queensland Government 3 per cent. In- scribed Stock.. A legacy of Lloo was received from the execu- tors of the late Mrs J. 1' Lewis, and also a legacv of 231 Os. 7d. from the executors of the late Miss filoyd Rollerts. These sums have been placed to the credit of the Building Fund Account. The Building Fund Account shows an ad- verse balance due to the X. and S.W. Bank of EI,219 13s. 7d.; that is £1,812 17s. 5<1. less than it was twelve months ago. A list or the dona- tions by which this welcome reduction has been effected, headed by the Duke of Westminster's munificent donation of £ 1,000, appear in the report. A letter was received by the hon. secretary, dated 2nd November, 1905, from Messrs Jolliffe and Jolliffe, solicitor,s. Chester, to the effect that the late Mr John Eyton Williams, of Chester, has by his will "bequeathed to the trustees of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children at Rhyl a legacy of J3500 free of duty, and that such legacy will be paid as soon as the estate is realized." Two new life governors have qualified during the past year, viz., "J.W." and Mr Edward Thompson. Their donations have been invest- ed in the purchase of E162 Taff Vale Railway Co. 3 per cent. Debenture Stock at a cost of E149 l&s. Id. The amount of stocks now held by the trus- tees of the hospital for the endowment of free cots is £ 7,208 of London and North Western Railway 3 per cent. Debenture Stock, f,2,860 6s. 4d. of Queensland Government 3 per cent. Inscribed Stock, and JE399 lis. 9d. of Local Loans 3 per cent. 'Stock. The invested capital of the hospital in now represented by B500 of North British Railway 4per cent. Preference Stock, B50 5s. of Local Loans 3 per cent. Stock, and £ 333 of Taff Vale 3 per cent. Debenture Stock. The certificates for all these stocks are, with the exception of the last purchase, in my charge at the North and South Wales Bank, Rhyl, for safe custody. Important and Satisfactory. Col. Mesham moved the adoption 0: the re- port. He said he considered it an important and very satisfactory report, and it was grati- fying to note that while the number of patients had increased there was a reduction in the cost of the working expenses. They had still the building debt with them, but he hoped to see it reduced in the coming year as it had been 'in the past. He could only hope that it would soon be cleared off, and that they would be able to make a start with the new wing, which was much needed, and which would com- plete their magnificent building. At present, the hospital and convalescent cases were all treated in one building, which was a great 'in- convenience, especially when they had the plant and staff available for the larger building. He did not despair of living to see the hospital completed according to the designs of "the great architect, Mr W aterhouse." (Applause.) Major Williams-Wynn seconded, and en- dorsed what Col. Mesham had said respecting the new building. The Bishop's Warning. The Bishop of St. Asaph said he would like to say a few words before the report was adopted. He felt that his first remarks should be of entire and sad agreement with those of the secretary as to the loss the institution had sustained through the death of Sir Robert Cunliffe. He himself knew, as did all the members of the Management Committee, the deep interest S'ir Robert Cunliffe had taken in the welfare of that institution, which, as a leading member of the Management Committee, he had so much at heart. He was sure they would all join with him in expressing their deep sense of the loss they had sustained. He was there that afternoon taking the chair in the absence of the President (the Duke of Westminster), whose time, as they all knew, was very much occupied. He could say they were likely to find the Dnke following the noble example of his grandfather in showing such generous interest In that hospital. (Ap- plause.) The report to which they had just listened was an eminently satisfactory one. They had no doubt observed that the number of patients from Wales showed an increase of 35, whilst the number from England had de- creased by 11. The largest proportion in Wales came from the counties of Flint and Denbigh, but there was comparatively no difference in the number of patients coming from England, 573 being recorded, so that they had a claim on their English friends for support. Miss Vizard wished to thank those friends who had regu- larly sent supplies of garden produce, and she hoped that those gifts would be continued and increased during the year. In a household where tlier were from 100 to 150 inmates daily, the expense for garden produce was a serious item, and many persons had much produce which they could easily spare from their own gardens, that would materially reduce the ex- penses of the establishment if sent to Rhyl. There was another matter to wh'ich he wished to refer. It was the Rhyl Sick Nursing Fund, which was something like JB60 on the wrong side. The hospital supplied to Rhyl what was known in country places as a "parish nurse," and which cost those parishes something like E60 or E80 per annum: yet In Rhyl the total contributions last year were JE9 14s., half of which he believed was contributed by a friend who lived out of the town. He was sure the people of Rhyl, when they had the facts brought home to them, would see that matters were put right. Regarding the hospital sale, Mrs Storey and Mrs De Ranee had relieved Miss Vizard of that, but he was informed that those ladies were unable to take the matter up this year, and the committee hoped that they would be able to arrange for the sale as usual. Then again, there was an appeal for J6700 to clear off the deficit on the Building Fund. As to the question of finance, he would venture to make a remark of some general significance and not unimportant significance at the present time. He had been^looking through some figures bearing on h^pitals and infirmaries in North Wales, and he found that during the last sixty years no less a sum than £ 150,000 had been contributed to the building and maintain- ing of those -places. The greater bulk of that money came from Churchmen, and, it was natural, as a Churchman, that he should call attention to the fact.- It was a matter of thankfulness that Churchmen had been able to exercise such a general and generous assist- ance to public institutions. (Applause.) For example, such a place as the Bangor College, which was certainly not dominated by Church influence, has had a large proportion of. the sum required for the new college buildings contributed by Churchmen. (Applause.) He took that opportunity of emphasising the fact that the time may come when Churchmen would have to consider their duty in this mat- ter. (Hear, hear.) He was perfectly sure of the loyalty of Churchmen in the country, that if appealed to they would put their Church be- fore other objects. (Applause.) That fact should be kept in mind. At the present time the generosity of Churchmen was out of propor- tion to that of other denominations in Wales. He would not like to.see any limitations forced on that generosity, but they had to look facts in the face, and the time might come when they would have to support their own people. In the hospital, as in other like institutions, all denominations were received; the door was open to all, although the subscribers had been practically all Churchmen. It was a matter el for rejoicing over that they took such a deep interest in hospital work. (Applause.) Major Mesham, Major Williams-Wynn, Mr R. M. Hugh Jones, and the other members of the Management Committee had seen the hospital safely through the troubled waters, and it had reached a sound and solvent ground. (Ap- plause.) On the motion of Col. Mesham, seconded by Mr Cliambres, Mr Godfrey Fitzhugh. of Plas Tower,Wre-,h,ii-n,-wa, elected to fill the vacancy on the Management Committee caused through the death of Sir Robert Cunliffe. On the proposition of the Rev. 0. J. Davies, seconded by Mr Greenstreet, the officers and Management Committee were re-elected. Mr R. M. Hugh Jones remarked that the Bishop had referred to JE700 being required to clear off the debt on the Building Fund. By the report the figures were £ 1,200. but it was proposed to devote the B500 left by Mr E. Williams to that object, and so the sum of £ 700 was arrived at. Dr. Girdlestone's Resignation. Dr Eyton Lloyd referred to the resignation of Dr Girdlestone, and expressed-regret that after many years' service he found he could not continue to act, being away from Rhyl for a considerable portion of the year. In proposing a vote of thanks to him for his ser- vices, he expressed the hope that he would live to be among them for many years. Mr Perks seconded, and it was carried. Mr Perks also proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Vizard, Miss Anderson, and the other ladies associated with them. for the valued services they had rendered. Mr J. L. Muspratt seconded, and thi. was carried with applause. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Bishop for presiding. ■■■ ■»

Poor Law Administration. Dr Rhodes Notes Improvements. DR J M. RHODES gave an address on Poor Law topics at the Manchester Town Hall on Saturday afternoon. The occasion was a meeting of the members of the National Association of Workhouse Masters and Matrons, and the President of the Association, Mr J. F. Awbery, of Warrington, was in the chair. Dr Rhodes in his address said it was the habit to speak of Poor Law officials as if they had learnt nothing and forgotten nothing, but the vast majority of English people had no idea of the enormous progress made in the humanising of the Poor Laws. Certainly some members of the House of Com- mons, past and present, knew nothing of the matter indeed it would be gross flattery to say that some of them had even an elementary know- ledge of the subject. The problems that had to be solved were far more complex than most people imagined. There had been a growth of thrift iy this country, and he had very great doubt about disturbing existing legislation on the subject. In 1803 there were 1,040,000 people in receipt of parochial relief, or 12 per cent of the population in 1903 the number had fallen to 787,000, or less than one half when he was born. Now with 32 millions of population it was only 2 4 per cent ot the population. Not only had the indoor poor fallen, but the able-bodied too had been reduced. In 1849 the able-bodied were 229,999, or 13.2 per cent of the population, whereas in 1903 there were less than 103,000, or 3.1 per cent of the population. The Scorpions of the Past. But if the authorities to-day chastised the rate- payers with whips, in the past they chastised them with scorpions. In 1803 the cost of pauperism per head was 95 id in H)03 it was 7s 9d. Able-bodied 2 pauperism was going, and he hoped it would soon go altogether. In the past the state of. affairs was horrible. In an old book he had picked up recent- ly Jeremy Bentham had written that he had seen lunatics raving and felons rioting in the same" room in the worknouses 100 years ago. Then there were no infirmaries, no trained nurses, no system but the attorneys did well, for enormous sums were spent in the law of settlement and removal. In 1835 ^19°>000t was spent in this way. If there was one thing to which he objected it was the waste of public money on the law of settlement and removal. In the past there had been no classification, the old and young, sick and well, sane and insane were all herded together under deplorable conditions. Having quoted extensively from old Bluebooks, Dr. Rhodes said it was cus- tomary to work the children in workhouses 11 and 13 hours a day. He proceeded to condemn the boarding-out system of children. It was all right in theory, but those who knew the working of the system were alive to its grave defects. No system required so much watching as the boarding-out system. The Care of the Insane. Dr. Rhodes proceeded to deal with the improve- ments that had been effected in the Poor Law, particularly in such matters as the care of the in- sane, and said that to-day we could hardly reason that the asylums of the past were prisons such as to-day we would not use for the worst of felons. People then were not less humane than we are, but they were so ignorant that they thought it best to treat the insane as animals. He did not think the increase in lunacy to-day was due to a real in- crease in lunacy, but that the public had got more confidence in the administration of asylums and that they more readily sent their afflicted relatives to them for treatment. This from the State point was economical, and he contended very strongly that it was desirable to take care of the feeble- minded girls, so that they should not be preyed upon by scoundrels. The greatest improvement that had taken place in the Poor Laws was in the nursing of the sick poor, and the greatest pride he had was that he had done his full share of intro- ducing trained nurses into the workhouses of this country. With regard to the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws, he thought that that was a mis- take. He believed frankly it was a shelving Com- mission. A small Commission to deal with the treatment uf the able-bodied might have been ap- pointed, but anyhow he hoped the new Com- mission would consider the Local Government Board. He was a critic of the Local Government Board, and he believed that it was tied to too fast and hard rules. They wanted to give more dis- cretion to the Local Government Board and also to boards of guardians. Better classification was wanted, and they wanted to extend their area of operation by means of voluntary combination among unions, as had been done in Chorlton and Manchester. lie did not think old-age pensions would sweep away the workhouses, because the aged, sick, and friendless would always require attendance. (Applause.)

—— The death took place late on Saturday night of Mr J. P. Roberts, The Cliffe, Penrhyn- dendraeth, who formerly held the agency of the Tremadoc Estate, and was clerk to the Feetiniog Commissioners of Taxes. He was ex- ceedingly well read, and possessed a valuable library.

■ í Building Trade. -I SAMUEL BOND & SONS, Joiners, Builders, & Contractors, SHOP & OFFICE FITTERS, AND General Repairers of Property- GREENHOUSE MAKERS, MIDDLETON VILLA, Belgrave Road, COLWYN BAY. ESTIMATES FREE. 58r6 DAVIES & JONES, Builders and General Contractors, Shop and Office Fitters- HOPE BANK, COLWYU SA.Tr. ——— Nat. Tel. No. 50- All kinds of Building Materials Stocked. A large Assortment of Seasoned Timbers always on hand, Hardwood included. 7434 FUNERALS COMPLETELY FURNISHED. G. MARFELL, u General Furnishing, Builders' an Agricultural Ironmonger, ABERGELE ROAD. COLWYN BAY, NAT. TELEPHONE 2X. 7148 FISHING TACKLE, Guns, Rifles, Ammunition Tools, Cutlery and* Lawn Mowers. AGENT FOR THE JACKDAW BRANDS OF MOTOR OILS, Burning, Colza and High Speed Engine Oils. Special Prices for Casls Direct from Trorks. A LARGE STOCK OF WIRE NETTING, Extending Wood Trellis, Oils, Paints, Varnishes, &c. Brushes, Enamel Ware, Brass, Copper and Electro- Plated Goods /n Great Vaniety. REPAIRS OF ALL KINDS UNDERTAKEN. New & Up-to-Date Mail Carts & Bath Chairs on Hire ALL ORDERS PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO. HUGHES & BURROWS, AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MERCHANTS Manchester Honse and Warehouse, DENBIGH ST., LLANRWST. » GENERAL FURNISHING IRONMONGERS, PLUMBERS, 7414 GASFITTERS ct HOT WATER ENGINEERS. Nat. Tel. No 7. Telegrams: Sheffield, Rhyl. A. SHEFFIELD & SON, IRONMONGERS, PLUMBERS, Hot and Cold Water Fitters and Contractors*. BH YL, wl;, THE HERALD RANOB 13BOT IN TEIIJ MARKET I f I The Herald Range-Best in the Market We have fixed Hundreds of these justly Celebrated Ranges. A. S. & S. invite inspection of their LARGE AND VARIED STOCK OF- Ranges, Grates, Manltepieces, &c. All the Newest Design In Tile Registers Carved and Walnut Mantels Marble and Enamelled Ditto Tile Hearths Their New Tile Surround, with well fire, ia tha* Latest Thing for Drawing and Dining Rooms, ani cannot be obtained elsewhere. A visit to their spacious SHOW ROOM is an Education, and will repay intending purchasers to obtain our prices before placing their orders. HORTON'S ORIOINAL For For Fefell. BENEDICT PILLS-F ales. In a few days correct all irregularities and remove all obstructions; also cure Anaemia, and cause no • injury; to the married or single invaluable. By post, under cover, for lIl or 219, from G. D. Horton (late Chief Dispenser from Birmingham Lying in Hos- pital), Depl. 31, Aston Road North, Birmiagham bold over 40 years. SUPPLIED DIRECT ONLY SELDOM EVER FAILS. 1489-2 — iH8 JOHN LYNCH, PRACTICAL FRENCH POLISHER, 6, GRONANT STREET, RHYL. Builders' Orders in Town or Estimates Country promptly attended to. Free. In writing to pl«u« meaykun tlx "hOBMI."