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ton), who was a most energetic member of the Trust, assured me that he had collected over £1,000 for the purpose of putting up a nurses' home, and having a radical change in the existing nursing system. And I was perfectly satisfied that the change would be carried out. 3751. Did the question of the insanitary state of the Hospital ever come up before the medical staff?— Yes ; in regard to ventilation, and several other improvements. 3752. Can you show me any minute by the staff on the subject?—l do not remember exactly when it was; but I know that from time to time we were constantly making recommendations for improvements. 5753. The Chairman.] Were they made verbally or in writing?—-In writing. We made recommendations in regard to the several departments which we knew would, if carried out, have the effect of improving the whole sanitary condition of the institution. 3754. Can you show us any minute of the staff adopting these recommendations ? —They are to be found in the minute-book. 3755. Then, I understand you to say that such a thing as a wholesale condemnation of the Hospital as being in an insanitary condition did not proceed from the staff?— Most assuredly not. 3756. Can you point out to me anything definite proceeding from the staff to the Hospital Trustees indicating that, in their opinion, the Hospital was in an insanitary state ? —Yes. There is the report of a number of cases reported by Dr. Batchelor, and the recommendations of the medical staff after considering that report. 3757. That was last year, was it not? —Yes. 3758. But, prior to that, can you point to anything ?—Nothing further than the different improvements which we recommended should be made in the several departments of the institution. 5759. These improvements, I understand, were an alteration of the nursing system and the building of an operating-theatre ?—Yes; and the building of separate wards, which is a most essential thing, especially for lapirotomy cases. 3760. And. it was suggested, you having had your choice, that the operating-theatre should be built first ?—Most assuredly so. Previously to this we'had an operating-theatre with only one side window in it, and we were operating in the dark. 3861. And the staff decided to recommend that the operating-room should be proceeded with first. 3762. Mr. Solomon.'] In your opinion, as a duly-qualified professional man, is the Hospital in its present state in a sanitary or insanitary condition ?—I think no hospital that is built as the Dunedin Hospital is built can be kept in a perfectly sanitary state. 3763. I must have a more direct answer from you, if you please ?—lf a septic case occurs in one ward it is not possible to prevent it from spreading and so contaminating all the wards. It is impossible in a hospital built, like ours is, on the block system, to keep in in a good sanitary condition. 3764. I ask you, is the Dunedin Hospital at the present day in a sanitary or an insanitary condition ? —I should say that during the last two months it has not been in a sanitary condition, because we have had evidence that it is not so. We have had several cases of septicaemia and erysipelas, which proves that the Hospital is not in the sanitary condition it should be. 3765. I find that a report was sent in by the honorary medical staff, at the early part of last year, complaining of want of bed-space, imperfect ventilation, state of the bath-rooms, closets, and so on. Were the honorary staff unanimous in making that report ? —I think so. 3766. In your opinion, is there any difference in saying that the Hospital requires amendments in those respects and in saying it is in an insanitary condition ? Does it not really amount to the same thing?— Yes, I should say it does, to a certain extent. If the closets are not perfect, if the ventilation is defective, if there are faults with the lavatories, etc., and if the bed-space is deficient, the wonder would be how it could be in a satisfactory condition, because all that has been written on the subject of " hospitalism" by the very best authorities would be worth nothing. 3767. You agreed with that report, I suppose?— Yes. 3768. Was it signed by the members of the staff, or agreed to by them ?—I think it was agreed to by all those who were present at the meeting when it was brought up that it should be adopted and forwarded to the Trustees. 3769. Do you consider it safe to the inmates of the Hospital to allow things to remain as they now are?—l do not. 3770. Since that report, or list of complaints, have not the number of beds been reduced, and alterations made in the closets? —There may have been. 3771. The number of beds has been reduced, has it not, to the number asked for in that report? —I do not think so. 3772. Assuming that the number of beds has been reduced ? —I think it has been reduced to fifteen. But I should like to mention that there have been a great number of improvements made in the Hospital during the last ten years; in fact, it is something wonderful the improvements that have been made. 3773. Then, may we say that the improvements have been constantly progressing?— Yes, When I first went to the Hospital the whole of the foundations were in a sort of a swamp—there was quite 3ft. of mud—and the drains were put underneath the institution. Dr. Copland, sworn and examined. 3774. Mr. Chapman.] What is your name?— George Anderson Copland. 3775. You are the House Surgeon of the Dunedin Hospital? —Yes. 3776. Your qualifications ?—I am M.B. of the University of New Zealand. 3777- And you received your medical education in Dunedin? —Yes,