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4252. It was the bad management of the hospital that was in fault in that case ?—The management was changed, and strict attention paid afterwards to cleanliness. 4253. Mr. Chapman.] We have heard complaints against the waterclosets and so on : do you think that they are safe and satisfactory ?—-I think that they are perfectly safe. 4254. Notwithstanding that they do not comply with the ideal?— Yes, notwithstanding that they do not comply with the modern ideal. I remember there used to be an offensive smell from the clos*ets, but that has been remedied. I have been there for the last three or four years, but I have not felt any smell arising from them. The Hospital has been put into a much better condition than it was ten or twelve years ago. 4255. In what respect? The closets are better than they were?— Yes. Our closets are built on the same system as nearly every hospital in England, except those that have been recently erected, which have cross-ventilation. 4256. Do not the doors work the closets automatically ?—That is not practised here, and it is not practised in any of the old hospitals, but is the latest idea. 4257. Do you think it should be done?—lt is a very simple thing. If I were building a new hospital I should say I would have that done, but I do not think it is a matter of much importance. The double doors are an excellent thing, I consider. The closet-pans are thoroughly flushed. 4258. Would that be a possible improvement? — Yes; it would be a little improvement, and would not do any harm. 4259. And what about the baths ? —lt has been contended that they should not be open to the ward, but I do not see any harm that can arise from the present position of the baths, provided they are properly trapped. All the pipes connected with the baths, waterclosets, and basins should be properly trapped. 4260. Are they properly trapped to your knowledge ?—I do not know, but I think they are trapped. Then, as to the baths :it has been said it is a disadvantage to have them in the ward, as they cause a nuisance. I may say, in regard to that, that a recommendation was adopted in the Edinburgh Infirmary to have movable baths, so that you could use a bath alongside the bedside of a patient without having him carried out of the ward.' There is no objection to adopting that. 4261. Are you talking now of medical or surgical wards?—l am speaking of both. 4262. That would be an emergency bath, would it not ? —lt would not be advisable in some cases to move the patients. 4263. Why ?—For obvious reasons. Mr. White : One of these baths is in the Hospital now. It was recommended by Dr. Grabham. 4264. Mr. Chajmian.] Then, as to the floors, ceilings, and walls : what opinion have you on that subject?—l say that the Duuedin Hospital in this respect is exactly like most of the hospitals in London. 4265. Take the floors first?— They are the same as in the old hospitals at Home; for instance, Glasgow, and every London hospital I was in except St. Thomas's. The old Edinburgh Hospital had a common floor. 4266. The Chairman.'] Is that the Edinburgh Infirmary ?—Yes. 4267. You say they have the ordinary flooring?— Yes. Everyone acknowledges that, if the Hospital was to be rebuilt, its floors should be paraffin waxed. !c0aa?4268. Do you think it would be better if the present floors were waxed?— Decidedly; no one questions that. 4269. Would they be better if they were made impervious?—l should not consider it necessary to condemn a fine building because it did not comply with modern requirements. 4270. Mr. Chapman.} Then, as to the ceilings ? —The ceilings should be made impervious and glazed. 4271. And the walls ?—They should be made impervious in the same way. It would then be a far easier thing to keep them clean. At the same time, I hold, if they are properly washed, and sprinkled with carbolic acid as a disinfectant, there is no danger, in my opinion, of germs. 4272. Do these remarks apply to both surgical and medical wards?— Yes. 4273. On the subject of overcrowding, have you formed an opinion?—l have never seen anything to lead me to believe that the Dunedin Hospital was overcrowded. My belief was quite the opposite. We know what the atmosphere in a large city at Home is, and we also know what the atmosphere in Dunedin is, and I say that our Hospital can carry twice as many people as a hospital in London or Glasgow without being overcrowded. I do not for a moment admit that our Hospital is overcrowded. 4274. When were you at Home ? —I was at Home for four years, and returned to the colony three years ago. 4275. You visited several hospitals while you were at Home ?—Yes. I almost daily attended the London hospitals while I was there. 4276. Tell me what hospitals you saw ?—The Glasgow and Edinburgh, and, while I was in London, I saw the University, King's College, the Throat and Ear Hospital (Golden Square), Moorfields Eye Hospital, St. Bartholomew's, Guys, and the Samaritan. 4277. Comparing our hospitals with the London hospitals, what is your opinion ?—I thought that we had much the best of it in the height of the ceilings, the London hospitals being lower than ours; and it seemed to me, though I did not take any measurements, that their beds are closer than they are in our Hospital. My impression then was, and I told people at Home so, that in the Dunedin Hospital the wards are roomier than they are m the old hospitals in London. 4278. Mr. Solomon.] You were a member of the staff, were you not, when Dr. Lindo Ferguson's report was brought up ? —Yes.