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4279. Were you a party to it ?—I cannot say that I was. 4280. I think you were present at the lueeting when it was passed?— That may be. Ido not recollect anything more than that he read a paper. 4281. But the minute says that you were present?—lt does not follow from that that I am a party to everything that is in the report. 4282. It says: "In conclusion," &c. [Report of medical staff read: Exhibit hi.] Was that the position which you took up ?—The position I was in was that I had already made my views known. The staff knew my views thoroughly. I was opposed to any large expenditure on the Hospital, and, knowing that there was a majority in favour of the report, I did not bring any motion forward, because we alv/ays go by the majority. If I had thought that my views were likely to have been carried, then I should have stood out, but, as it was, I did not consider it necessary even to enter my protest. 4283. Are you opposed to hospital reform ?—I am not. 4284. You are opposed to spending large sums of money on the present building?— Exactly. I made a proposal in 1883—I was the first to bring the matter forward—that we should go to the Trustees and ask them to make such improvements as were urgent, and to form the nucleus of a hospital fund, so that we could build a new hospital by-and-by. My view then was that if we led the Trustees into a large expense we should delay the time when we could get a modern hospital, and lam still of that opinion. I may say that I have forgotten all about the report. 4285. The Chairman .] Then, it is not true that the staff were unanimous in regard to that report ?—I knew what the majority of the staff would do in regard to it, and did not think it worth while to divide the staff on the point. 4286. Mr. Solomon.] One of the reforms recommended by the staff was a reduction of the number of beds to fifteen ?—I was not aware of it. That is the first I have heard of it. 4287. The Chairman.] I had better put it down that you were not aware of it?— Possibly I read it without it striking me. 4288. This resolution states that the report was the unanimous outcome of the deliberations of the staff. Now, you say that you were not a party to it, which, of course, breaks down the unanimity of the resolution. I must get that down clearly and distinctly?—l was not a party to the report. 4289. You only submitted to the majority, without knowing what was in the report ?—Exactly. 4290. Mr. Carew.] You did not agree with the report, and gave way to the majority?— Yes ; I allow many things to pass that I do not agree with. 4291. Did you not know what was in the report ?—I must have read it. 4292. We are to understand that you only gave in to the majority ?—Yes, as I have done in many other tilings. As an illustration of the positiou I have taken up, I may mention that when Dr. Lindo Ferguson brought up the suggestion that the medical staff should subscribe £100 for improvements, and the nurses' home, and for special wards, I said that I would not pay anything towards new improvements, but I agreed to it when I saw that it was the opinion of the majority of the staff. I did not approve of the proposed improvements, though I was quite willing to do my share if it had been decided to go in for a new building. I would not divide the staff on a mere monetary question. 4293. Mr. Solomon.] Is this the position you took up: " (1.) That the houorary medical staff regret that severe strictures reflecting upon the present condition of the Hospital have been made by one of their number, and herein affirm that the Hospital is now in a better condition in every respect than at any former time, and is deserving of the confidence and support of the community. (2.) The honorary medical staff consider that on the same occasion unwarrantable and disrespectful language was used to the Trustees, who have always shown themselves zealous in the interests of the institution, and capable of discharging their responsible duties. (3.) The honorary medical staff, while admitting that defects do exist in the ventilation, sanitation, and accommodation of the Hospital, deem it injudicious to attempt to remedy these defects in connection with the present building, and strongly recommend the Trustees to begin forming a fund for the purpose of building a new hospital, in which endeavour the honorary staff will cordially co-operate both by their substance and their influence." Were those resolutions moved by you? —Yes. 4294. You went on to say, as reported, " That the Dunedin Hospital, so far from being a disgrace in any respect, he considered had done splendid work in the community." These were your words, were they not ?—Yes; I think the same still. It is an admirably conducted Hospital, in my opinion, and does an immense amount of good. 4295. Were you present at the jjost-mortem on Mrs. S ?—Yes. 4296. Did you take any part in it ?—No, I was there only as an onlooker. 4297. Will you kindly state what jou consider her death to have been due to ?—lt was undoubtedly a form of septicaemia. 4298. How arising ?—ln my opinion, from an operation on a diseased tissue in the neighbourhood of che rectum. I consider that the conditions were auto-genetic—that is, they arose within the woman herself. 4299. You have heard Dr. Batchelor's statement, ascribing her death directly to the insanitary state of the Hospital: what do you say to that ?—I do not see how Dr. Batchelor, or anybody else, can do that. Holding, as I do, that the Hospital is not in an insanitary state, I cannot agree with him there. 4300. Did you ever attend Mrs. S ?—Yes, a good many years ago. 4301. Before she had this-trouble of hers? —Yes, I think so. I attended her in a very bad confinement, but pulled her and her child safely through it. 4302. The Chairman.] What was it ?—An impacted head. She had a protracted labour; she was in labour for forty hours before I was sent for.