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5358. You say that you have been ten years on the staff of the Dunedin Hospital ?—Yes ; I was an honorary physician for six years, and during the last four years I have been doing special work in skin-diseases. 5359. Have you any beds in the Hospital ?—I have a certain number, but I very seldom have any patients. 5360. That is during the past four years ? —Yes. 5361. But formerly did you have any ?—Yes; I had my fair share of beds. 5362. Will you kindly give us your opinion as to the suitability or otherwise of the building,— the block plan, on which it is built, as against the pavilion system ? —I do not think it is an exactly suitable building for a hospital. 5363. I suppose you know that it was not built for, but was adapted to, a hospital?— Yes. 5364. I will just ask you generally as to the closets : what is your opinion of them ?—I think that they are fairly good. Ido not think that there is very much to complain about them. 5365. And as to the lavatories and baths ? —I do not think that it is advantageous that they should be in the wards, as they are now. 5366. Do you complain of them being in the wards ?—I think that they would be better out of the wards. 5367. Do you approve or disapprove of the floors? —They are not all they might be ; the boards do not come close enough together. 5368. And the walls?—l do not see anything particular to find fault with. 5369. And the ceilings ? —I did not notice anything particular to find fault with in them either. 5370. "What is your opinion as to the ventilation of the wards ?—When I was one of the physicians I noticed, on two or three occasions, that the wards were slightly stuffy, but it was nothing very much. 5371. Is that an uncommon thing to notice in hospitals?—No, I do not think it is. 5372. Were they more stuffy than the wards in other hospitals that you have visited ?—Not that 1 have observed. 5373. Did you notice anything wrong with the number of beds in the wards ?—Well, they are just in about the same position as I have seen them in other hospitals. 5374. The Chairman.'] You mean in reference to overcrowding?— Yes. 5375. Mr. Chapman.] Do you mean that they were not overcrowded ?—I do not think they are. In speaking of hospitals, I forgot to mention that I have seen the Marine and Queen's Hospitals in New Brunswick. 5376. Do you know the ideal distances given for bed-space ?—I cannot say that I do. 5377. Do you know whether the beds are too close theoretically ?—I do not. 5378. Comparing this Hospital with other hospitals, what is your opinion of it?—l think that it compares favourably with any hospital I have ever seen, except the Lincoln County Hospital, which was built fourteen years ago, and is an entirely new hospital. 5379. How many beds were there in that hospital ?—I forget the exact number. 5380. What were the results of your cases in the Hospital here ? —I have had very good results. 5381. Do you agree with Dr. DeEenzi, who said that, under existing circumstances, "the Medical School, with its present surroundings, is not a proper place in which to teach the practice of medicine " ? —I do not agree with that. I think that the men who have qualified here have received much more practical instruction than nine-tenths of the men who have been turned out at Home. 5382. Mr. Solomon.] I understand you to say that, after your thirty years' experience, you have found that the Dunedin Hospital compares very favourably with the other hospitals you have seen, with one exception ? —Yes. 5383. But you have told us that you do not think that the building is suitable, but that you have not heard any complaints concerning it ?—I certainly did not make any. 5384. Have you any complaint to make ? —I do not think I have any particular complaint to make. 5385. May we take it that you do not know of anything of serious consequence to complain of? • —Perhaps not. 5386. The Chairman.] What do you think?—l do not think that there is. 5387. Mr. Solomon.] I understand you to say that, in your opinion, you do not know anything in connection with the Hospital that is of serious consequence at all? —No. 5388. Anything at all, in connection with the Hospital, that is likely to interfere with the health of the patients?—l do not know of any. 5389. You were chairman of the medical staff in May of last year, were you not?— Yes. 5390. At that time Dr. Lindo Ferguson had prepared a report on the condition of the Hospital at the request of the Hospital Trustees. Do you remember that ?—I do. 5391. At a meeting of the staff held on the 20th May, 1889, of which you were chairman, I find this minute : " Dr. Lindo Ferguson read a paper and showed a plan prepared by him containing suggestions whereby the present hygienic defects in the ward construction of the Hospital might be amended. The late hour prevented any discussion thereon, which was postponed till next meeting." You signed that as chairman, as being correct, did you not?—l suppose I did. 5392. And at the next meeting, on the 27th May, I find this minute : " Dr. Lindo Fei'guson's suggestions for remedying the,existing hygienic defects came up for discussion. Those present were unanimous as to the main contentions therein contained, but some differences of opinion prevailed as to the details of their being carried out. The secretary was requested to see such members of the staff as were absent from the meeting, and, Tf they were unanimous as to the main contentions, also to forward copies of the suggestions to the Trustees, and to add a paragraph to the