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into the open air, and the matter falls into the gulley-traps, and if there were any contamination it might enter the kitchen by means of the open windows. The traps were nearly 30ft. away from the kitchen, and there was always a good deal of water in these traps. The washhand basins, but not the sinks, in the operating-room had traps on the gratings. 5562. By Mr. White.] Witness had measured the lower wards and found them to be 53ft. 9in. by 24ft. 9iu., and 16ft. 2-Jin. high; but the tower area had to be deducted from that measurement. Dividing the total cubic space of the No. 7 ward—2l,l6Bft. —among fifteen patients, it will give an average of 1,411-2 cubic feet per patient. The superficial area of the lower wards, deducting the area of the corner tower, the lavatories, &c, leaves nearly 79ft. per patient. The upper wards are a little larger, the walls being a little longer, the dimensions being, length, 54ft. 10-Jin. by 25ft. 2in., and 14ft. llin. in height. Taking away the corner tower, &c, from this leaves a cubic space of 20,189 ft. No. 7 ward, when witness examined it, had fifteen patients in it, but he understood there had been sixteen persons in it. He had, however, divided the total by fifteen, which gave 1,346 cubic feet per patient, while the superficial area was 82ft. per patient. That was also deducting the bath-room. But if he divided the total by sixteen, the cubic space was 1,262 ft. per patient, and the square space 76-Jft. per patient. He had also measured the bed-space of No. 7 ward. He had it as having fifteen patients — nine on the window side and six on the other side—that was three on each side of the fireplace. The beds ranged along the side where the windows were measured nearly 2ft. 8-f-in., while the space between the beds was 3ft. I-Jin., which together gave sft. 10-Jin. as the bed-space. On the other side—one side of the fireplace they were nearer than the other—there would be 4ft. between the beds, making the actual bed-space on that side 6ft. 9in. But on the right-hand side the distance between the beds was sft. 2in., which would give 7ft. lOin. as the actual bed-space. This latter space affected three beds. Witness did not measure the beds in any of the other wards. Witness's figures were taken entirely independently. Witness had been in the employ of Messrs. Mason and Clayton when the Exhibition building was built. It was originally built for a market, and there was an idea at one time of using it for colonial purposes. The site was originally very marshy —what might be called a flax-swamp. There was considerable difficulty about the drainage at the time —about getting a proper fall. The ground was always more or less covered with water. There was a fall in the ground towards the western side. There was a good deal of filling-in done, but he did not think it was done with rubbish. The stuff was brought from Bell Hill. The rest of the filling-in stuff was obtained from sections in the town and partly from off the streets, and to the best of witness's recollection it was good soil. The foundations were carried down to the gravel. There had never been any subsidence of the ground ;he had never noticed settlement anywhere. In putting down the foundations for the operating-theatre they had in some places to go 4ft. below the surface, or on the average 3ft.; perhaps it would be better to say from 3ft. to 4ft. all round. Under the gravel they got some black moss which they took out. The foundation of the operatingtheatre was not as deep as that of the main building. Probably sft. would reach the gravel, but 4ft. would give a fair foundation. Mrs. Janet Burton sworn and examined. 5563. Mr. Chajwian.] What is your occupation ?—I am matron of the Dunedin Hospital. 5564. For how long have you been matron ?—For about twelve years. 5565. Have you been in the Hospital for more than twelve years'?—l have been twenty years in the coming November. 5566. Previously what position did you occupy ?—I was housekeeper after my husband died. 5567. Do you remember a patient named Mrs. T ?—I do. 5568. When was she in the Hospital?—ln the month of June, I think. 5569. She was operated on on the 20th Ma)'. Do you remember what happened to her?—l was not present at the operation, but I saw her two or three hours afterwards. 5570. Where ?—ln the ward. 5571. Which ward?— The special ward, No. 5. 5572. What did you find ?—I found her very pale, and when I went in I remarked on her appearance, and the nurse said that she had observed the same thing. The patient said that she was cold. I felt both her hands, which she had had outside the blankets, and saw that her arms and legs were rolled in blankets and cotton wadding. I did not see any bleeding then, but when I went back shortly afterwards the nurse had found that the woman had been bleeding. Drs. Maunsell and Copland were there. 5573. The Chairman.] When you went back ?—Yes. I asked Dr. Maunsell how it was that the patient had been bleeding in that way, and he said that she had been bleeding in the operatingroom. I saw her occasionally before bedtime. The doctors had been to see her several times. I saw her next morning at 7 o'clock, and I saw her when she died. 5574. Mr. Chapman.] What was it that Dr. Maunsell said ?—He was coming downstairs as I was going up, and I asked him what was the cause of the bleeding, and he said that she had been bleeding in the operating-room. 5575. Are you in charge of the nursing department of the Hospital ?—I am one of the female nurses, and have done a great deal of nursing, under the whole of the surgeons, since I have held my position. 5576. Who are the nurses who nurse Dr. Batchelor's patients? —Sometimes they vary. 5577. Male or female?— Sometimes the one, and sometimes the other. 5578. Mostly female ones, I suppose?— Yes. 5579. Have you had any complaints about the nursing-staff?— Never ; not in the female department.