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6189. Were any questions then raised relative to the sanitary state of the Hospital, or any allegations made as to its insanitary state ?—No; there was no reference made to the building, except to putting up a strong-room. Dr. Colquhoun said that a padded room was required to be provided for insane cases. 6490. Was that done?—lt was. 6491. It was a room that was already in use, and it was improved ?—Yes, and heated afterwards. 6492. In accordance with the suggestions of the staff?— Yes. 6493. Was it their suggestion that the same room should be padded ? —They did not exactly say the same room, but that a padded room should be provided. 6494. On the subject of ventilation, has there been any communication between the staff and the Trustees?— Yes. 6495. Eather, it was laid before the old committee, was it not, before the Act was passed? —Yes. 6496. The Chairman.] Was there correspondence or was it a verbal communication ?—Some resolutions were sent in. 6497. Mr. Chapman.] When was that? —I cannot say definitely. 6498. I have a note of it as having taken place in 1884, and that the staff were asked to point out any defects in the ventilation, and what remedies they would suggest ?—The staff made some representations on the subject to the committee. 6499. What did they ask the staff to suggest ?—Some improvements in the ventilation. 6500. Then the committee asked them for suggestions as to what should be done ?—The committee asked them what defects there were in the present system of ventilation, and whether they would suggest remedies. 6501. Is there a record of that, or was it a verbal communication? —There is a record of it. 6502. Where ?—lt is in the minute-book, I think. The following letter was sent in reply: " 12th February, 1885.—Dr. Copland.—Sir,—Eeferring to your letter of the 10th November last, in which the honorary staff recommend the committee 'to take into consideration the ventilation of the wards, the condition at present existing having been found fraught with danger to patients,' I am desired by the Hospital committee to request the honorary staff to point out the defects in the ventilation of the wards, and to indicate the means by which the system of ventilation might be improved.—l am, &c, A. Buens, Secretary to committee." 6503. I notice that the recommendation of the staff to which that letter was a reply was very general in its terms. Did you ever get a reply to that from the staff?—l have not, beyond a reply that the matter was under consideration. 6504. And they have it under consideration still apparently?— Yes. 6505. At all events, no recommendation came from the staff?— No. 6506. To what does chat letter refer ?—My impression was that it was to draughts in the ward. 6507. You had heard them speak, now and again, of draughtiness, but not of any danger from foul air?— No. 6508. What has been the position of the Trustees with reference to the subject of a nurses' home? 6509. The Chairman!] Had you not better ask whether there have been any changes made since 1884 ?—Yes ; there have been changes in the closets, in the wards, and in the main building. 6510. Was nothing done as a result of that conference? —Nothing was done. But since then some of the wards were improved. For instance, Dr. Ferguson's ward—the ward for female eye cases—has been improved, and the children 's ward has been ventilated; at any rate, it has been improved. 6511. Mr. Chapman.] You have, I understand, prepared a memorandum on the subject of successive improvements that have been made in the Hospital ?—Yes. 6512. I want you to read it and give to the Commissioners any explanations you wish. I suppose the dates are taken at haphazard?— Yes. 6513. What are the dates? —25th August, 1877, and 25th August, 1890. I may mention that in 1877 there were ten wards occupied. There is more accommodation now for females. In 1877 female venereal cases were allowed to remain in the female general ward. [Eeturn handed in : Exhibit lxiii.] 6514. Is this a return showing the bed-space in 1877 and the present bed-space ? —Yes. In Nos. 1 and 4it is the actual space going up the one side and down the other. [Eeturn handed in : Exhibit lxiv.] 6515. The Chairman.] Is it the actual walking-space between the two beds when the patients are in them? —Yes, taking in the fireplaces. 6516. Mr. Solomon.] Did you actually measure from bed-clothes to bed-clothes? —Yes. 6517. You have given an average at the bottom, and taken credit for the fireplaces—is that not so?— Yes. 6518. Mr. Chapman.] You said something in that memorandum that in 1877 no steps were taken to close the joints in the floors : what steps are taken now ?—The practice is not invariable, but for some years now —I believe that the plan was first adopted in 1883 or 1884, but I cannot recollect distinctly —we scrape all openings in the lower wards. 6519. You ciean them out ?—Yes. We fill up the openings with melted paraffin. In one ward we poured the paraffin over the floor and rubbed it with hot irons. 6520. The Chairman.] What ward was that ?—No. 4. 6521. Were all the wards done with paraffin?— Only the lower wards. There were only two wards dealt with last year, Nos. 1 and 2. They were done merely in the crevices, not all over the floor. There was objection taken to running all sver the floor, because it made the floor slippery.