A. EARAM.

265

H.—l9b.

112. Dr. Martin.] Did the sergeant-major give instructions?—We asked about these papers being sent back, and whoever answered the telephone said he did not think so. 113. The Chairman.] It was not the medical department that you consulted as to what you should do? —No, because we had been asked to send everything back to the Defence Department. 114. Who asked that, —from whom did those instructions come? —AYe rang up Sergeant-major Gentry and asked about the clean linen and everything at the hospital—asked what we should do; and he told us to send it. all back to the Defence Department, and a cart was sent for it. Then we decided about the charts and books that were in the ward, and were about to destroy them when I suggested that we should ring up and ask whether we should do so. 115. You rang up the Defence Stores, and not the Health Department?— That is so. 116. Did the Stores give you the answer at once, or did they consult some one? —They answered at once. 117. And you think it was Major O'Sullivan ?—Either his office or Sergeant-major Gentry's. It was Sergeant-major Gentry's, I feel almost sure, because he had said we were to send everything back from the hospital except those things that had been in the wards. 118. You rang up specially about these cards and books? —Really about books. We did not mention temperature-charts; I said there were paper and books in the wards. 1.1,9. Mr. Ferguson.] One witness has stated that the floor of the main ward, where Fordham and Pollard were, was not clean : I suppose that is incorrect? —The wards were cleaned every morning, and swept during the afternoon and again in the evening. 120. They were quite sufficiently clean in your opinion? —Yes. 121. One witness said it, was mopped out with a dry mop, and not washed?— The order-lies used them, usually. 122. The Chairman,] He also said that the paper on the wall was torn, and it was expectorated upon ?—Yes; but that was about the time that Pollard was dying, I think. 123. It, was Pollard's brother, I think, who told us this?— Yes. 124. Mr. Ferguson.] Was there paper on the wall?— Yes, I think so. 125. One witness said there was no wall-paper ?—I feel sure there was. 126. Mr. Gray.] I understand that of all the patients who came there there were only these two deaths —those of Pollard and Fordham ? —Yes. 127. Except those two,' were all the men who came in convalescents? —Practically convalescents. 128. How did the hospital answer its pur-pose? —I consider that all the patients did well there. 129. Except these two? --Except these two. 1.30. Were there any complaints made in your hearing or to your knowledge of want of attention or- care? —No, sir—the contrary. 131. And did these men—these very convalescent, patients who were employed as messorderlies—take to their work willingly ?—Yes. 1 remember that on one occasion ten men appeared and told me they 7 were going to be mess-orderlies, ami I said I thought three would be sufficient. 132. They volunteerd, and were cheerful and willing to help?— Yes, quite. 133. Was there any lack of appliances in or about the hospital, or anything that you wanted?—No; we were always able to get things that we required. 134. Without delay?— Yes. 135. Were you able to consult any 7 medical man. if his services were required?— When I first went there there was no telephone, but soon afterwards one was installed. I never had occasion to ring up a doctor, but Sister Keith rang, and I do not think she had any difficulty 7 in getting one. 136. Did you ever hear of there being a difficulty in getting the attendance of any medical man? —No.. 137. AVith regard to the destruction of these temperature-charts, I understand it was your own idea, or Sister Keith's? —Sister Keith -was not there. 138. Your idea? —And Sister llanna's. 139. It was your idea and Sister Hanna's that these documents should be destroyed?— For the simple reason that, we were under the impression that paper- carried Infection. 140. It was with the idea of avoiding the risk of infection that you decided to destroy these papers?— Yes. 141. But you first of all consulted the Defence Stores authorities? —Yes. I remember now that the cart was there to convey the various things from the hospital, and I rang up first to inquire about these charts. 1 did not mention charts, f mentioned books that had been in the wards, and asked if I should send them back. 142. Your first idea was to destroy them?— Yes. On second thoughts we decided that we ought to make inquiries first. AYe were both under the impression that paper carried infection. 143. That was the only reason for the destruction of them? —We were asked not to send anything back to the Defence Stores that had been in the wards where the infection was. 144. So that infection might not be carried? —Yes. 145. Do you remember a patient named Colley?—Yes. 146. Were you there when he was admitted? —Yes. 147. What was his trouble'?—He seemed well —a convalescent patient, in fact; he had no temperature until one day I believe he complained to Sister Keith, who was then on duty, that he was not feeling well, and she said he was to go to bed in the ward. That evening when I came on duty I took the temperatures and discovered that his temperature was 103*6. I told Sister Keith, and she at once had him moved to AVellington Hospital. He was removed in a very short time. •

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