SHOOTING ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1960, 17 December 1906, Page 3

SHOOTING ACCIDENT.

MR 0. BOLTON INJURED

A pniafnl shooting aecidont occurred at M'ikauri y.-sto-dav morning, nt tho rosi ,j cneo of Mr fi. Bolton. Whilst Mr and

M's Bolt in were standing on their versadan, chatting, a young l.idy, who was also proaeui, s 3 nk up a rifle whioh hud been left in She corner, and which happened to lie 10-yi- d. As shr-was raising San ..n-i tin l oh-vgo ixp’oded, the bullet striking Mr Idoi’o inn if. i Jr!?. Tho buffos inatrrrrd tits bone, n. ; lo'ig d d ovi; in the tl fh. X.. si tan w Li s'.- in o.in.veyiug tho patient to 0■ s :iuOh-w who anecossfally os-inct-id *ho hulks, nec-saffamig a pv.nf-d op ~-r'.‘iou. Tl"' muis'lo >y-vi muc-i tin.* tf.nnd. Mr Bolton is now in a pdvato Hoir-iSal in town, nod hi, many friends will'wish him a speedy recovery after tho very painful misadventure.

HOSPITAL TROUBLE.

(To the Editor Gisborne Times.)

Sir, —Daily wc read of tho heroic efforts of tho peasants and pooror classes in Russia in trying to break tho despotic shackles in order to free thomsolvos, and gee reforms that aro badly needed in that unhappy country. And daily do wo also read of sycophants who denounce those legitimate reformers, and take sides with that despotic monarch the Czar, by proclaiming to the world that he and any one connected with him have a “Divine right to rule that unhappy country in which over way- it pleases him to do without heed or hindrance in any shnpo or form. Alas ! Sir, Russia is not tho only country that is infested with the above specimen of humanity. Tho two conspicuous cases at the Hospital which have aroused tho indignation of tho general public and which have demanded a thorough inquiry into tho whole management of that institution, havo brought to tho surface a few individuals running to tho rescue (with sword in hand) of the doctor and matron. I feel sure, sir, tho public will look upon the letter (which appeared in your issuo of Saturday) with the greatest contempt —it is over the name of Thomas Todd. His adulations are so transparent it is impossible for any sensible man or woman to look upon it as he intended. Ho says : “ During this year I have spent three months within its walls as a patient, and I have had in other ways an excellent opportunity of knowing what was going on there.” So that, sir, ho is in tho “know.” He adds: “I found the staff both uniformly capable and conscientious, and kindly and considerate. The nurses don’t want his praise. There never has been a sign of a reflection cast on them through till this trouble, And lie goes on to say : “ I can only say I would be proud if any one told me that I do my work as. well as Miss bsawait dues.” Now, sir, I would like to know wbas work this charm of a mairon does, because from her own evi' i deuce we have it that she never dresses a wound—ia her own words, 11 It is not her proyince.” Yet W 9 have Thomas Todd sayiog that she was on tho verge of breakmg down, poor woman ; and he goes still further ou to say, 11 1 did hot a grumble nor see the slightest oause for complaint, but I did hear many expressions of wonder at tho way in which the matron, e,c., rose to the occasion ; I have never found a man (a patient) who had not the highest i - S3peot for tho matron.” Sir, the whole tons of bis letter, I Sake it, means to infer that the dying Amelia Olsen navor said she was alraid ai tho mitron, and that her sisters must havo oouooc’sd and told a d.Mibsrats untruth ; a:so shat eho (Amalia Q.coa) nover said that tho doctor passed hsr day after day and did cot examine her wound ; also that I its almost broken down Mairon had n period right to interrupt Nurse Ftndiay when giving her ovideooe whoa sho dared to say ihut oho (tho Matron) iatoifered with the doctor’s iusstuciians, also I hsl auxo that Thomas Todd is not half pleased thas Captain Tucker’s amendment (to She decision arrived a:) lapsed for shu want of a seconder, which ran as follows : “ And that it showed attention given to this oase (Amelia Olsen’3) was exactly she same as attention to other oases ” j also wo must fairly lake it that he infers that the father’a whole written statement about his dead boy was absolutely an untruth. The public must take warning from Thomas Todd that the Doctor and Matron of the Gisborne Hospital have a “ divine right.” In she words of Burns, 1 say, “ Oh would the power the gifty give ua to see ourselves as others see us.” Apologising for trespassing so much on your valuable spaoe,—l am, etc-,

W. BOURKE,

Gisborne, December 12tb, 1906,

P.S.—I may say that quite recently I had tho misfortuno to meet with a blasting accident. I would have, been only to glad too have participated in the benefits of the Hospital, but every person I met here (even the man in the street) advised me if I wanted to get well in any kind of decent time to keep away from the Gisborno Hospital- Thanks to Dr I am no w quite well,—W.B. [Wo have suppressed the name of the doctor referred to in compliance with the desire of the Medical Association, and because it has nothing to do with the subject matter, Ed. - G.T.]