The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2061, 23 April 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1907.

When tho Medical Superintendent of the local Hospital tondored his resignation some months ago in consequence of the enquiries that had been hold, or were to bo held, into the allegations concerning certain deaths that had taken place in that institution, we had hoped that tho last had boon heard of anything that would give riso to dissatisfaction in connection with tho treatment of patients within its walls. When at a latei dato a successor was advertised for, that feeling of satisfaction was strengthened, for it gives us no pleasure to find fault with anyone, and it is only when our duty to the public demands our intervention that we arc persuaded to deal with personal matters of this description. We have up till now eliminated from our treatment of the subject any personal references that could possibly he avoided, and we intend to follow that rule when it can he followed in the present instance; but in view of the special circumstances of the case to which wo are about to refer it is impossible to state the whole truth (a necessary thing always) in the interests of the institution, and of the patients who have to go there for succour, without appearing to bo personal, though we wish to avoid it. Our readers will have noted certain correspondence which we published on Saturday and the Hospital Board s treatment thereof, wherein it is laid down that a medical practitioner who sends a patient to the hospital for treatment must make up his mind that ho has seen tho last of him professionally or otherwise unless lie happens to escape from the dangers that lurk in that institution at present and toddle out with his life. That is the doctrine of the acting Medical Superintendent backed up by the acquiescence of the Board, and the excuse forsooth is that it would be a gross breach of professional etiquette to permit a patient to be seen by the doctor who attended him before admission and who had ordered-his removal to the hospital for operation. Wliat is professional etiquette ? Ordinarily speaking it is the courtesy which one professional man owes to 'Another; hut in this case it may be described as that elastic, accomodating thing which enables a professional man to escape the scrutiny of those who know as much as he does, and to cover up his mistakes even at the expense of a patients comfort. In requesting to see tho man Foster ,unprofessionally, Dr. Collins requested only what should have been readily granted if there was nothling to conceal, for it is the rule elsewhere that (when a doctor sends a patient to a hospital, professional etiquette dictates that he should be present at the operation unless there are strong reasons why he should not, and in this case the reasons which debarred Dr. Collins from being present are purely personal ones that do not reflect on him in the smallest degree. But as it is not our purpose to enter into the personal feelings of one towards another, wo mention this merely to show that the excuse of “professional etiquette” is. but a subterfuge The real cause is unwittingly revealed by the Medical Superintendcut himself when in his reply to Di. Collins ho admitted that the man making a “tedious recovery” am. when ho stated in reply to the Chairman that the less said about the matter the bettor. When it is sliowi that the man Fraser was admitted to the hosptal for a simple operation for hernia on March 27th, and that in the ordinary course of tilings he ought to ho discharged a month later after one operation ; that he has a - ready had three operations perform ed on him and is to-day suppurating so badly that there is no hope of his discharge from the institution for J very tong time; that during all tbi: operatng and suppurating the alido minal wall is being so weakened that a ’return of the trouble is almost a certainty when the man returns to work if he is fortunate enough to be able to dp so, it will be seen at a glance that tho less said about tlir matter the better for tlie reputation of tlie "hospital as at present main aged. With proper treatment ant. anything like complete asepsis there would have been no suppuration and the first operation would have been the last; hut anything like such successful treatment is hardly to he expected in the hospital now for some cause of other, and the record of suppurating cases that escape the stringent secrecy of “professional etiquette” as intrepreted in the institution according to the by-laws, L not what it should he under propel treatment, nor what it is expected to be by those who know wliat modern surgery is capable of doing undei proper conditions. Tlie unfortunate mail Foster is said to lie satisfied with his treatment; but if lie. knee what his treatment might have ae complislicd if it had been in strict accordance with the canons of up-to date aseptic surgery his satisfaction would soon undergo a decided change. Now he has to trust to his natural vi tality and antiseptics for a complete recovery which is every day receding from his grasp. Not only is he satisfied, but the Hospital Board, is also satisfied and we presume the acting Medical Superintendent is also sats fieel; hut will they, can they, believe that the public arc satisfied to allow this condition of things to longer continue? If they do believe that, they are more credulous than they ought to be. This sort of thing bar gone quite far enough, and unless there is a radical change in hospital management before very long more will be heard of it. We are fu’ly aware of what is going on to keep tilings ill statu quo, and the patience of tlie public who arc looking' for improvement cannot last much longoi. We shall have something more to say on the subject at the proper time, and meantime we strongly advise the Board to do what has been demanded of them if they desire to escape the growing indignation of the people at their inexcusable procrastination.

Mr. John Ross inserts a notice in this issue of interest to persons who wish droving done. Messrs W.Bcttio and Co. announce in this issue tho arrival of tho latest novoltio3 in dross matorial. Addresses to tho Borough electors will bo found in anothor part of this issuo from Messrs Simson, Bright, Harding, Barlow, and Whin ray. It is expected that at an early dato 14,000 acros of Crown land in the Moanui district will bo thrown open for Holoction.

Harry Somerville who was reported missing from 'J’olaga Bay, is stated to have boon seen in the bush near bis father’s place.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that J uilgo Fisliei of the Native Land Court lias been appointed Under Secretary for Native offairs.

A fair number of plnyors of the Australian game of football assembled at Ivaiti on Saturday, but tho inclement weather would not allow of a game hoing played, and a little practice wns indulged in. Advico has boon rocoivcd in Gisberno that Run has gone back into tlie Urewera country, and as a result Colonol Porter has abandoned his visit to him, as it is expected he will cause no more trouble. Mr. W. H. Hurries, M.H.R., foi

Bay of Plenty, arrived in Gisborne last night. He travelled overland from Opotiki, through Motu. Hi leaves liy Wednesday’s steamer foi Auckland.

Several applications have been made to the Crown for assessment ol compensation for land taken lor railway purposes. Similar applications are being inn dp to assess lands taken by the County Council for'roads.

In the courso of his remarks yesterday Mr. JMuher said money war wanted to improve the roads to benefit the “outlandish settlors.” Hr explained that ho meant residents or. the outskirts of the Borough, but hr might have lost votes if lie had lot the bare statomont go.

A Gazette notice containing ov<-i livo hundred cases is being prepared for a N.L. Court to sit at Gisbjrn some time in June. Tho list includes twenty applications for Incorpora- 1 tion of Native blocks, which if ardors are made should facilitate deaii.i 0 - ivith the blocks affected. J. Martin, mate .of the ketch. Coronation, met with a painful accident (luring the easterly gale tho vessel struck crossing the Bay of Plenty, when about a week out. A heavy sea knocked him against the donkey engine with the result that his rigid ankle was injured. It was at first thought that tho leg was broken but the exact extent of the injury is not known.

The Uudcr Secretaryship of the Native Department, rendered vacant by the resignation of Judge Eclgei some months ago lias not been filled It is understood that the position was offered to Mr .Sheridan of the Native Land Purchase Department, and to another member of the Native Land Court Bench, both of whom declined the position. Mr. W. H. Bowler the Chief Clerk, is acting temporarily as Under Secretary.

Mr. Maher told his audience yesterday that if he were elected not another penny would be spent on tlie Waihirere quarry—all tlie stone would be brought from Patutalii-r-Hi gave it as bis opinion that tlie Wniliirere stone was useless and stated that many engineers bad told him so. Ho would advise the ratepayers to have nothing to do with Waihirere stone until it was reported on as good by at least two engineers.

Mr.. H. E. Hill lias* received intimation that Mr. Arthur Fenton, caretaker of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association’s playing ground in Napier, arrives by the Tarawera on .Wednesday for tlie purpose of putting down a turf wicket at tlie Victoria Domain, to bo ill readiness for next season. A meeting of tlie local Cricket Association will be held at the British Empire Hotel at 8 p.m. on Wednesday to meet Mr. Fenton to make arrangements.

A provision of the Destitute Poisons Act, 1894, which is not general!.! known, cropped up yesterday after noon, during the hearing of tin. Morris maintenance case. It appear.' that a man who marries a woman with children, before this marriage is legally bound to support them, till the age of 1G if boys and 18 if girls but if the children were the offspring of his marriage lie has only to support them till they become 14 years of age.

The present Borough Council was dealt with in a very free manner In Mr. P. Maher in his election address yesterday. Tho mover and seconder of the recent resolution granting a yearly holiday to Borough employees received a lot of attention and tin seconder was called “Gallery Player .” None of the otliei councillors were particularised, but they were dressed down as a whole in pretty rough style. In Mr. Maher’s opinion the present councillors would ask the ratepayers to return them until they 7 (the councillors) had dr.v roads to their houses. The Borough Engineer was also sat upon, and gencrallly the rotten state of present affairs-was exposed to the naked eye.

At tho Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. Barton, S.M.. Michael Mahon, who was last charged just within six months ago, pleaded gnilt.v, stating that be was going to To Karaka. A fine of £1 and 2s costs or 48 hours’ imprisonment was inflicted. Stephen Do wrick, charged with disorderly conduct -while drunk at I,owe street on Saturday, pleaded guilty 7. Detective Maddern stated that he wanted to fight at the Albion and Coronation Hotels, and caused trouble on tlie street. He said to the police that they 7 could not arrest him as they were in plain clothes. Hr also caught hold of a lady’s arm. Hi: Worship said interfering with women could not lie permitted. A fine of Cl and 2s costs, or in default four days’ imprisonment was imposed. The yearly holiday of a fortnight, recently granted to Borough employes, does not altogether find favor with Mr. P. Maher. He might, lie said, lose votes by saving so, but be was to a degree against tlie recently-adopted system. The men should be given holidays, but each application for holidays should be dealt with on its merits. One of the present Councillors had suggested to tho Council that all works should be done by contract, as the men did not work hard enough, and lie had later on complained of the slowness of work at the stone-crusher; but on tlie eve of the election the same councillor proposed that all Borough workers get a fortnight’s holiday yearly, though by his previous action one would have expected him to say: “No; you work so slowly that you will have to work all the year to get your work done. 1

Captain Muir, whn has boon ongagdtiring the last few months on tbl Urewera Commission, has express 77 J his determination of resigning from the sorvico when lie Ims completed his labors on tho Commission and presented his report. Mr. Barclay, flic other Urewera Commissioner, will return to his duties in the Native LanJ Court when tlie report is completed. Nows lias been received from Wei lington that a Wellington fir i of lawyers are taking steps with til.; intention of having Mr. H. C. Jack-oil removed from tho managership of the Wi Pore Trust Estate and have u.-ti-lioil tho District Land Registrar accordingly.

Judge Jones 1 timetable having I eon upset by the sitting of the Appellate Court ho lias as yet been unable to fix any date for the Court which was advertised for Tolaga Bay, on the 12tli of this month and which is being adjourned from time to ti no until such time as lie is able to go on with the business advertised. He expects to be able to fix a dato for the Gisborne Court for about the end of June. This will depend on tile length of timo. occupied by the Appellate Court at Awaimi, and subsequently the time occupied at Tolaga Bay. . So many applications having been received by the Registrar since the Court was advertised it will he found necessary to issue a supplementary gazette.

Judgment was given by the Magistiate, Mr. W. A. Barton, yesterday afternoon in tho George v. Gentles case. His Worship considered that there was not sufficient evidence to support the claim for recision of contract. In reference to the alternative claim plaintiff was clearly en-

titled to recover, the only questioj

being as to tho amount. In the agreement ho bought 19 cows, but only 14 ivero delivered, the average value being £7 10s. Plaintiff was entitled to damages for tlie non delivery of tlie five cows, and this he assessed at £7 10s. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £45, and costs £4 14s.—Mr. Coleman applied for a stay of execution, as there was a portion of the money still unpaid, aiul plaintiff might use the money to make ends meet.—Mr. Nolan objected, and his objection was upheld. Messrs. J. and N. Tait, tlie wellknown entrepreneurs of Melbourne have completed arrangements for a visit to Gisborne of tho world famous Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. The performances to be given here commences with a matinecc next Wednesday afternoon. Since this announcement was made the greatest possible enthusiasm lias prevailed throughout the district. Apart from the delightful realisation of hearing this great band an incalculable amount of good must necessarily result from the visit of the Besses to all music lovers and bandsmen. As illustrating tlie immense impression made in Auckland the leading Racing Club there made tlie directors of this band an offer of £SOO for two performances of an hour each at their last Easter Sleeting. The offer had to he declined. Mr. G. D. Portus, the touring manager for -the Besses, informs us that on their managerial staff four stenographers are kept busy night and day answering correspondence resulting from applications for performances in every corner of New Zealand and Australia as well as innumerable offers of vari

ous kinds of entertainment and hospitality from various bodies and individuals. The box plans for tlie brief season open on Thursday morning at His Majesty’s Theatre.