CHRISTCHURCH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2079, 22 October 1880, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of the committee of the above Society was held last evening in the rooms of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Mr F. Janet exhibited a number of seedling auriculas for the inspection of the certificate committee — Messrs J. Dutton, G. A. Eeade, T. Turner, and J. Greenaway— who selected two at worthy of first class certificates, viz., “ Enville,” a grey-edged variety, with a body color of bright violet, and “ Gold Warden,” an exceedingly fine variety of the Alpine section, the colour being bright browni*h crimson, shaded, with a fine yellow eye, certainly the finest auricula of this section that has ever been brought before the society. The following prizes were also awarded for other production* :—For six tulips, Ist prize, J. Hepworth ; 2nd, J. Ashton. For a collection of bulbous and tuberous flowers, Ist prize, Messrs Naim and Son. For prizes offered by Mr G. Bowron, for twelve tulips, varieties, Ist prize, J. Hepworth; 2nd, H. Spicer. The following were sent for exhibition only : • Mr Frank Hobbs, a collection of ranunculus, which were much admired ; also, an extra fine stand of double tulips from Mi J. Greenaway.

THE HOSPITAL ENQUIRY. 'The meeting arranged to take place at the Hospital to consider certain points raised by the Board of Health relative to the proposed enquiry was held at 10 a.m. Present —Dr. Skae (presiding), Drs. Turnbull, Ned will, Townend, Irving, Campbell, Prins, Wilkin, the Mayor of Christchurch and Messrs Hobbs and Tancred. Dr. Skae said he understoed that the Boards did not intend to employ counsel. The Mayor of Christchurch said that it had ao been settled. Dr. Skae said, then they would have to -consider the points raised by the letter of the Board of Health to himself. The first of these was with regard to the publication cf the evidence given before the enquiry by the local papers. What had the chairman of the medical staff to say to this ? The Board of Health perhaps desired that the evidence ■hoold not be published till the enquiry had terminated. Dr. Prins said the medical staff felt this—that with regard to the publication of the evidence they would not care about it being done so piecemeal, as it might happen that a piece of evidence would be given which might, nntil the resulting evidence was called, seem somewhat damaging. However, the staff were perfectly prepared to leave the matter in the hands of Dr. Skae. A lengthy discussion ensued, in the course of which Dr. Skae referred to the Tay bridge inquiry, where the evidence was daily published. Ultimately it was decided to allow the inquiry to be open to reporters. Some discussion then took place on the next recommendation of the Local Board of Health, which was that no member of the staff or Hospital Board should be permitted to be present during the inquiry. Dr. Nedwoll was strongly of opinion that the medical staff should be excluded. Dr. Skae said that the charge was against the medical staff. How then could they exclude them ? They might as well exclude Dr. Nedwill himself who had made the charge. Dr. Nedwill—l don’t make the charge at mil. Dr. Skae—Well, we shall go into that presently. Dr. Wilkin said it seemed to him that no one had made any charge at all; or at any rate did not desire it to be so understood. Dr. Skae thought it was very necessary that the members of the Hospital Board should be present. Did not Mr Tancred think so, as representing the Local Board of Health who had made the charge ? Mr Tancred said the Local Board of Health did not speak from their own knowledge. [Dr. Prins—“ Hear, hear."! They had laid the matter before the Government, and it was for the Government to do as they liked.

Dr. Skae: Bat certainly the Local Beard o£ Health asked for the inquiry, and he certainly thought as the Hospital Board were the persona against whom the charge had betn made through their officers that they had a right to be present. Mr Hobbs said that the nurses, &0., who might be called upon to give evidence, would not like to do so before the doctors and memben of the Board. Dr Skae said this could not be acceded to. The members of the medical staff and Hospital Board were the accused parties, and had a right to be present. With regard to the next point, as to place of meeting, he thought the hospital was most convenient, but they could arrange, probably, if necessary, to meet elsewhere, and they could also fix the hours of meeting. On the subject of the deposit of £SO, Dr. Skae read the letter of the Board of Health, and said that under the Act unless the Colonial Secretary gave authority he -could not summon witnesses without the deposit was made by the party asking for the enquiry. He might point out that the delay in the matter bad arisen from the Board of Health having stated that they wore going to employ counsel, and Mr Garrick had undertook to make out a list of witnesses. This had not been done, and he (Dr. Skae) was in this position, that ho had to summon witnesses without knowing who were required and what ban to be proved. He had telegraphed to the Colonel Secretary for authority to summon witnesses, to which he had not received any answer.

Mr Tancred said he took it that the position was this, that the case should bo stated •by Dr. Nedwill, who had given the information to the Board of Health.

Mr Hobbs said the position of the Beard of Health in the matter was, that they had reason to believe that the law had been broken. This had been reported by them to the Colonial Secretary, as the Chairman of the Central Board of Health, and had they not done so the Board of Health would, under clause 23 of the Health Act, be liable to have their powers suspended. That the Government had taken notice of the matter was amply proved by the appointment of Dr. Skae to hold the enquiry. Dr. Turnbull said his opinion was that the Board of Health, as the accusing party, should pay the expenses in the meantime. If, in the course of the enquiry, the evidence showed that the Hospital Board were to blame through its officers, then the acting chairman should be empowered to pay the expenses out of its funds. If, on the contrary, the Board of Health was in fault, then they should pay the cost. Mr Tancred said Dr. Turnbull had mistaken the point altogether. The Board of Health was not the accuser of the Hospital Board, but they had asked the latter to enquire into certain matters, but they had not done so. The Board of Health was in the position of a Grand Jury, and said that there was a prirna facie ease. That was all. Dr. Skae—Then I understand that your Board do not intend to deposit the £3O. Mr Tancred —Certainly not. Dr, Brins —But grave charges have been made against the staff, and I insist upon your substantiating them. Mr Tancred thought that perhaps witnesses might be induced to give evidence without payment. Dr. Brins pointed out that it might be that very important witnesses would refuse to come. Mr Tancred said in that case it would be the loss of the party requiting them. Dr. Brins —Yes; but we want to get at the truth.

The Mayor said Mr Tancred had entirely misstated the ease. He said there was no enquiry by the Hospital Board. [Mr Tancred —A perfunctory one.] Not a perfunctory one at all, but a thorough enquiry into the whole matter was made, and the report furnished to the Board of Health. The papers he held in his hand proved this completely. Mr Tancred said that the Board of Health were not the accusers in this matter. Who, then, were the accusers ? If the Board of Health were not the accusers, who was then ? He failed to see that if Mr Taccred’e statements were correct, there was any case at all, because there was no one accusing the Board. He should distinctly refuse to pay out of the the Hospital funds for the expenses of witnesses. Dr. Turnbull wished to support the remarks of the Mayor. The Hospital Board had made a full and complete examination of their own •officers. They could not go outside the Hospital walls to get evidence when they had no power at all. Dr. Skae said, as ho understood that both 'Boards declined to pay the expenses they would have to wait till the answer of Government was received. Now, as to the enquiry, he should require Dr. Ned will either to give him in writing a clear statement of all the cases intended to be enquired into, or take his evidence first. Dr. Ned will said that he could give evidence as to the case of Mrs Keetley, but perhaps during the inquiry other cases mighj crop up. The Mayor of Christchurch said that Dr. Nedwill would pardon him if ho said that the last remark made by him teemed to show that coses had to be hunted up. Dr. Irving said lhat as a medical man connected with the staff he desired that Dr, Nedwill should state distinctly what cases were to be enquired into. Dr. Prins also desired that Dr. Nedwill, or the Board of Health, should state distinctly whether the medical staff or the house surgeon were implicated. Dr. Nedwill said that all he intended to do was to give evidence that he could produce witnesses that cases of typhoid fever had been admitted into the Hospital, and not reported to the Board of Health, He should also produce the letters from the Board of Health to the Hospital Board, asking that any oases of fever should bo reported. Dr. Turnbull said, so far as he taw, all that Dr. Nedwill could say was on hearsay of patients, nurses, &o. Dr. Nedwill was in the position of a Crown Prosecutor, and should be prepared to say Mrs Keetley was admitted

for typhoid fever, died of it, and that the certificate of death did not elate the true cause. He should be prepared to say that such aud such witnesses will prove what I say. Dr. Skae said that was just.what he wanted. He required a statement in writing of the various charges made against the Hospital Beard, because they must confine their inquiry within certain limits. Dr. lied will said he should bo prepared to do this. Dr. Skae asked who was accused of dereliction of duty : who was the person or persons whose duty it was to report oases to the Board of Health ? Dr. Ned will—The house surgeon.

Dr. Skae—Well, then, I will not allow any charges to be made covertly or openly against anyone unless it is stated at once in the written statement. If you say the house surgeon has committed a dereliction of duty, then you must confine your evidence to that point. Dr. Nedwill said he should require to consult the Board of Health on the subject. Dr, Skae said that it would have boon far bettor if the Board of Health had made these charges themselves on the statement of their health officer. Mr Tancred—Wo have nothing to go on except the statement of our medical officer. Dr. Nedwill—And I have nothing to go on except the evidence of witnesses. Dr. Skae said that this being so care must be taken in making statements on mere hearsay! They could not inquire into mere suspicions. Dr. Nedwill said that he understood the inquiry was to be conducted to discover whether cases of typheid had been admitted to the Hospital, and that certificates of death had been given of something else. Dr. Campbell said that wbat had to bo Droved was that the certificates were given inowingly. There might be misadventure. Dr. Prins wished to have an explanation of why Dr. Nedwill had made a charge against the staff.

Dr. Nedwill—l will give no explanation. Dr. Prins —But there is the letter sent by the Board of Health to the Government, asking for the inquiry, in whioh the charge is made.

After some further desultory conversation, it was ogreed to adjourn till 3 p.m., when Dr. Nedwill undertook to bring up his charges in writing. The inquiry was then adjourned till 3 p.m.