CHRISTCHURCH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2191, 27 March 1880, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

[fbom ouk owx corkespoxdext.]

Well, I’m back again, and I am very glad to be so, for since I have been away, I see some of the Boards and others here, have been playing “ high jinks;” and as like little Jenny in Our Mtiuial Friend,” I happen to " know their tricks and manners,” it doesn’t do for mo to be where I cannot keep my 03m on them ; so I promise not to travel away again in a hurry. Though in these dull times this cannot bo considered a very money-making place, still it is some recompense to think one is living in an English community, where no act of neglect could be perpetrated on even a black man without its rousing a howl of execration, from British throats followed by a searching investigation for which English officials are so wide-world noted. This little preliminary will help me to introduce an occurence about which I have seen something in print recently, but not so fully as I think the circumstances of the ease deserve.

A little over three weeks ago an unfortunate man was riding with another on top of a load of oats taking it into Ambcrlcy, and when in the act of getting down, his foot caught in the reins and he was thrown in front of the wheel. Before his companion knew what had happened the wheel had passed over the lower part of one of the poor fellow’s logs completely tearing away the calf. For his companion to stop the horse jump from the dray, and tic the whip-thong above the ,sufferer's knee was the work of a few seconds ; and a third person soon coming up, a handkerchief was tied above the whip-thong and quick despatch made for a doctor. The man bled very little after the whipthong had been tied, and was soon convoyed to the Amberlcy hotel, where the doctor first saw him. This gentleman did not, according to his own statement, examine the wound very carefully, but he simply put cold water dressings on it, which “simple dressings” the constable who brought the man into town described as “ a piece of wet cloth over the wound.” Although the doctor remained over an hour with the man, he did nothing further for him, and then sent him lying, on a few bags of eh a If, a journey of over 20 miles. Now, “simple” as this attention was, the public, in reading the evidence in the papers, would believe that it was the spontaneous statement of the witness of what had actually taken place, but there they would make a mistake, for, as printed and uttered, it was a series of answers put by the Coroner, and the only thing the witness did say of himself was at the conclusion of his evidence “ I. would like to add that I was called away to another urgent ease or I would have seen the man off by the train myself.’ The unfortunate man it will be seen had after receiving marching orders, been left to suffer without aiy more “ simple treatment, but the doctor forgot to tell the jury what this “another urgent case ” was, which called him away so

hurriedly. On the way down the man was in such agony that he tried to bite his hand. On arrival at the Christchurch station, he was carried out on a railway carriage cushion and laid on the bottom of an express waggon ; when, Shacle of humanity ! an inhuman porter rushed out and demanded that the cushion should be taken from under the dying man. Hearing this the stationmaster promptly interfered, and the poor fellow was allowed to retain the cushion until he arrived at the Hospital, where lie only troubled them for 30 minutes, when he was relieved from all further pain. This was on a Friday night, and on Saturday the Amhcrley doctor received an intimation from the police that his presence would be required at the inquest on Monday, but be positively refused to come. An application was then made to the Coroner for a subpeena to compel his attendance. That official, however, said there would be no necessity to issue this summons, as he would write privately to the doctor. This lie did. The doctor came to town early on Monday morning ; the

inquest was not held until 3 pan. so that the medical gentleman had plenty of interval to visit his friends. At the inquest the doctor, as I before mentioned, made no voluntary statement, but merely answered the questions put to him. After the house-surgeon at the Hospital had given his evidence as to the cause of death, he declined to say whether the man had been properly treated or not, “as the bandaging—(that, I suppose, is the technical name for laying on a wet rag) —might have been deranged on the way down.” Fancy ! This answer did not satisfy the intelligent young sergeant of police who was present, and he wanted to know from the witness whether, if the deceased had been attended to at Amborloy —witnout such loss of precious time as the long journey to town involved —■ -bis life might nut possibly have been saved? This very pertinent interrogative did not, however, suit the questionputting Coroner, who tired up and declined to allow it to be asked, and so it was recorded “Accidental Death!” Here, perhaps, will be the proper place to remark that the Amhcrley doctor was the Coroner’s first assistant in Canterbury, to which [ shall add another remark : That if that inquest was held to lind out the cause of the man’s death, then it was useless as everyone knew that he had simply bled to death ; and if it was held to enquire whether that cause might have boon lessened or obviated, then it was a farce. I needn’t repeat that we arc an Kngdish community, and have besides an “independent” Press consisting - of four daily papers.

And, O ! dear me, what a time of it the Hospital Hoard have been having lately. They advertised for a matron and among the applicants was a lady with unexceptionable references, who, among - other qualifications has walked the London Hospitals. Hut there was another applicant who had some foreign letters which she didn’t send because they would have been as “Greek to the Board,” had had no Hospital experience, and satisfied herself with endorsing - a note which informed the readers thereof that the sender had been “ lady housekeeper ” to one of the Christchurch elite. That recommendation with such an aristocratic savour was too much for the Hoard to withstand, and the (i hidy honsekeeper ” got ilia hillct. But that was nothing to the dispenser business. The Board wanted a dispenser—or rather, the Hospital did. The numerous applications were referred to the medical staff, who selected three, which were sent to the Board. One of these was from a man who held the highest certificates in his profession!; who who had years of dispensing experience in well-known establishments, and had in other branches all but qualified hirastdi: to receive “ a license to kill.” The others were two lads without experience, but with considerable influence; one, especially, had never seen the inside of a chemist’s shop until some fourteen months ago, when he came “ raw enough, in all conscience,, to the Hos-

pital to assist the dispenser. Now, by the strangest of coincidcncics, the day this appointment was to be made, the lad’s father, who had been recently appointed a member, took his seat for (he first time on the Board, and there also took his seat for the first time since the beginning of October last, an old medico and esteemed member of the family. The father, with noble candor, said, “ Gentlemen, I occupy a somewhat delicate position in this matter, as my son is a candidate for the office. I however, will, of course, not vote, but I hope he will bo elected to the vacancy.” Then this Spartan parent took up his hat and walked out, leaving the long absent, but then present medico, to tell the Board what he had known of the boy since he was “ so high.” The thing was managed and the boy was converted in a jiffoy into a full blown Dispenser. “ What on earth could have pursuaded you to put a lad into such a responsible position ?” said a common outsider afterwards to a member of this conscientious Beard ? “ How could I,” replied the member in a somewhat injured tone “vote against a lad, whose father I haye known for the last 12 years.” Battle their “ bones over the stones !” what.s the odds ; they’re only poor Hospital patients ! The city has been very with Volunteers come for the Boview. The Dunedin Naval Brigade were the first to put in an appearance, and having been shown Anderson’s paddock in Cashel street, where they arc to cam]) out during the present soft weather, they expressed a strong dislike to its muddy appearance, and threatened to return home, if some better arrangements were not made for them. I couldn’t learn last night whether any change had taken in their views, but to-day they didn’t look as if they felt at all pleased. The country contingent of the C. Y. Cavalry, arrived last night and were met by their Christchurch comrades, at the Addington Station. I do hope that we may be favored with fine weather, so that the foreign soldiers may enjoy themselves as thoroughly during the day time, as they will at night time. I am certain of their night enjoyment, for at the old post office, and in the Drill shed enclosure, where some arc to “ bed down,” there used to congregate regularly, every evening, and not long ago, a very respectable number of healthy rodents ; and if our visitors are fond of hunting, they won’t want for sport. Besides Iqok at the glory of being able to repount to one’s friends the loss of a finger, or favorite toe, j]t the Battle of Christchurch. To spot the winner of the great Autumn Handicap at our coming meeting is what is troubling not a few just now. The earliest of worms cannot catch old Templeton doing his morning gallops, as he takes them before dawn ;

and whispers are abroad that with the biggest lump of weight lie has carried off him for years, lie is going now like a deer. The little horse is game enough for anything, but I cannot help holding the opinion that lie has lost his place. I have just two fancies for that race and think they will be among the first three whoso numbers will go up, they arc —Fishook and Grip.