ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 27 June 1868, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Our Correspondence Column is open to the temperate discussion of questions of public interest ; but we do not in any way identify ourselves with the opinions expressed by' our Correspondents. All letters must be accompanied by the writer's name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. ACCIDENT AT WAITAHUNA. (To the, Editor of the Tuapeka Times.) Sir, — In looking over your issue of Saturday, 20tli June, I found a very incorrect statement, both with respect to the Doctor and treatment of Mr. Fowler. To my certain knowledge, Dr. M'Brearfcy offered to set the leg ; but Mr. Fowler wished to be conveyed to the Hospital, his position not warranting him to be so long in his house. With respect to the leg being unprotected, it is a malicious falsehood, and hold you responsible for it (being in. your local news). As I wrapped the leg in six thicknesses of flannel, and packed it so securely with tight blaiikets, it was impossible for it to dangle, had less competent nv»n accompanied him. Let me further remark, the miners generally of TVaitahuna are not so uncivilised as to convey a man along 3uch roads in the state you depict. — I am, &c, J.. Dewes. Waitahuna, June 24, 1868, [We are not prepared to admit that-our statement referred to in Mr. Dewes' letter was incorrect, neither are we prepared to admit that our statement as to Fowler's leg being unprotected was "A malicious falsehood." Mr. Dewes does not appear to know that a broken leg might be wrapped in a dozen thicknesses of flannel, and yet be unprotected and when we inform thai gentleman that notwithstanding all the care which he took in protecting, as he thought, the broken limb, by the time the unfortunate man was taken to the Hospital, his leg was so twisted round, that his heel was* where his toes should have been, and such being the case we think we were fully justified in making the statement we did. Coull not splinters be obtained to bandage the leg, or Could not something be found in Waitahuna which would have kept the broken leg in one set position. The fact of the medical man having offered to set the leg is no excuse for his allowing Fowler to be brought to Tuapeka without having his leg properly bandaged. No doubt Mr. Dewes after doing what he might consider all that was necessary, felt aggrieved at the thought that all his attention, all his willing services, proved fruitless.]