The West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 39, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 106, 19 January 1866, Page 2

The West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 39, 1866.

Wk are not aware how long either Dr. ltyley or tho public will consider it expedient th« t tho present unhappy state of things in connection wiih the management of the Hospital, and the treatment of the destitute sick, shall be perpetuated. The truth is, the Hokitika Hospital is becoming a greater scandal than tho Ilokitika gaol itself, and that is saying a very great deal ! Tt is hard to 1 understand 1> ltyloy; hnvtl to understand how any medical man caring for his reputation.'for either professional skill or for humanity, can rest contentedly under the 'charges brought against him. In referring to this subject of late — and nn unpleasant succession of circumstances has forced it upon vs — we may fairly claim the credit of having used a tone of marked moderation. We had hoped that Dr. Hylcy would have taken some opportunity of vindicating himself, as a member of ti liberal profession, and of rebutting charges that could not fail to alFeet keenly any sensitive mind. Putting aside all considerations affecting public interests and official obligations, it is most mortifying to see in any community of Englishmen tho practice of medicine degraded to a move system of trade huckstering. It is a "liberal" profession in a sense the significance of which should be understood by every recognised member of it. Tho very pursuit of it should bo ennobling— developing tho higher attributes of man's moral nature, and subjugating to them all that is soHish and sordid Is it for tho physician to chaffer, over tho shop counter, about tho price at which he will sell his power of curing tho man nigh unto death, and dragging him back from tho brink of tho grave l Is it for tho surgeon to drive his hard bargain, before ho will consent to amputato the limb whoso mortification is spreading over tho whole system and threatening certain and speedy death 1 ? Is it for tho member of a liberal profession to withold the potion that may relieve tho agony of tho sick man, until his hand has been crossed with gold I Ciod forbid !

XV a are not charging Dr Ryloy with any of these tilings. But it is quite lime for Dr. Ityloy distinctly to underslancl that these charges are plainly and categorically mndo against him, and thai by the groat majority of the public they are believed to be true. We ask Dr. Rylcy, pointedly, if ho can afford to lie under these imputations ; to leave them unanswered, and treat them with contempt ? We speak very temperately when wo say, wo do not think he can. If as a private- practitioner ho feels he can do so; that he is .strong enough in professional standing and antecedents to put public opinion and direct accusation at defiance ; it is still to be remembered that he is a public servant. True, he may be inadequately paid for the efficient discharge of the duties belonging to the oflieo he fills. Hut that is a consideration that primarily belongs to himself. If he were only' paid a penny a day, it would be still the fact that 'ho holds his oflieo by his own will ; that he is an acquiesing party in the terms of his remuneration ; mid that he is responsible therefore for the due discharge of all its obligations, There is here then a question involved, of something more than mere professional reputation, of which Dr llyley himself should be his own guardian. 'There is the question of his official duty. So far as the evidence given at tho inquest held on Tuesday on the body of Thomas Green goes, we must say the disclosures made were of the most astounding character. The report we gave- yesterday was based upon the depositions Worn before tho Coroner. Two ' or three pertinent facts are patent on the face of them. t In the first place, Dr. lvjloy claims to bo the only medical ii.au to whom tho police or others cogiiS^&t 10i;1 0i; destitute cases, have any right &*g3H>ply' for assistance. Mr. Ilackclt o 'l oath that ho asked Dr. ilyloy TO&s%hnm he ought to apply in such a |MteMmei\i!ing a cane of destitution.") $M|rt$ c y stlUc( l that llr. was the proper ffiffiSraff.,^ 0 como to, and "no oxiikr." BHfw^ )U ' ss nil^ l n ' ov ' ous b' explained XUMl *' m tuo *"' st/ "Stance, to HraifPl 1?'1 ?'' 1 " because ho was the llos*™fflw&^ lu M1"m»M 1 " m » an^ would bo ll§lPiP'' u^ v a^end a poor ?5 ||Pj||| tMan a private practitioner." | } l&lraS^'luiiiitc man in whose behalf I fwflPVl iippHention £o " the Hospital '•»! llfjlg^'^ »i»flc, was at the moment »i '" :ir(iculo mortis." lie had 'huffing" 1 xvitll «*l>iloptie fits. AH jtijßK^ v0 P^ ot'tl^' li° 1^ could do

for him had been done. Tiiky seem not to have at all considered tho question of being " paid" for their trouble or their kindness. The convulsed sick man rolled from his bed, and blankets were placed under him, as it was considered a dangerous p-ocedurc lo attempt to lift him and replace him on his stretcher. Shortly after, the witness sworo, " the iwfoYtuimtc man became worse, fit succeeding fit so rapidly that he becamo alarmed, and went to the Hospital Surgeon, telling him the facts of the case, and asking him to visit the sufferer. To this appeal, made to him, not as a private practitioner, but as a public servant, who had so far recognised his responsibilities, — or it maj r bo more correct to say, asserted his right, —as the " proper person to come t"*, and no other," Dv Ryley is stated on oath, to have replied that '| he would not come unless ho was paid .his full fee." The only interpretation to bo put upon that answer is that' this gentleman claims to avail himself of an exclusive right as hospital surgeon to deal with coses brought to him by the police and by philanthropic persons, and then to consider them as private patients, and charge his full foe for his professional services ! The man who went to plead in humanity's name for this dying epileptic, told tho doctor that there was half-a-sovercign in tho poor fellow's pocket, and that that should bo given to him if ho would come to the side of the liick bed. The reply, as sworn on oath to havo been made, was that ho " would not como unless he was paid his full foe." Witness then asked him "if for suffering humanity's sake" he would visit tho poor man, tho doctor replying " that suffering humanity would not pay him. 1 ' and thnt if the public thought it was his duty [the only proper person to come to, — and no other] to attend to such cases, they 'wore mistaken ! After this roply, tho suppliant for good Samaritan services went to a medical gentleman who was not " the proper person," but who immediately attended tho sick man to see if he could by his prompt skill stay "the ebbing flow of life. If thoro had ever been any chance of this, however, it had been allowed to pass. It was Dr. Gkougk Hbniiy AoiiKsoNwho did, wo presume without fee, the merciful wprk for the dying Thomas Green, which the hospital surgeon refused to do on the ground that v humanity did not pay ;" and wo avail ourselves of the opportunity of setting forth his name and style. Things havo now come to this pass. We say it with much personal regret, which Dr ltyley himself will understand how to appreciate — but under a deep sense of public duty. The hospital surgeon must answer and refute the chaiges mado against him, or he must retire from the official position ho holds. We say must, for it is intolerable that this hospital scandal shall be longer endured. It is intolerable that a public officer of any grade shall be permitted to set public opinion at defiance, and contemptuously disregard tho most serious accusations. So far as the public press is concerned, Dr. ltyloy has' not been dealt with ungenerously. But the public do not overlook the fact that, securo in his sense of irresponsibility — and sheltered under the protection of Mr. Sale, who has established for himself tho unenviable reputation, which will cling to his name long after he has himself left the district, of buttressing up every abuse consecrated in his estimation by having been made the subject of indignant public protostr-Dr. ltyley has systematically ignored all publicjcriticism, and never condescended to make a reply in his own name to any charge, however direct and however damning. We now very s-eriously call his attention to the fact that ho stands formally condemned by a verdict of a public court. Any other public officer thafv Mr. Sale would at once demand from him an explanation of his conduct as a public servant. Wo have no justification however for tho expectation that th * Commissioner will do •anything of the kind. Dr. llyloy is an object of popular clamor. What could be a moro effectual titlo to the sympathy and protection cf tho Camp V Tho only real remedy for this kind of abuse is to procure the extension to tho district of tho Hospital Ordinance, which provides for the management by trustees and subscribers of the affairs of public charities. Under such a system of government the complaints now daily urged might be sufficiently guarded against. We shall explain the provisions of this ordinance. Stfme considerable time, however, will be necessary -to bring it into operation. And for the present we repeat what we have said, that Dr. ltyley lmist justify himself, or he can no longer expect in direct defiance of public feeling 'to continue to hold his present office. He may have a defence. Why does he not produce it ? Is reputation so cheap to him ; is his standing amongst his professional brethren a matter of so little concern ; is the good opinion of tho community in which ho has newly established himself so light a thing, thnt he — the modi cal officer of a public charity, chaining to bo tho only "proper person" to be applied to m cases of destitution — can afford to have it go forth to the wovld without contradiction, as it has now gono forth, that ho is declared on oath to have replied to an urgent application to visit a dying man, that he "would, not go without his lull fee," and that " suffering humanity would not, pay him ?" Such are tlie words sworn to luivo been used, before the Coroner.

We will merely add this : — Tho inquest reported in yesterday's Timks was held on Tuesday. During that day, during Wednesday, and during yesterday, Dr. Hylcy has had these words recorded against him, and he has not cared to notice them !

Under tho now postal arrangements tho overland mail from Christ churdi arrivod last cvoning. By tliis.opportunity wo havo a copy of tho Canterbury Times of tho 13th ins(, but it contains no telegrams from Dunedin, our hi lost tint o from wliii'li plupo coHiinui'B (oho tho 4IU iuvl,

It will be 6oen lrom our oxtracts from tho Provincial Govornmont Oaxelte that Dr. Rutherford Ryloy has boon appointed Surgeon Suporintondont of tho 'Hokitika Hospital. Mr. Dunbar M'Cabo has boon appointed Dispenser to tho 1 Hospital. This appointmont is a judicious ono. Mr. M'Cabo was for a long poriod Disponser to tho Southland Provincial Hospital, and discharged tho duties of that ollieo with a zoal, diligonco, and intelligoneo which won him goldon opinions. Wo know of no public sorvnnl in Now Zealand who moro onjoyod, or botlor dosorvod, tho confldenoo and oateeiu of thoso to whom he was rosponsiblo, Voles of thanks to him stand rccordod on tho mimitos of tho Invorcargill Bonovolont Institution, lo which ho rondorod most ollbolivo unpaid sorvico. Our porsonal knowledge of Mr. M'Cabo onablos us to writo this with a willing hand, and we congratulate Iho public of tho West Coast on having secured Ihe nppointniont of a Hospital Disponsor who is not only thoroughly compolont, but certain to (lisuhargo tho duliuH of his oltico with zoal and intelligence. Tho Wellington correspondent of the Otugo Dally Times says :—": — " Hail tho Assembly beon dissolved prill' to the passing of tho Representation Act, threo or four weeks would have sufficed to get all tho elections completely over, as Returning Oflioors are not bound to givo more than livo days' notice, but the formation of the rolls for tho now districts created in tho Middle Island, which that Aob requires, is ti work that can only bo done with the aid of local knowledge, and necessarily oooupies time. New rolls have, on more than one occasion, been formed by nn Under Seoretary, but in such cases tho now boundaiies were so marked that nnyono with ordinary knowledge and caro could not fail ,in forming them correctly ; but in the present instance the utmost nicety that local experience can bring to bear is nccomry, if errors are to bo avoided such as that memorable ono in Marlborough, which placing a single bordor voter in the wrong district turned the election, first of a member of Council aud then of the Superintendent."

A deputation from tho Wharf Extension Oommitteo, consisting of Messrs Sheean, Cassius, Hudson, Lonrio,* Melody, and Mace, waited on Mr Sale on Tuesday last to solioit G«vornment aid in tho extension of the wharf below lievollstreet. A subsidy upon the money already collected and expended by tho public was at first, applied for, but refused by Mr Sale, who at the same timo informed tho deputation it was the intention of tho Government upon tho representation nnd advice of Mr Balfour, tho marine surveyor, to extend the present wharf some distance below Gray's timber-yard, at its own expense, it being necessary to, do so for the preservation of the harbor. Mr Salo repudiated any connection with the present work undertaken by the public, stating that tho plan of the new wharf, would bo quite different from that of the one partly constructed. Finding the work thus taken out of their lmuds, and that there was no prospect of a subsidy, tho deputation hinted at tho advisability of tho eight hundred and odd pouiids subscribed and expended being refunded by the Government. This was mot by a prompt refusal from Mr Sale, who, however, said iho material on hand might bo purchased if it was found advantageous to do so. Some mention was made about the estimated cost of the now structure, L2BO per chain being put down for its erection as far as Bell Rao & Co'.s timber yard, and beyond there LI SO per chain. Wo trust, having at last determined, the Government will no longer delay, but push the work forward with vieor.

Mr. Vogol has carried tho following resolutions in tho Otago Provincial Council '• That an address bo prosontod to his Honor tho Superintendent, requesting him to represent to tho Goueral Government, tho claims which Otago has to be mado the calling placo of tho steamers of tho Panama Sorvico on tho homoward routo, and the iidvantagos which would accruo to tho service by such solcction ; and praj ing tho Govornmont to movo for a solect comniittco of both Houses of tho Assembly to oncjuiro into Iho subject."

In tho Supromo Court yoslorday, whilst busincsß was proceeding, tho din ef carpenters hammering a way in Iho erection of ifr Hoove's new sloro, adjoining tho Universal Bond, greatly disturbod tho Court. His Honor sent first v polito intimation that tho noho must censo, but this having no offoot a stornor message, that unless it was put n stop to tho offenders would bo sent to gaol, wns convoyed through Inspector Broham. This hint wbb also disregarded, and accordingly two carpenters wore arrostcd and brought into Court bofore his Honor. When thoro his Honor oxphiinod that howovor sorry ho was to incon • yenienco them and prevent them from pursuing thoir work, it was imporativo that the ends of justice should not bo dofoatod through any causo whalsoovor. In all such casos private convenionco must givo way to public intercft, lor it was far botter that a private person should sujl'cv 6omo loss, than that tho Court, jury, and prisonors, should bo rondorcd mdapablo of hearing wlint passed in tho Court, if, therefore, tho men persisted in making a noise ho should at onco commit thorn to gaol. Ono oi them nuked what compensation they worj to get for tho loss of thoir ddy'n work $ but his Honor said that ho could givo none whatever. It was, no doubt, unfortunate- for Ihom, but lioro, as in other places, they must givo way to tho Supremo Court. Ho would not say any moro, as, no doubt, thoso before him would bo warned by what had taken plneo, and would not transgross ng tin. Ho then ordorcd them to be roloased from custody, and quiet roignod, unbrokon by the haminor's blow. Wo wonder if the thought occurred to his Honor that soino obligation rests upon tho (lovornmont to build court houses that shall bo imporvious to noiso occasioned by ordinary and reasonable processes of traillc and commerce. ' Wo yesterday stated, that > the prisoner M'Millan, charged with forgery and uttering, had been discharged through tho Grand Jury finding no "truo bill" against him. We were in some measure incorrect. M'Millan was discharged for the reason given above, but the oircnco of which he was accused was stealing a pair of hoots. George Knowling was discharged from an indictment for forgery and uttering, because of the Grand Jury not fiudinga " truo bill" against him.

Yesterday a horse attached to ono of tho wharf drays started from Gibson's Quay, and after a gontlo canter through Wlmrf-Btroet gradually increased his speed into Rovellstreot, and eventually turiied sharp round into Cassius and Conriskoy's store. Tho front part of the animal, with a portion of tho shafts, obtainocl ingress, but tho deep korbing thoro checko'd tho wheols and provontod the abovo firm from a further visitation of so unpleasant a cuslomor. Tho skill with which tho runaway, with his heavy voluclo, threaded his way through Wharf-slrcot, which was then crowdod with othor drays, was surprising, and one or two narrow escapes took plaeo. Ono man had to lake rofngo between tho whools and tho body of his dray to avoid being crushed, nnd had his horse started must in all probability havo been killed.

Tho Bruce Bay district is in n languishing state, very few diggers being located thoro. At tho present not more than thirty men are employed there, and they are working on a beach ten miles towards Oknrita, most of them got ting from half an ounce to ono ounce of gold each por day. Ashon time ago provisions were exceedingly scarce, which was, howover, been remedied by the opportuno arrival of Iho cutter Thamos, with a full supply on hoard, which has made quite a plethora in tho market. On hor return from theneo to Ilokitika, Captain Beveridgo, who for seme months resided at Bruco Bay, came in her, bringing with him tho unfortunate man in a deranged state of mind, who has during the past three months been entirely dependent upon him. We should imagine the Captain must bo rather glud to get rid of his disagreeable chargo, and think he deserves , some slight consideration at the hands of the Government, for his disinterested conduot, and tho timo he has thus unavoidably lost.

Vbo Southland Times says :— " It is' rumored that tlueo won, ono of them named Georgo Wheelei, a seiinmn belonging to the Qmfton, of Auokluud isiandg notoriety, Iw been drowned. «t

Stewait's Island, thiough tho accidental overturning of v boat, during the recent heavy gales." From Okarita wo havo leceived intelligence up to Wednesday morning by a gentleman who cai|jo from thence overland. Tho accounts ho. brings are decidedly encouraging, as tho population in that district is increasing, and tho workings slowly hut surely extending A considerable number of miners had located themselves on tho beach, to the south of tho Waio river, and were reported to ho doing exceedingly woll. Some splendid parcels of gold fiom %ooa. lo 14oz. had beon brought in from a lako situated twelve miles in an easterly diiection from the township The diggois, however, complain that it is almost impossible to got provisions out thero, tho bush being so impervious, clamouring loudly for a track which they alh'nn would bo the means of opening rtu inuuenso extont of country, so far untouched. We believe the Government have expressed a willingness to assist in cutting one, offering to subsidizo any amount collected amongst the puhlio for that purpose, by an equal sura We are glad the Government are discovering signs of vitality, although we think the expense should bo less equally divided. A subsidy of two to ono would be more proportionate, and como with a bettor grace from such a quartor. We have much fai'h in the future of the Okarita goldlield, and every succeedingreport confirms us in this opinion. Our tradewith it is increasing, tho p.s, Bruco again leaving for it yesterday evening with a considerable cargo and sixty passengers-