PUBLIC MEETING ON HOSPITAL AFFAIRS,

West Coast Times, Issue 110, 24 January 1866, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING ON HOSPITAL AFFAIRS,

According to announcement, a meeting for tbo purposo of protesting against the conduct of Dr Ryley, ns Hospital surgeon, was bold last evening nl the Corinthian Hull. Long before the business commenced Iho placo was c.owdo 1, and a very large number of miners from Iho adjacent districts wcro prosent. Ampngst Iho.M> who attended were many of tho lending cili.icn.i, who confine I themselves, for tbo most part, to Ibo body of tbo ball. On Mr Bracken, who was the convenor of tho meeting, making bis appearance, great uproar nroso, hisses, groans, nnd applause being npparently equally mixed, nnd altogathor causing v perfect uproar. Whothcr from this reason, or from a disinclination to tnko any prominent part in tho present agitation, there was some difficulty in getting nnyono to accept tbo somewhat tlnuikless oftieo of ebnivnimi, Messrs Binney, Kennedy, O'Donncll, nnd other gentlemen, in turn, being clecied, nnd declining to serve. At

length Mr Lcary, barrister, who was on tin platform, was eleeled lo (bo chair, and under took its duties. Business] (lion commenced, but tlic appearance of Mr Bracken on the stngo was (bo signal for un uncurl lily row, tho two elements of approval and disupprovnl being, at (hat time, prelty equallj mingled. Tlio Chuirninn, for soino lime, was unsuccessful in calming Ibo storm, but nl Jonglh fho dislurlnneo ceasod. Tho Chairman thru read (be advert isoment calling tho meeting, and explained that as Mr. Bracken was tho convener ot'tho mccling ho would explain his motive?. Jt would bo for the meeting, after hearing his cxpltumiion, to dctormino whether or not ])r. Ryloy had been guilty of tho conduct alleged j but, in order to arrivo at. a fair conclusion ho begged that they would accord Mr. Bracken a patient hearing. This, established order, and the business of tho meeting was allowed (o proeeei without fii'ther interruption at tho (iino. Mr. Bracken then enmo forward, and after a mixture of npplnuso and disapprobation, managed to sccuro a hearing. Ho commenced by stating that in addressing Iho meeting ho wished to address tho Uokitika public, 'and not tho Ilukilika loafers. (Cheers and gronii9.) Ho mino forward (o advocate, tho i'ights of tho West Const and tho interests of tho miners, and ho did not coino forward through tho loast ill-will or animosity to Dr. Ryley. His obieet was simply on public grounds to exposo an inhumanity on the part of that ofllcer unworthy of Iho sivages of Africa. It had been Raid that ho called the ' meeting himself, but. he had done so at tho lvqurst of a number of gentlemen who possessed some humanity, and who did not liko lo see mon die liko dogs with no one to caro for them. [At this stage a disturbance by the opposition party occurred in the body of tho hall, but tho speaker's party got tha best of it, and greater quiet udo reignod afterwards.] If they were sat is lied with J )r. Ryloy, tho Canterbury Government aivl Mr. Commissioner Sale, ho should bo satisfied too, for ho was independent of 1 he Canterbury Governin out or any man on the Wcet Coast. Ho put himself forward on principle alono, and as an advocate of tho diggers' rights. 110 did not believe that even amongst, savago tribes n nian would bo found who would show siii'h **•* inhumanity as Dr. Rylcy ; and ho asked tho . . tjpinum of Iho meeting whether he (Or. ltylcy) I was a fit and proper pers-on for tlio billet ho then held. Neither Dr. Ryley nor Mr. Salo cared for tho public, and (ho management of ,• tho hospital had been a di<graeo in fact, such fcas would not have been expected in the Fecjeo Islands. Tho sneaker then referred lo tho fact that even tho Australian blacks wopt over Burko's death, and remarked (hat "no 0110 caved hero for tho lifo of a fellow-eouiilrunau. In reference to tho diggorj. (he speaker i«a\"od where would ciUiCi' Dr. Ryloy or MY.'ti.ilo be but for that clasp, and ho considered that these gentlemen should do all in their power to sorvo them as tho only producing class on tho West Coast. ITo chara:'terisol (ho conduct of Dr. Ryloy in lincivav^ill as digrawful, and us equally disgraceful in Ilokitika. Ono man that ho knew, who namo from Wellington, pitched his font in Hokifikii, and fell ill. 110 applied for assistance to Dr. ltylcy and Mr. Sale, hut got none, and (ho come- ' qu'enco was that ho died liko a dog. Tlio speaker would stand up for tho liberties that all enjoyed, and he who did not a«ist in oxposing tho abuses of (he hospital miv a coward to his country and a coward to his friends, Ho then road (ho first resolution, as follows! — " That this meeting i.s of opinion tint Dr. Ryley in discharging his dalies in Hospital Surgeon is cliaigcaMc with the most coldblooded inhumanity to many suflurer.% who have from time to time applied to him for mcdic.il aid and assistance, and n.oro especially in tlio case of the unfortunate dpccisrd, Crreon, whoso last dying moments lio refused to attend without first being paid In'.s full profo-sional fee ; and further, that Dr. Ityley's mtmoiandum and leiter published in tlie il'cit Coist Times, in no way exonerates or exonses him, irm c inuch that if Dr. Ryley was unable to givo liis fall attention to those rcr|itiiing his ndvicuuiul attondance, as a public officer it was his boumlen duty to liavo resigned his appoint inent," lie dcnouno.'d iho conduct of Dr. Itylcy in nob going to Hie a s's'.ance of the unfortunate man (xrcon, when called on, and argued, iliat a-t a public officer ho wis boun 1 to attend 10 all who applied for and require 1 relief. Mr Melody seconded Hie resolution, and in doing s),said it was well known tlia'. ho was not v speaker, but. he would g>3 an illus 1 ration oE Dr. Ry!ey's conduct. Amm who wa< il win brought to his (t lie speaker's) )-lacn and Dr. Ryley was sent for. The Doctor sat down by the sick man's brd.«side, but before making any furtlitr enquiry, d"iaamled of the invalid, who wus to pay \\U fee ? Tho man replied, that he had not a shilling, when the Dm tir asked him, why did lie s 'ml for him? How did ho have theaulacity to scud for him? A few powle round subscnl ed enough lo pay n nicdicsd fee, ami B;nt for another man. Mr Hackotl at tbisslu^u of tho proceedingx, referred to tlic circuinstanecs uf (Jieeu's , death, recapitulating, iv fa':t, the evidence already published in tlio report 01 tlio recci t inquest. 110 merely came forwivid, us he oxplained, to publicly stale that ovciy word of what he then said was lino, Dr. ltyluy's denial notliwitlislanding. The roioluliuii was then pul anil cirriod unanimously. Mr Horwick wished to givo imolliiT instance of Dr. Ryley's conduct Unit came undtr ]iis iinmcdiale notice. A man tl at ho knp.w, • w ho was wood-cutting, met. with an accident and clioppeil riijlit into his font. Tho speaker weufc to the Hospital ami na»v l)i- Hyhsy, told him of the circumstances, and requested him I) coins and visit the wounded man as ho \\»s afraid he would bleed to death. Tho Doctor, in reply, asked who was lo pay his fee, ami Iho Breaker then explained , iliafc Iho sitlloivi was a pnor man. thiiL lip recently ciinu ovoi from Christchu roll and ' a destitulc of mean-!, TUe Doctor said his feo was £1 Is., and Ik • would not go without it. The speaker went away back to »!io 111.111 to try and stop tlu bleeding, and .slnrlly afterwards the Docloi walked out ox lha ho^itil. The sj^aksr tuv

Ii m uoii g itna\ : n I luain entuntcd him lo visit the man. II- (OiS'juted then, nn I suit to the hosptal for lint nnd bandages. On arriving ivi. tln> i oh. Dc- H.i lt y said, that if tlio piticiit would pay his fee he would get. him into the haspital, though before tlii-i, be had said lint theie w:is noro'iniu tha hospital. Tho spedcer mh'isd the iiijincd man to ]>ay tho fee if lie hud it., and tin latter n\'i[ }m had £\ whioli was all ho had in flic wort«: Tho Doolor would not tako his fee short of tho shilling, nnd the speakor in chai ily made up tho missing money, and so got tho mvi.'s hurt nllcndcd 10. Tho speaker procecde I to common! on this Ciiso, nnd coi.cludvd by oxp.-essing his opinion thatDr Ityloy win nn iulinnistii Turk. (I nlnpplnusi). Mr. Chamborliun said bo always found in public meetings of this kind that some mean M-oiindrels were sent by tbo opposing cliquo lo kick up a row, nnd such hail boon the onso that night, though bo was happy to say that their eflbrrs bad not succeeded. The public

here had clone all in their power to remedy theso nbiirios ; they b.ul waited on Jfr. Sale, thoy liad memorialised tbo Government, they bad endeavoured to yet the nmnagoinent of tho hospital into their own bunds, Ixtt all in vnin. No £»0.l could ivsiilt till tbii part of C'ant-rbi.ry was se)>aralcd. Tho speaker dwelt on tlio advnuiu^e? of separation, whoii bo wns called to order by tbo meeting, und bo reverted to tbo aubject of tbo meeting, lfo referred to tbo largo number ol'inciucets where riders eiimiiHtorv on Dr Hyley ba.l been made. In tact, tbo CunfVibuvy (U)»< % rnnicnt nnd ])•. Byloy ceomod lo turn tha sick nnd wound* • froin'tbeir door, nnd bo nppealod to llu meoling whether such a alito of filings was t» last. In England if a duly qua'ilied tiiedio.d man was palled on to aMend to a patient iv oxlivnio danger, nnd did not ('lo^o, bo could bo brought lo justice, nnd why should not lbs same law exist bore ? (Cheers.) Thero wns every need for tbo public lo In ko Iho imiiHigonunt of tho hospital into their own bnmls, an I att ml to tho comforts of their sit k themselves. Ho hoped Iho public would w.oll weigh tlio whole matter, and would i\ut, on coming to n decision, lie then propof-o I (bo loUc.wi ig isolation ;— •'That tins meotin ; hof opiniin tliafc J)r. llyley is not a lit nnd piopor person to hold the appointment of public ine.iiid oliiccr, his iidiniii mity to tho aillijud liuvin/ on several occasions been indisputiibly «nb-l.ui!iiiled, his iiidilVoveiu-o to public feeling patent to all, ami his entiie apathy to Imirai suffering aeknowlul o ed oven liy his own conti s.^iond." (C/'liuers ) Mr. llowi.cv had gicat ploa-uro in secon.lin« Iho motion, for ho thoughti Dr. l!yl> i y's cuiducl wns alike disjiucoful to him and l;> the public for not having taken notion before this. At an inqacst that he w»<» on four or live months a;;o, it was prove,l that Dr. Kjley had refused to attend on n dying man at uu hot.l bucin-e ho li.ul no money" timely this was a pro ty t.tato of iilKiiia lo exiat in any count ly. After soma funher iemarks on Dr. Uvley's c ■mbit-t, the apeiker su-,'-gested I hat if tie publiu were debarred from any voice in tlio m mageiiicnli of tlio 110-ipital, llu'vshould refuse to biibsui ib,\ but should instead contribute to tho suppjrt ot a Jlfiiovoleiit Asylum, to bo maininiiibd and mau.igei\ without any (jovonmiLiit nid nt all. ■ The second losolulion was then put and carried unanimon.-ilv. as in the first instance,

Mv lir.iekon thiinked llio.ie present for lite n-anner in wliioh they had received hU meir, mid for tho resolutions they had agreed to. Mr Cli.miWlii'n moved, find Mr 0c0'33 seconded, a vole of tlianks to Mr .Bracken, for the btmul he had taken oa this rpieslioa, nnd tho resolution was cairied i:i the nu'it enbliusinsUc inanncr

.Mr Rowley w:>s about to nddrosn the inccling on jjener-il loe.il topics whoa li« was stoppail by t!ie meeting. He then proposed tli;v-3 cheers for Dr Achcson, md three- groans for Dr Kylry, ami bolli were given inoa lie.u-iily. After lliis, a partisan of Dr Kyley's attempted to Jifend that gentleman from a statement niti'lu by v ])cr.;un on tlio oihor side, Imb ho cjiild sourcely gc'. a hca.in;,', and conKI only say a few word.).

A digger, wlio<o n;>mo our ro[>ortcr <lid not Ciiloh, oiiiio forwiitil ami stilled Unit liis lirotlior hud been ill, mill sought shelter in tlio hospital. Dr Hylsv (luiunnilcil )/i 8i nutumoc I'up, wliiub WMK p.-i«l, and ul'lor tlio ]» iliout ii i«l lioon fovon weeks in tlio lio-ipitiil. a furilior eh.i 1^) ot LlO 10s, or GOd per wcok. win nmdo. Tlio spciker gfivo Dr li.vli'.v Lit iv notes bul ilr.liiHer (.'.uvo him luck no clmnjjo. (Hiuum.) Aficr a vote of llitiuks tJ tlio cliairiiiiiu, the meeting separated.

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