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for a change in the nursing system; and this motion came up. At that time I thought that something more than this change was wanted, but I thought that it ought to be pressed home very strongly, and I requested the staff at that meeting to defer sending in their annual resolution until I had —I may say that I was then preparing a very strong paper to send in to the Trustees, and they kindly agreed to allow me to do so. 20. Then, you did, in February, 1889, read that paper?— Yes. 21. Mr. Chapman.] That is the paper which you have in the book before you?— Yes. Mr. Chapman : I have not yet had a copy of that. Mr. Solomon : I shall be glad to put it in. The Chairman : That is a different book, is it not, from the one already put in? Witness : Yes. Mr. Solomon: The Commissioners will find this report at page 143 of the minute-book. The Chairman : Do you put this book in ? Mr. Solomon : Yes. [Ex. vi.] 22. Mr. Solomon.] In that paper did you call attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the Hospital ?—I did. 23. You also referred there, did you not, to the necessity for special wards for the treatment of diseases peculiar to women ? —I did. At that time I had collected a sum of money for the erection of such a ward, and I referred to the fact in that paper. 24. There was considerable discussion, we know, of a somewhat acrimonious character? — Decidedly. I should like to make a personal statement with regard to that. This paper, which I read before the Trustees, was written with the object of drawing public attention to the state of the Hospital. I felt that the public generally had no idea of what an unsatisfactory state the Hospital was in ; and in writing to the Trustees my real object was that they should appeal to the public, so that the latter might get them out of their difficulty, which was due to want of funds. lam very sorry to find that my report contained irritating,matter. At the time I wrote it I wrote it in perfect good faith, but on reading it over after the lapse of a year I find that, unfortunately, it does contain, to a certain extent, matter that may have been irritating—that was unnecessarily irritating. But every statement in that paper lam perfectly prepared to substantiate now. 25. Do you remember this resolution being passed at the conclusion of the meeting at which that paper was read : " That the paper just read be received, and referred to the honorary medical staff to furnish the Board with a report at their earliest convenience "? —Yes, I do distinctly. 26. That paper which you read was received, and referred to the staff, who were requested to furnish the Board with a report at their earliest convenience ? —Yes. 27. Thereupon, I think lam correct in saying, there was a meeting of the medical staff?— Yes. 28. First of all, was that resolution referred to the medical staff? —It was. 29. And was the paper which you read also referred to the medical staff?— Yes ; I think that you will also find that it was referred to the medical staff. 30. Will you please find the report of the meeting of the staff at which your paper was considered ?—You will find it in one of my books. The next thing was a discussion upon the hygienic defects of the Hospital. 31. That is the discussion I want to see?— You will find it at page 30. [Private scrap-book.] 32. This newspaper report I have in my hand is the report of a meeting of the medical staff at which your paper was considered ? —Yes. If you look you will also find it in the minute-book of the medical staff. 33. I find at page 31 [private scrap-book] this resolution: "That, in the opinion of the staff, there are certain sanitary defects in the Hospital which ought to be remedied." Was that motion carried unanimously?— Yes. 34. Do you remember that resolution being carried ?—I do. 35. Do you remember this further resolution being carried, at page 31 [private scrap-book]: " That it be a recommendation from the staff that arrangements be made to have separate wards for ophthalmia cases, gynecological cases, and children's cases " ?—Yes. That was also carried. The first resolution was carried unanimously, but this resolution was merely carried. 36. Then, there was some objection to it?— Yes; one gentleman. 37. Do you remember a meeting of the medical staff being held on the 2nd April, 1889? —Yes. 38. At page 166 of the medical staff's minute-book you will find this resolution, which was proposed by Dr. Colquhoun : " That the honorary medical staff, having heard the evidence Dr. Batchelor has to offer in support of his statements as to the defective hygienic condition of the Hospital, believe that this evidence justifies his statement, and respectfully ask the Trustees to consider it." Was that so? —Yes. I consider that a very important motion. 39. Do you remember it being carried ?—I do. 40. I also find here : " It was also, on the recommendation of Dr. Maunsell, thought advisable that Dr. Batchelor should furnish privately copies of his evidence to the individual Trustees;" and that " the secretary was requested to forward copy of the above motion to the Trustees." Did you carry out the wishes of the staff and supply the Trustees with a copy of that evidence ?—Yes. I went with it to the printing office, had a number of copies struck off, and saw the type distributed, so that it should not get into circulation. I went to a meeting of the Trustees held that night, and left a copy of the printed circular for each Trustee. 41. Is this the document ?—Yes. 42. Mr. Chapman.] Was j that read to the medical staff originally?—lt had been read to the staff, and been carefully considered by them. 43. The same thing was then printed?— The same thing was printed afterwards. 44. The Chairman.] And you gave a printed"copy to the Trustees individually?— Yes. [Dr. Batchelor's statement here handed in [Ex. iii.]. I should like to make an explanation here. This