A.—3c

2

Sir, — Toetue, 3rd February, 1911. 1 shall be obliged if you will ascertain and inform me whether the Acting Medical Officer will admit to the Hospital for treatment a case of cancer of the breast, for immediate operation; a case of suppurating appendicitis; and a case of ischiorectal abscess. The patients are Natives. Discourtesy on the part of the Chief Medical Officer compels me to deal through you in this matter. I am, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. M. Dawson, M.8., CM.

[Copy of Memorandum to Dr. Story.j I enclose for your information a letter received yesterday afternoon from Dr. Dawson. Will you kindly enable me to reply. J. Eman Smith, 4th February, 1911. Resident Commissioner.

Dear Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 4th instant, I have to inform you that 1 only consented to temporarily act for Dr. Chesson during his absence. The cases referred to in Dr. Dawson's letter, I think, had better be left for the Chief Medical Officer to deal with on his return. Yours faithfully, Captain J. Eman Smith, Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. A. C. Story.

Sir, — New Zealand Cook Islands Administration, Rarotonga, Bth February, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, asking me if.the Acting Medical Officer will admit to the Hospital certain patients mentioned by you which I understand you are attending. I have referred the correspondence to Dr. Story. He states he thinks the question had better be left over for the Chief Medical and Health Officer to deal with on his return, and I agree with him. Of course, you understand that Dr. Story only consented to act temporarily for Dr. Chesson whilst absent on sick-leave. For your information I may say that I expect Dr. Chesson on the 16th instant. I have, &c, J. Eman Smith, Dr. C. M- Dawson, M.8., CM., Rarotonga. Resident Commissioner.

Sir, — New Zealand Cook Islands Administration, Rarotonga, 27th April, 1911. Further to my letter of the 23rd February last, I have the honour to enclose herewith, copies of subsequent correspondence between Dr. Story, Dr. Dawson, and myself regarding the admission of his patients (Dr. Dawson's) to the Hospital for operation. I have, &c, J. Eman Smith, Resident Commissioner. The Under-Secretary, Department of Justice, Wellington.

[Enclosures.] g lEj _ Toetue, 27th February, 1911. I find that the Hospital was gazetted as open in April, 1910. As Dr. Story has declined to admit to the Hospital the patients referred to in my letters of 31st January and 3rd February last, and as Dr. Chesson has not returned at the time you indicated in your letter of Bth February, I must ask you what is to be done in the matter. It is an unfortunate circumstance that some surgical cases will not wait for any one's convenience, and as one of the cases referred to in my letter of 31st January has already died, and I had to do an emergency operation on another in a Native house, 1 decline to accept any responsibility, either legal or moral, in this or any similar case. By the terms of your letter of Bth February the responsibility will be shared by Dr. Story and yourself. I am, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. M. Dawson.

Dear Sir Rarotonga, 28th February, 1911. I have seen Dr. Dawson's letter of the'27th instant, and have to report that no cases came to the Hospital for operation. o Your letter of Ist February addressed to Dr. Dawson informed him that the Hospital was at his disposal pending the return of the Chief Medical Officer, at present away on sick-leave, who would then deal with such questions. Up to the date of writing no case has been brought to the Hospital by Dr. Dawson, and my assistance has not been requested to attend to Dr. Dawson's private patients." I know nothing of Dr. Dawson's private affairs. Yours, &c, Captain J. Eman Smith, Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. A. C. Story.