H.—3lb

20

Monday, 24th February, 1913. At Mr. May's request, inquiry adjourned to 3rd March. Monday, 3rd March, 1913. Evidence of following witnesses taken : — Robert Grieve. Dr. Thomas Hope Lewis. Jessie Burns. Dr. Constance Helen Frost. Charles Evans Maguire. Adjourned to 4th March. Tuesday, 4th March, 1913. Evidence of following witnesses taken : — Thomas Copeland Savage, surgeon. Florence Keller (recalled). Adjourned to sth March. Wednesday, sth March, 1913. Evidence of following witnesses taken : — Dr. William Chisholm Wilson McDowell. Ethel Jakeman. Mabel Davis. Cornelius Little. Adjourned to 7th March, 1913. Friday, 7th March, 1913. Evidence of following witness taken : — Tracy Russell Inglis (recalled). At request of parties, case stated and settled for the opinion of the Supreme Court re inspection of books, &c. Adjourned sine die. Wednesday, 26th March, 1913. All parties present. Commissioner reads letter, dated 7th March, received by him from the secretary of the Auckland United Friendly Societies. Mrs. Nicol asks the Commissioner to call the persons mentioned in the letter —viz., Messrs. Nerheny, Beehan, McLeod, and Gray—as witnesses. Mr. Skelton states that, having given the matter very careful consideration, he admits that the dispute between the friendly societies and the British Medical Association is not a matter into which the Commissioner can be asked to inquire. The Commissioner ruled that he could not inquire into the dispute between the friendly societies and the British Medical Association, but that the letter received by him would be forwarded with the exhibits and his report. Mr. Mays handed in the order of the Supreme Court on the special case which had been stated by the parties. Mr. Mays contends that, apart from the decision of the Supreme Court, the Hon. Minister objects, on the grounds of public policy, to the case-books and charts being inspected by any one except the Commissioner. Agreed by all parties that Mrs. Nicol's address on the evidence be now taken, pending further discussion re inspection of case-books and charts. ' ■ •; . ' Mrs. Nicol commences her address. - Adjourned to 27th March, 1913. . . . Thursday, 27th March, 1913. Mrs. Nicol's address continued and concluded. Mr. A. E. Skelton addresses the Commissioner at considerable length, especially on the Chamberlain case. Mr. Mays does not wish to address the Commissioner. After discussion, Mr. Skelton says he does not now press his application to inspect the case-books and charts, but requests the Commissioner to carefully inspect them with a view of noting the number of cases in which there was a ruptured perinseum sutured by the Matron, &c. Inquiry concluded.