CHARITABLE AID COMMISSION,

The evidence of Mr Oaddeford was continued as follows :—: —

Cross-examined by Mr Park — District of Kanieri last year, debt, £46 2a 4d ; £10 5a paid on that in June 1888, and balance of £46 2s 4d during that month and £31 of £51 17s 10 has been paid off up to date. I cannot tell how many patients have been received since then.

Cross-examined by Mr Northcroft — At the present time the Surgeon-Super-intedent was appointed these byelaws were in force. Dr Collins, "with others, applied in answer to the Traßtees' advertisement. No complaint has ever been made to the Trustees as to the neglect by the doctor of any of his duties.

Cross«examiDed by Mr Park— Debit, Stafford Committee, March, 1888, 63 10.1, and since March, 1889 have paid nothing in reduction, March, 1889, Callaghan's; debit, £18 18s sd, and have paid nothing since March, 1889. March, 1888, Fox's; debit £26 lls, have paid nothing since March, 1889. Kokatahi, since March, 1889, have paid about £20. March, 1888, GoJdsborough, credit, £1 14 a6d ; and since March, 1889, nil. Under section 72 the Trustees sued a brother of James Basset a destitute patient, Case dismissed. Tenders are called every six months for BUpply of all piovisions, coal, firewood, &c, by advertisement — always given to the lowest tender. The salary of surgeon is same as previous 9 years. Bye-law 17 was altered on March 12th, 1888. The cost of Westland Hospital prior to October, 1885 : — 1882, £3507 17s lid ; 1883, £3381 4s 8d ; 1884, £3146 12s 8d ; 1885. £3170 14 a lOd ; 1886, £3102 5s 9d ; 1887, 3213 8s 5d ; 1888. £3078 Is lid ; 1889, £3190 6s Id.' In 1887 there were alterations and repairs to building which accounts for increased expenditure ; made at the instance of the Inspector. In 1889 there was a surcharge made by Government of -£28 34a per annum. The amount £108 15a 9d paid by patients was all that could be collected. I do not see how you could dispense with any of the servants withoat impairing the efficiency of the Hospital. The salaries, as far as servants are conn cerned, a»e quite reasonable. I cannot speak of the surgeon or dispenser. My duties are to look after the financial matters, attending thrice a week at the room, when out patients attend, leep correspondence with Government and others ; these duties occupy my time fully. The advantage of an office in Hokitika is for one thing, outdoor patients in Hokitika would have to attend at the Hospital, whereas, they are attended to twice a week at the office, the doctor attending. All who desire to o* tain their prescriptions dispensed gratis have to go with ther prescriptions to the Hospital. Very few care about paying for their medicines. I dont' think the dispenser could as well perform the dutieß of secretary The bulk of patients come from the country, Total, 13 608 ; Hokitika, 4724 ; country, 8884. There ia only one incurable now that the Bene volent Society pay 103 per week for, we have had several. I think that by abolishing the ticket system in country districts all voluntary contributions and proceeds of concerts and balls would cease. The cost for the past year was 4a B£d, the year previous was 4s 9£d. Individual cases amongst out patients last year 332, number of attendances 567. I think it would be found equal, with the Government subsidy added the cost of country patient 3is covered by the country subscriptions. I would like to calculate before I Bpeak positively on this point. cross-examined by Mr Mishel — The 33 4d is the keep of country patients for contributing bodies and consolidated revenue,

Be"examinedby Mr Purkies— £797 Us 6d represents the aggregate o£ the fourth levied less £276 18s 6d charged to what may be termed the Hokitika district, leaving £520 in round numbers the amount derivab'e from country districta. March. 31, £240 2a 6d was the balance of arrears The £761 amount we should get by 31st March next from country districts on the quarter basis. Requisition only mentions £400 as amount estimated by voluntary contributions. As a matter of fact the country committees only contributed about l-6th instead of i th. We did not look upon £240 debit balances from country districts, 00 previous years, as an available asset, that is why 'it did not show with the £400 in our requisition. The voluntary contributions for 1888 are the district committees' contributions by gale of tickets, &c, they amounted only to £382 8a 6d' so we requisitioned £400. The payment of the one«fourth by country districts haß been debated by the Trustees on several occasions. It was considered a fair and equitable levy by the Trustees. I am not aware that the Trustees have taken any steps to prevent the admission of patients from the districts of Kanieri, Stafford, Callaghan's, Fox's, Kokatahi, and Goldsborough. The Trustees made their requisition and rendered it on 21st March, and I had not all the data for the paat year till after that. The Court adjourned at 5 p.m., to 10 a.m., 26th June.

On resuming, Mr Ouddeford produced a list of names and amounts paid by paying patients. I charge to each district the cost of patients coming from that district, and the committee, if they think the patient can pay, communicate with the Trustees. The Trustees do not look to the patient or committee for payment unless requested to do so. The amount opposite the names in list P does not represent the full amount in each case. J. T. was in three weeks and one day. He was liable to pay £5 15», and ii showing here as

paying £3. X am under the impression as he came in on 20th March, 1888, he haß paid the balance 555. G. W.. twelve weeks, £19 ; he has paid £5 and nothing more — . P four weeks and five days, £8 58 ;of which he paid £2. Ho waa discharged, dead. P. A , oue week, £2 10s ; paid £1 10 a. Some imes the admit . tance fee, £1, is remitted B. D., two 1 weeko and 1 day, £4; came from Roa9, | paid 30a, No steps were taken to rt cover balance. L. S., one week, £2 l()s ; paid fully. E, B seven weeks five dn\s. £12 15s ; piid £8 11h by arrangement. G. S., four weeks one day, £7 5s ; paid for £4 10. No ateps to recover balance. A B ia still an inmate from Kaaieri district. Eleven weeks four days ; paid £3 103 P. D., discharged, dead, three weeka five days, £6 10s ; paid £L 10s. I. J., two weeks, dead, £4 ; paid £2 11s. E. R., fourteen weeks five days, £23 15s ; al* lowance made being young, £14 14q. G. P., three weeks three days, dead, £6 5s ; paid £2, had no effects. E. P., one week one day, £3 ss. J. J., deid, left ss. Mrs P. paid £4 10s, balance of £2, promised to pay. A. S., dead, only left 5s T. A., dead, 10a 6d also. H. R , eight weeks three days, £13 10s ; paid £3. O. S., pauper, paid 6s. E Q., G. E., and G. E sent by Hokitika Benevolent and. charged according to arraagement—los per head per week. EQ. ia still an inmate. Hokitika patients : — Apiil — W. Kci-, 2 week*, bo payment, pauper patient ; no steps taken. W. Goodr'ellow, 27 weeks; no payment; no steps ; cancer Aa Can, 11 weeks ; no payment ; did not take steps ; Jacob Augustine, 2 weeks to days : dead. May — Mr Donough, 13 weeks ; no payment ; no application; did not know him; lists are read at each monthly meeting ; I received no instructions. June — C rnelius Foot, 2 weeks 3 days ; don't know him ; no payment ; no instructio 1 s. July — Daniel Nolan, 14 weeka 1 day ; no instru'tions to collect. Mary O'Nei), 16 weeks; no int'truc.ior.s; do not kriow her complaint. — Hoberc Fisher, 7 weeks 3 days ; do not know his occupation ; no instructions. Andrew Andeisori, 3 weeks 2 days ; do not know occupation ; no instructions. W. I). Banks, town clerk ; I have asked him; no ptymenfc. Cbaries Oliver, o weeks 1 day ; no inetiuctioQS. August — Giles Ready, son of a butcher ; 5 weeka ; have no instructions to ask his father for payment. Thomas M'Fatlane, 4 weeks : son of a draper, broken leg ; I asked bis father for payment ; he s.id he would see to it. Ptter Smith, ded, 3 wetks 5 days ; no tfftcfcs, no property. Lilian Holmes, 27 weeks, girl ; father not asked ;no instructions September— Stephen Moyle, inbospialnow; 31 w eks; family under benevolent Society. Mary Hardiog, 5 weeks 5 daja; do not know occupation. William Amo', 1 week ; under the Benevolent Society. Mien Dash, 6 weeks 3 days ; father a widower ; and poor : no instructions ; do not know his occupation. Annie M'Donald 2 weeks 3 days, dou't know her ; no instructions. Petsr Goudie, don't know him, 3 weeks 5 days; no instructious, Harry Kan, G weeks 6 days ; no instructions to to collect. Octobe; — Thoma3 Aaronson, 4 weeks 5 days, don't know him ; no in*structions. Cornelius Foot, 15 weeks 4 days, don't know him, no payment ; bo instructions, Joseph dimming, don't know him, 2 weeka 6 days, no instructions. Duncan M'Lellan, don't know him, 16 weeks 3 days, no instructions. November —William Cairns, 1 week 1 day, don't know him, no ins ructions. J^ugau White, dead, 3 dajs, wife ot Samuel White, bankrup', no instructions Johu Coull, 31 weeks 3 days, dtad, don't know him, no iufrtructions. December— Mary fti'Guirk, 122 weeks, no in- tractions to Bte the futber. C. F, Holmes, 6 weeks, no instructions. George O'Oonnor, 18 v?eeks 3 days, no instructions. January, 1889 — James Howat, 7 weal's 5 days, wharf laborer, works for corporation occasionally, no iostructions. Peter Jcssom, 40 « eeks 5 days, dou't know him; no instruct io s. JFebiuary — Maruaret Lewis, 3 wrens 6 dty; no instruct tions. March — Margaret Mshnick, girl, 5 weeks 3 days ; father sort of carpenter ; no in-tructi ns. John Moyle, 4 days ; don't know him ; no instructions Roland M'Guiik, 2 weeSvsS d'ys ; no instructions. Stephen Moyle, 6 weeSs 6 days ; no motruc ions ; ihes-e are the only records as to patients I have in my office.

Cross-examined by Mr Park— Heary Richardson Bas ; balance due £10 15> ; I have a^ked for tbis aud he said he would attend to this ; asked him last monh ; he was discharged 27th March ; the President gave me instructions; I dou't keow his pecuniary position. G. Witliams ; I know n (thing of his position ; nor Pntchard., nor Aiiamson; don't kno* his position, Trus> tecs said no ding about il. li, {Dickie ; have nut tiied to get balance.

(To he continued)