ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 302, 18 December 1912, Page 4

ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

OPUN UN G OF HTQUTKT, SCOPE OF THE COMMISSION. "DEATH OF MBS CHAMBERLAIN AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION »' The inquiry into the St. Helens Hospital was formally ppened by Mr 0 0 Kettle, SJVI., this morning at* tie Maok! trate's Court. *^ His Worship eaid the Commission h±i only reached his hands about two minutes before the inquiry opened Mr Kettle then read 'the Commission, which set forth the scope of the inquiry aa lows: (1) The circumstances 6urroun/ ing the death at St. Helens Hosoitid* Auckland, of Laura Elizabeth Chamber lair.; and (2) generally as to the admin lstration of the said St. Helena Hoeoitai The Commission tore the signature of Sir Robert Stout, Administrator aa rf J returnable within one month. Mr Kettle said lie first point w« to ascertain who were parties to the in q-uiry. He had mrttaig before him W the Commission. ■Mr Selwyn Maye said .he apnear*? tithe Public Health Department * Mr A. E. Skelton aaid he Wa . :. structed by .the Auckland porters' Union to appear on ■uhe late Mre Laura Eliza-beth ChimU lain. . """•«• Airs Emily Niccol said: "I , appear. I have made the char*™ ? hare appeared before the Minister i.J been promised counsel." ' * Mr Kettle: Do you make any eh»,~. DOW? ' vu «g« Mie NIeeol: I decline to appear nsta I am provided with counsel. Mr Kettle: Who promised connsel' *-**"» Mrs Nrcool: I -want to *pp ear .^ prove the charges I have madef I £z ■been the only one to make any cwl Richard Knaggs: I wish to ™|* my daughter. iTw lor hands' NTiCd: * haVe yOUr ** c »*T Mr. Knagge: In that case I witidri* your Worship. ""on*, - Mr ' + K t ttle said an ? complaints TOBld nave to be put in writing, and namV ß of persons to be called as witness Am be supplied. ™* Mr. Skelton said the Commiesion ttt forth the points he wished to briar be. fore the Court. * Mr. Kebtle: Is any charge made against any official or medical man connected with St. Helens Hospital t'" Mr. Skelton: I am prepared to jedaoe my charges to writing. Mr. Kebtle: Reasonable -opportunity must 'be given to any person against whom a charge is formulated to submit a reply. Do you, Mrs. Nicol,' wisl to make any written charge in cohnectiou with this woman's death? Mrs. Nkol: I have already done so. Mr. Kettle: They are not before mc. Mrs. Nicol: I must ask for an «£• joumment. I shall not proceed without counsel. Mr. Kettle: Are any parties present in respect to the general question of tdministra/tion ? Mr. Skelton: I am instructed to t& the attention of the Commission to the present state of the building. «ad tls J equipment, in which patients ire accommodated. That I will include is or written complaint. Mr. Kettle: Are there. * any ehatps against officials or nurses'? Mr. Skelton: The inquiry is rt»jpttt to Mrs. Chamberlain's death' will c6ttr all I want. Mrs. Nicol: As tie whole thing hu ■been worked out by mc, iV All lies in my hand, but I cannot proceed without counsel. Mr Kettle: If you do not fonflulite the charges by the adjournment, I *iB • not be able to go on. Mr Skelton asked for the report 01 the patient's temperature, the "c»M----book" containing the history, of Jin- ! Chamberlain's case, and the night m day reports, also for certain correepoiuence that had passed between Ma : Nicol and the Inspector of HoepitWi Mrs Nicol: You"wffl have tint Mr Kettle: Will you kindly sit quiet There will be full and free inveetigtta I cannot allow interruptions. , '■■ . Mr Skelton: I ask your Worship, tilt the Inspector-General of Hospitals p> duce all correspondence that has {*!» between Mrs Nicol and ihinrtelf Vnw the reception of Mrs Chamberlain' Mi the Home on the 10th of Augurt, MB■Mrs Nicol: Yon won't get it. Mr Kettle: I want you to undtrstiM once and for aH iiiat I -will noi penffit these interruptions. The Court cmb« be conducted properly unless order * ! maintained. I Mrs N.icol: I bom- to your ruling. »• want opportunity to show the uaif - ihand Mr Kettle: Now. now! You are fwgetting again. I tell you there will 1* every opportunity afforded later on. Mrs Nieol: Very well, your WotsiipMr Skelton also* asked for the report j of the matron of the Home, and the Pailie Health Department, together with aB correspondence connected with%he de»ft of Mrs Chamberlain. ' . Mrs Nicol: I a=k yt>ur WorsMp ill may retire? Mr Kettle: Before you do so, is thert anything you wish produced? _ Mrs Nicol: I cannot proceed witM* counsel. I may say, however, itf charges-'Sre against the matron, »nd «" matron alone. . Mr Kettle: Tou can formulate tm charges now. , \. Mrs Nicol: No, your Worship. ** without counsel. i, Mr Mays said, as far as he £»«*>" had all the documents running b»«£ w 1&06. , A .. .j, Mrs N-icol: shall I get w est inquiry, your Worship? „ , l Mr Kettle: Wait a bit, Mrs >"col. ' will tell you if you will only w "V^ t Any charge tou have made in the and any .new charge in reason yon - to make_ if duly formulated, will M IUU J and freely investigated. a I The inquiry was then adjourned W I 10 a.m. on January 14th. „•_■«(. I Dr. VuWntine, Dr. Inglifl, and V»<* I Lean were present. I