ST. HELENS HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 16, 18 January 1913, Page 5

ST. HELENS HOME.

INQTJIB.Y UTTO 3s_JfAG£_—AT. TQIBEEWOP-KERS- COMPLAINT RESUMED. The inquiry into the canduct of the St. Helens Maternity Home was resumed yesterday afternoon, before Mr. C. C Kettle, s M-, Commissioner. Further evidence was given touching the complaint of the Auckland Timber—orfcers* Union, which bears reference to the death of Mrs Laura Elizabeth Chamber - UiLn. Mr A. E. Skelton re-presented the conrplalr-ints. and Mr Selwyn Mays the Department of Hospitals. Mrs. E_tf» Annie Underwood, of Port Albert, Kaipara, stated that she was the mother of the late Mrs. Laura Elizabeth Chamberlain. who died in the St. Helens Hospital after her confinement. Her daughter was of strong physique, and had no illness at any time prior to her marriage. S-Tie wis in service in Aackland for about four years before that. In June of lasi year witnesn came to Auckland, and lived ;it her daughter's house till the August fo-owing. During that penod Mrs. Chamberlain was in fjenerally good health. Two days after witness* arrival Dr. Brockway attended her (witness), and performed au operation for varicose veins in the lei. This left a small wound about an inch in length, which healed up in about ten days. Her daughter never dressed tbe wound, but prepared dressings for witness to applyto it. At the end of August, in eonse-

qnence of information which reached her. witness returned to Auckland, and went to see her daughter at the St. Helens Hospital. She found Mrs. Chamberlain in the isolation ward, ajid the latter complained to hex that she had been chilled as a result of the treatment she had received when the child was born. She further said that the matron. had inserted some stitches, and that she had not been seen by a doctor for three days. After the stitches had been inserted, they began to give ber pain, and the matron then removed them. Tne witness gave other details of the -•eased's condition on the lines of previous evidence. -Mrs Chamberlain told her that the doctor and matron rased to look in at her for a moment at times as if she was of no consequence. She did not say that she had cO—plained to the doctor ibo-ut the stitches, but only to the matron. Witness did not mention any of her daughter's complaints to the doctor, matron, or curses. She had made no move in the matt— _._ __- moned as a witness. The -history" of the ease wag re _r over to the witness, who S aid that it was incorrect in stating that Mrs r__iberiain dressed her leg night and morning for several weeks, and that she (Mrs Ohaniberiajn l had a bad cough for some weeks before her- confinement. Crcss-exajnined by Mr Mays: A -mail quantity of pus appeared when her leg was lanced, but not before. * At this stage Mr Skelnon was granted an adgc— —aent to call medical evidence which was not then avai-iile. MRS. XTCOL'S COMPLAINT. Airs En-uiy XicoJ. whose complaint is in process of investigation, rose and urged the necessity for taking full evidence and allowing cTosB-e_t.unina.tioci in all esses. noirwitfcstar-daig any admissions which the other side might have made. 5Jj« also asked pecr-usfeion to cross-examine the matron. Dr. Valintbxe. and cither witnesses when the hearing resumed on Monday, as her counsel. Dr. Bauiford. was not as well able to elicit in formation on certain subjects as herself. The Cornrniiyj-oner said that it was most in-egukir for both counsel and client to exaimine witnesses, and he could not permit it. As Dr. Ra.mford was not present he- would formally adjourn. the in_rtri—- till next morning to see what a— couid -be made. COUNSEL r_-*ti_es. When the inrpxiry re—raxed this morning. Dr. Ban-ford inrt-Lm_-ted thai he and hie client had decided that it would be best if he retired fro— the case. The Commissioner then asked Mrs Nicol whether she wished to secure other legal aiisistanee. but Mrs Nicol replied that she intended to conduct her case herself. J>he further remarked that she had a further complaint to make regarding the management of the Home. and that she wished to call Dr. Florence Keller and Dr. Brock—ay as witnesses The CormtTqisgroner replied that nhe e_tr—, coxa-plaint could -be admitted if a cotpy were sup-plied to Mr Mays. The iiKruiry- was then adjourned till 10 a-m. on MondEty. when Mrs Nieol'6 conrp_i_rts will be further heard.