ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT OF A PATIENT AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 37, 15 February 1881, Page 2

ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT OF A PATIENT AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Three female attendants attached to the Mount View Lunatic Asylum, namely, Ellen Frost, Mary O'Kane, and Ellen Nolan, were charged, on the information of Superintendent Whitelaw, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, before Mr. E. Shaw, R.M., this morning, with having, on the 10th instant, struck and ill-treated a patient named Eliza Thompson, contrary to the Act of 1868. The Hon. Mr. Buckley said— l appear for these defendants, your Worship, and I would ask you to consider whether it would not be better to adjourn these cases until the investigation which, I understand, is now pending shall have taken place. It Boema very strange that immediately charges of this kind are referred to in the publio prints the Superintendent should suddenly allow informations to be laid against these three people. There can be no harm in adjourning the cases, though I am now quite prepared to defend any charge that may be brought against the defendants. His Worship— Does anyone appear on the other side ? Superintendent Whitelaw — I am here, Bir. I have not engaged any counsel. Mr. Buckley — I may mention that these informations were only served late last night, and it is scarcely proper that a matter of this kind should bo investigated bo suddenly and quickly. The matter requires more careful investigation than appears at first sight ; and it is only right that the fnllest investigation should take place in reference to it. The matter, in fact, is before yourself, as one of the Commissioners, and no doubt it will recoivo tho fullest attention. Then it will be time enough for it to be gone into. His Worship— l may Blate, with regard to this matter, that I have been lately asked by the Government to act as one of a Royal Commission to enquire into various charges which have been brought against various members of tho staff at the Lunatio Asylum. Of course, the scope of that commission is sufficiently wide to include all charges of this nature, and to make them form part and parcel of the investigation. It seems to me it would stultify the action of the Government entirely if I were to adjudicate alone on this matter. If you had not mentioned" the matter at all, I did not propose to-day to go into the present oharges, bat to adjourn them for fourteen days. Mr. Buckley— l think your Worship will find that will be the best course for all parties concerned, the public particularly. His Worship— lt will be neoeßsary for them to enter into their own reoognizanoea to appear here in 14 days. Mr. Buckley— Oh, yes, they will do that. His Worship — And if a further remand is then necessary it can be had. Superintendent Whitelaw — I think it would be well to bind over Catherine Palmer to appear as a witness. Sho is not subpoenaed at present. His Worship— l have none of the witnesses before me at present. If you wish to enforce the attendance of any witnesses you must subpoena them. Superintendent Whitelaw— l will do bo, sir. His Worship— Well, I will take tho recognizance of each of the defendants in the sum of £25 for their appearance this day fortnight. The cases wore then formally adjourned for 14 days. ST. JOHN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ? The annual congregational meeting was held in the above church last night, tho Rev. J. Patterson in the chair. The Chairman read the annual report, Bhowing that tho membership in full communion had increased during tho year, there being now 270 on tho roll, of which the average was 200 at eaoh quarterly celebration of the Lord's Supper. Notwithstanding tho severe commercial depression, tho revenue was greater during 1880 than tho preceding year, and ample to meet current expenditure. The two main sources of rovonuo — tho pow rents and Sunday collections — yielded £P9O 17b lid, sundry rocoipts £308 15s 3d, making £1299 13a 2d. 'I ho staff of elders had decreased by throe mombora, this occurring through removal and other causes, but the full complement would during the present year bo made up. The three Sunday schools connooted with the Church are all in a most efficient state, there being 565 children attending, taught by 56 teachers. 'I he Band of Hope now numbers 120 members. Its meetings have been regularly hold on Friday evenings, and it is doing good work in tho cause of temperance. The minister's Bibb Class for advanced students numbers 31 members. It has mot during seven months of the year, and is for the present in vacation, but is shortly to be resumed. The Churoh Missionary oontinuod his labours, especially in tho Adelaide Road and Nowtown districts, with evidences of great profit. His work mainly is in house-to-house visitation, in holding prayer meetings and* a Sabbath service in the Adelaide Road Hall ; besides those he visits regularly tho Hospital, and ha 3 now established a class for teaohing the blind to read tho Holy Scriptures. Tho Wednesday evening prayer meetings have been fairly attended. These havo bean conducted by the minister and elders, and to thoso regularly at them it has beon found to bo a Bweet hour of prayer " and spiritual refreshment amid tho caro and turmoil of the week. During tho year tho new raanao for the minister was commenced ; it will bo finished in April next, for which thore are ample funds provided. The report concludes with " the hope that tho year on which wo enter may be one of increased oarnostnoss and activity in every Christian work, and that, by the Divine blessing, all may enjoy true peace and prosperity." Mr. Gardner road tho treasurer's statement. This showed that the balance in hand at the commencement of the year was £26 14s, and, including this Bum, the revenue tor the year had amounted to £132G 7s 2d. The principal disbursements were ministers stipend, £600 ; Mr. Moirs' stipend, £100 ; ohurch missionary, £120 ; interest on loan, £153 ; choir master, £58 ; gas, £27 ; door-keeper, £34 ; insurance, £19 ; proooods special collections transferred, £160; potty accounts, £37, &c, the balano9 to credit being £L 13s 6d. The building account showed the year commonoed with a balance of £400, that a new loan of £2500 had been raised, the total receipts, including interest on deposits, reaching £2948. The disbursements oomprisod redemption of new mortgage, £1500 ; interest, £16 ; arohiteot's fees, £25; law costs, £20; commission on loan. £37 ; on account of now manse, £300 ; total in round numbers, £1899, leaving a balance of about £1050. The liabilities of tho church when the manse is paid for will be about £2899. Tho Rev. J. Patterson moved the adoption of the report, and congratulated the church on the generally healthy character of every branch of its work. Mr. W. Waring Taylor, in seconding, stated that Mr. Waltsr Turnbull had that day generously presented to the ohurch £136 in debentures and interest. This announcement was received with much appreciation by the congregation A vote of thanks to tho retiring committee, especially mentioning tho name of Mr. W. Waring Taylor, who had bo untiringly acted as hon. secretary for so many years, was accorded. The following gentlemen wore elected a committee for the current year :— Messrs. J. Allen, R. Greenfield, R. Gardner, D. Gray, W. Hopkirk, J. Kirkcaldie, J. M'Kerrow, Thoa M'Konzie, W. S. Reid, T. K. Macdonald, W. Sloane, Taunt, W. W. Taylor, Waddell, Whitehouse. AuditorsMessrs. J. King, J. C. Webb.