HOSPITAL HISTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24244, 9 April 1942, Page 4

HOSPITAL HISTORY

Sir —The Auckland Hospital was founded in 1847. The first medical officer appointed by the General Government which administered the institution was Dr. John Johnson, who had been Colonial Surgeon from 1841. An account of his selection says in the easy manner of those spacious days that he was a gentleman by "education, manners and position in society qualified to gain the regard and esteem" of both native and pakeha. He died in July, 1848. Dr. William Davies succeeded him ia charge of the hospital and as Colonial Surgeon in August, 1848. In the circamstances the claim of your correspondent C. J. O'Keeffe, that Dr. Davies was the first superintendent of the' Auckland Hospital requires modification. The list, of superintendents up to 1900, with the year of appointment, is as follows: —Johnson {1847), Davies (1848), McGuaren. (1856), Philson (1859), Goldsboro' (1883), McKellar (1883), Bond (1883), Lindsay and Bell (1887), Floyd Collins (1890), Pearce Baldwin (1895) and Tracy IngbY (1900). I acknowledge my debt to Mr. F. C. Rauch, M.A., of this city, from whose researches this information has been taken. Frank Gwtnne.