THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3416, 8 September 1885, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

(By Telegram.) Wellington, Sept. 7. The Hospital enquiry was resumed to-day. Herman Herraanson, dresser at the Hospital, deposed lie had never seen Dr Chilton tho worse of liquor, but hud seen him oxcited and rather loud voiced, but could not say what was the cause of it. He went out once or twice with tho doctor and some others fishing, tho trips lasting two or three hours. George Sisson Cooper, Under Secretary for the Colony, deposed that what first led to official communications with Dr Chilton . asking for an explanation of his conduct was ■ an idea of the Colonial Secretary's and hi; own that something was wrong, and that \ there had been irregularities. The nurse , who had been dismissed by Dr Chilton . accused him of being drunk on the evening , whon he dismissed her. Subsequently tho . Chairman of tho Hospital Committee made a statement owing to a report from the medical . staff, with the result that the Doctor was sent for and attended at the Colonial Secretary's , office next day. Ho was then told that , he was charged wiUi intemperance, and was offered tho chance of resigning quietly, and if ho did not accept this offer an enquiry would follow. Dr Chilton denied any knowledge oi the grounds for such a charge, and asked for forty-eight hours to consider his position. This timo elapsed, and witness, by order, then wrote to Dr Chilton demanding his immediate resignation. Miss Marsden had represented on ono occasion that two patients had fled from the Hospital, and that two more were ready to do bo because of tho doctor's elrango behaviour, which sho described as more that of iv madman than a drunken man. Enquiries were made as soon as possiblo at the institution, and the doctor told to givo over charge to Dr Levinge. He did not do so at once, and witness heard that tho institution was m a stule of confusion, and the officials insubordinate, chiefly owing to the action of the Steward and dispenser. Further steps were immediately taken to depose Dr Chilton, and insist on his removal, and Dr Leringe was placed m charge. He never contemplated tho nurses would be dismissed at so lute an hour of tho evening. Tho doctor could have countermanded the order till tho following morning, but their dismissal was really duo to divided authority, and the delay m acting. Jußt about tho time the complaint came from tho Committee, Dr G rabham told witness, who had made enquiry, that Dr Chilton had for a long timo been m , a state of chronic alcoholism. Witness was not aware whether tho Committee had reI ceived nny previous complaints. The steward • did effect a considerable reduction m the kitchen expenses. Tho reason tho steward was dismissed was because tho Colonial ■ Secretary was not satisfied, and had reusou ■ to belicvo ho wos stirring up insubordination. , Thero was another reason also, iudependent [ of his connection with tho Hospital. His Bigning tho letter was not tho solo or chiol reason for Ms dismissnl. Mis 3 Marsden, who attended at her own . request, was informed that evidenco conso- , quent upon slatomenfs made by other witi nesses examined since hersolf would not be i admitted. Miss Marsden stated sho desired . to soy that sho might have been mistaken ir ! saying tho Steward was m the habit of going , out fishing, etc., with tho Doctor and nurses. , Tho impression that this was so was duo tc , tho Doctor and Steward being absent nt the ' same time. ; Dr Grabham (re-examined), said with rei gard to his former ovidence that ho had ■ repeatedly' told tho Colonial Secretary con> corning Dr Chilian's drinking habits. The • occasions alluded to were mcro convorsa- , tions from timo to lime which cropped up out of discussions on hospital affairs. After witness wrote to Dr Chilton, hit , conduct m respect to drink was much imi proved, and ho looked a different man m health. So for as witness' report to the Government went, if he had to write it down ;. ho would do so m tho same terms and truly, ■ becauso Dr Chilton was a very efficient man, [ and witness had no specific charges to brim? ; against him at tho time. Ho had nover soon i him drunk or montolly affected by drink, i though ho was constitutionally affected, and had at one timo tho oppoaranco of a coni firmed spirit drinker. Directly witness noticed that tho Doctor was resuming hie habits and fast gotting into a similar stato ot . tremulousness, etc., he at once reported the fact to tho authorities. ■ Tho enquiry was then odjournod until tomorrow. I MEETING OP THE COMMITTEE. i A meeting of tho Hospital Committee was 1 hold to-day, but broko up somowhat disori derly. Tho Government, m replying to the resolution forwarded them by tho Committee, ' asking that tho salary of a medical man foi i tho Hospital should bo increased to £500 poi year, refused to grunt their request, and th< 1 Committee m consequence refused to appoint i n man at tho presont salary. An amendment, that llio Committee Bhould rosign m a body, was put but not carried. Sevoral members then loft tho room, and tho meeting broko uj for want of a quorum.