H.— 29

4

acknowledged that he did not personally see the joints served out, but ordered it to be done. I then got up and said that it did not follow, from what we said, that Linton was either a liar or a thief, as the joints passed through several hands before reaching the attendants' table. The doctor then sent for the matron and the cook. 23. By Dr. King.] Can you recall my stating to the matron and cook, as a preliminary, that, as they had not been present at the meeting, it was fair to explain what had taken place ? Mr. Linton said the carcases were cut in rotation ; attendants said they did not get them so. I said I was convinced the attendants believed what they said, and that I simply wished to get at the truth?— Dr. King said that. This was after a hot discussion. 24. By Dr. MacGregor.] Eeplying to questions from the doctor, the cook said that two good joints, a leg and a loin, went to the reading-room (private patient's ward) every day. This explained why joints did not come to us. We mostly get necks. The doctor admitted that he had been mistaken about this matter, and there and then told Linton he had neglected his duty; and directed that the meat should be properly distributed for the future. The doctor went on to say he had no sympathy with the complaints about the bad cooking, lectured us a little, and left the room. I remember Impey asking the doctor to take evidence on both sides, and not merely from his own officers. The doctor said he was satisfied that the majority were quite satisfied with the food, and that the trouble only arose from one or two, who did not represent the majority. Impey claimed that the attendants by their presence supported his statements. The doctor would not believe this. The talk between Impey and the doctor got heated, and then the doctor left. I presume he meant that I was one of the malcontents. 25. Dr. King : As the meeting was called by mo, I said, in reply to Impey, that if men had grievances they must state them themselves, and I could not take silence for consent. Arundel said to me that a number of the men then present had grumbled, but shrank from standing up and saying so. 26. Witness : I believe the majorty of the attendants requested Impey to represent their complaints to the doctor. - 27. By Dr. MacGregor.] After the meeting I asked Stewart, " When should the lights be put out to-night? While we are all here we should like to talk the matter over." Stewart said: "Keep them burning till eleven." I did not stay more than a minute after Stewart had left. I went to bed. This meeting was on Thursday, and the paper was not got up till Monday. I heard before I had reached the meeting that the doctor had called the attendants conspirators, liars, and savages. I did not hear the doctor say so; but it caused a soreness among the attendants. The way the doctor had treated the complaint was constant matter of discussion. I am prepared to swear that Watts, Tattersall, and Impey told me the doctor had used these words of the attendants. They also told me the doctor had abused me pretty severely in the early part of the meeting. The doctor, they said, had stated that my statements were deliberate lies. They also told me he said the complaint was made with the avowed object of disparaging certain of his officers —meaning Linton, the matron, and the cook. This soreness led to the idea of laying the matter before the doctor properly. They—that is, Impey, who took the lead—the attendants in a body wanted to make a written complaint to show we were unanimous; and that it was unfair to charge us with being conspirators, liars, and savages, and asking him to withdraw those expressions. 28. By Dr. King.] Was there any mention of an apology ?—That would amount to an apology. 29. By Dr. MacGregor.] We only wanted Dr. King to withdraw those expressions. Impey, I presume, drew T out the paper. I did not see it till it was brought out for signature. At dinnertime on Monday this paper was produced by Impey. All gathered round him, and he read it out. They seemed to approve of it—that is, the majority of them said so. All in the hall signed it except Downes. fie said, as his reason, that he did not want to lose his billet. Next day he went to Impey and asked to sign the document, and Impey would not allow him. He then spoke to me, and said Impey put a memorandum on the back which made him more conspicuous than if he had signed it. I got Impey and seven or eight others, at Downes's request, to let him sign, after a little trouble. Impey's reason was that it would look as if he were coerced. Impey then asked the doctor to call a meeting at which this paper could be laid before him. He did so, and the Hon. Mr. McLean was present, at the doctor's request, because Mr. Chapman, the official visitor, could not come, and Mr. McLean being an official visitor himself. We all met. Several of the attendants were called before Mr. McLean, separately. 30. Dr. King explained that Mr. McLean wished to see the charge-attendants before going to the meeting. He saw the three charge-attendants. 31. Witness continued : The doctor related what had happened up to that point. He spoke fairly, from his point of view. He then left the affair in Mr. McLean's hands. 32. Dr. King: I left because I did not wish further discussion, because I had had insolence at a previous meeting. 33. Witness : Impey rose and said to the doctor, " Surely you will stay and hear what we have to say. It concerns you and your attendants, and not Mr. McLean." Impey read the report of previous proceedings. I had no hand in it. The doctor refused to believe we were unanimous, and said the trouble arose from one or two, who did not represent the attendants. At this point Impey produced the statement signed by the attendants. The doctor refused to read it. He then withdrew, and left us in the hands of Mr. McLean, remarking that it was not a spontaneous unanimity, but under coercion. 34. Dr. King : With regard to the statement that I said that I refused to believe they were unanimous, and that the trouble rose from one or two : I deny it. What I did say was that I had evidence that there was not complete unanimity. 35. Witness continued; Mr. McLean read this paper, and tried to smooth things over. He said, " Dr. King is a high-spirited man, and what you want is equivalent to an apology, and that is too much to expect in the circumstances." He advised us to go about our work and think no