H.—29.

5

more about it. Next morning I received a note of dismissal from the service. I was very much surprised, and asked Dr. King what was his reasons. He said he thought it would be for the good of the institution that I should leave. Two hours after I got a note saying, "On account of insolence, a general spirit of insubordination, and unfitness for the position of an asylum attendant." 36. By Dr. King.] Begarding the question of insubordination, can you recall any cases in which you were insubordinate ? —Once, when first I came, 1 refused to obey Stewart to go on duty on the night of an entertainment, believing I was not bound by my agreement, having made a special arrangement that I should have no ward duty except on alternate Sundays. 37. Dr. King : It is absolutely false that I made such an agreement. I said that Arundel's duties would be on the same basis as Newman's, as to his going on duty on Sundays. Newman was on duty that night. 38. Witness continued : I am not aware that I refused to go on duty on any Sunday. The first Sunday I was here, following my arrival on the 19th January, 1892, Stewart informed me on Saturday that I was off duty my first Sunday; and Struthers, night-attendant, about half-past six or seven o'clock, came to me in bed and said I must go on in No. 2 ward. He said Stewart told him. I rose and, going out, I met Stewart and Struthers coining again, or perhaps going round. Stewart said I should be on duty in No. 2 ward. I said, " You told me I was off duty to-day." He said, "So you are, after 10 a.m. That is the custom." I did not know it. On Monday I asked to see Dr. King about it, and he explained, and I never objected afterwards. I went on duty after leaving Mr. Stewart. 39. By Dr. King. ] Can you recall that on the 26th March you were absent without permission, and failed to go your round, your night on duty ?—I cannot recall it; but I may have been mending a pipe. I never wilfully neglected my duty. I never heard of its being reported. [Beport shows the fact. On 4th April, night-report says : " Arundel refused to go the rounds; his night on duty."] 40. Can you recall being censured by me on several occasions for insubordination?—l cannot recall any. 41. Did you ever see cruelty inflicted on patients by attendants?—l have seen attendants handle them very roughly at times. I did not report this either to the head attendant or to you. I mentioned it to Adam, the assistant clerk, after my services were dispensed with. This was in conversation with Adam. I said I had been told that even then a man was laid up from injuries he had received. I could not be certain whom I heard say so. 42. Who were the men you had seen cruel to patients ?—I said Perry was given to shoving them about and sometimes striking them : not to injure them; but it appeared cruel to me. 43. Have you been in the habit of complaining about things connected with the asylum in the workshops or elsewhere in the hearing of patients ?—lt is quite possible, but I have not been in the habit of doing so. 44. Have you ever used language, recently, in the hearing of a patient, that there was likely to be trouble in the asylum at an early date ? lam speaking of a time prior to the date on which the attendants complained to me of the food ? —I do not remember such a thing. I think lam sure I should remember it if it had happened. 45. I understand that after 1 left the meeting some attendants got up and proposed to drop the thing, as it had gone far enough?— Two did go. 46. Did you rise ?—I took no part whatever. 47. Did Impey, your representative, press for an apology from me?— The attendants demanded that you should withdraw the words used. Matthew Impey, sworn, examined. 48. By Dr. MacGregor.] I was attendant in No. 2 ward, under Perry. At the request of the attendants, I wrote asking Dr King to call a meeting. At this meeting I read the statements which I hand in. Frequently the meat was much underdone, and several times it was sent back as uneatable —that is, within the nine months I was here. I have seen a joint sent back on three occasions. I cannot fix the times. Cauliflowers and potatoes were nearly always badly cooked, until quite recently, since the first complaint when the doctor was called in. It has been all right since then. The doctor said he would do his best to put it right, and did so. With the assistance of Arundel and Duncan, I drew up the petition for presentation to the doctor. I hand in the original petition. The object of the petition was to show that my original statement was correct. The doctor said the complaint originated with a small section of malcontents, who had not been long in the service. It was desired, to show they were unanimous. I understood the doctor to say it was a conspiracy on the part of a few with the object of disparaging certain individuals. Next morning porridge was cut off, and Stewart said we were to be kept to diet scale. We were two mornings without porridge. I heard the doctor say this was not intended to continue. The doctor said that the views he expressed when leaving the hall were modified—that is, about the bad cooking. Ido not remember hearing the doctor say he wished the newer attendants to see what extras they were actually getting; but in the morning we, got no porridge, and the chops were not sufficient to give one each. I was deputed to complain to the doctor. I asked if they all agreed that I should do so. No one dissented, and I did it. I did this for all hands. Some of the attendants, four or five, had gone away, Arundel among them. As he was always complaining about the food, they thought he had gone to the doctor. They always looked to him to state grievances. I had, previous to this, taken no act or part in the matter. I also thought he had gone to the doctor. He had been gone so long that I thought ho could not have gone after all. The rest asked, then, for some one to go, and then I volunteered. Previously I had always discountenanced everything of the kind, because whenever it became so bad that I could not put up with it I should go away ; I did not like quarrels. The doctor did not show any anger at having the complaint made to him. At the first meeting of the attendants called by himself, the doctor