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Do you remomber asking me if I would do your leg, and I said J would?— One of the nurses told me Dr. Collins was coming in the morning, and I asked to have him sent along early. You said the cabbage was full of snails: did they have shells on ? —I didn't have my glasses on, doctor. You would have seen them had you had your glasses?— Certainly I shouid. Mrs. Elizabeth Harper, Edinburgh Street, Newton, said she was a patient for fourteen days in August, 1904. She was first in Ward No. 9, and then removed to No. 4 Ward. No. 9 was a fever ward, but witness was suffering from blood-poisoning. There were two noisy patients in the ward at that time, keeping witness awake all night. The patients were delirious, and one had to be strapped down. In No. 4 Ward one patient became very bad, and was for two days delirious, causing great excitement in the ward. All the patients were upset. It was a delirium-tremens case, and she was taken away. She was continually talking, screaming, and singing out, and it took the nurses all their time in looking after her. What was the quality of the food?— The food was very bad. In what respects?—lt was that bad that some of the patients could not eat it. The fish was not good. The potatoes were bad, and the beef-tea was given without salt. The bread also was very bad. At times I could not eat it at all. The eggs we got at times were also verybad. Mr. Reed: You say the bread was bad?— Yes. The tea?—lt was more like water. The fish was bad and insipid. There was no salt with it, and it had no taste. Sometimes it was cooked on the one side and not on the other. What do I understand—was it unfit for food?—lt was rank, and not fit to bring to any patient. Did you make any complaint?— That was the only complaint, in addition to insufficient attendance by doctors. Did you say anything to any one?—l said 1 did not like it. 1 complained to Sister Wood, and she didn't seem to think anything about it. She said the other patients could eat it. Dr. Inglis, who was next called, said he was a resident of the Auckland Hospital for two years, and for a time was Senior Medical Officer, completing the latter engagement in 1901. While there he did not have cases of suppuration. He was on the honorary staff at present as honorary anaesthetist. When there were scarlet-fever cases at the Hospital under his regime there was no increase m cases of suppuraiion. In his opinion, the administrative work of the Hospital should be done first thing in the morning. When he was in charge he started on the wards at half-past 8. He lived at the Hospital at that time. To leave tho administrative work till 10 or half-past 10 o'clock would interfere with the visits of the honor aries who arrived any time after 9 o'clock. Mr. McVeagh: From your experience of hospital administration, do you think a hospital could be well looked after when the Senior Medical Officer lived away from the institution and came to the Hospital about 10 o'clock, leaving about 4 or 5 or 6 o'clock?—l don't think that would answer. Mr. Beetham: Should he live at the Hospital?—At any rate, close to it. Dr. Inglis considered the production of certificates acted very well, but in a case of emergency should not be insisted upon. He had admitted patients without certificates. Mr. Beetham: You never allowed the porter to deal with cases?— No. The witness did not think it a good practice to put deliriumtremens cases in the same ward as typhoid-fever cases, as they would iiritate the latter. When in charge he had carried out his duties in regard to giving lectures to nurses, and in addition to the lectures gave clinical demonstrations in the wards. The proper training of the nurses was important to the administrator, as well as important from the point of view of the public. Mr. McVeagh: Who did the major operations during your time? - -The honorary staff. Did the Senior Medical Officer do any serious abdominal operations?—l don't think so. I did one while I was there. Do you tpprove of the system of the Senior Medical Officer doing these operations?—No, I don't. Had you ever any difficulty in getting surgeons in cases?— No. Any difficulty in getting them to attend consultations?— No. I think we always had a quorum. In what classes of cases have consultations been called lately?— Consultations have been called in cases where they were unnecessary, with the result that members of the honorary staff have got rather tired of it and won't attend, because it takes up a lot of time. Were you present at a meeting of the honorary staff just prior to Dr. Neil's suspension?— Yes. Was there some discussion about emergency operations?— Yes. Was Dr. Collins present?— Yes. What was the trend of the discussion? —On the subject of emergency work generally. Did Dr. Collins make any observation?—He objected to the rule relating to emergency work being altered. The proposal under consideration was that the honorary staff should be called on to perform major emergency operations. I understood Dr. Collins objected. Was a statement made as to the Board changing the rule?— Dr. Collins said it could not be changed without affecting the status under which he was appointed. I further understood him to say that it would mean his resignation if it was altered.