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lettin can only have been written for the sake of annoyance.
Scorrection wilts this Jams compelled to bring the following complaint forward for the consideration of His Excellency.
The Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital, has for long past been wanting in ordinary courtesy in his bearing towards me but the last four months he has been unwarrantably offensive in his manner and in his discourtesy to me before the subordinates of the Hospital that it cannot be overlooked.
When I pay my morning visit to the Hospital, when he chooses to be present, I am received with a sullen and discourteous demeanour; any questions I may ask receive the surliest and curtest replies; I can obtain no reports of the cases admitted to Hospital or of events that have happened during the previous day in that Establishment – I am never willingly informed of any operation that is made or going to be performed or in fact of anything that occurs in the Hospital.
Only a few weeks back on my arrival at the Hospital I found Deputy Inspector General Breen, Mr. Austlier, naval surgeons and a surgeon called in to consultation; on a case in the Hospital which the Superintendent had never brought to my notice; and this is not the first time such a thing has occurred.
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Under such circumstances I must decline any responsibility for the proceedings of the Superintendent except that of forwarding his letters to Government through me, many of them quite unnecessary as the one inclosed; he in every way possible declines any recognition of authority in the Head of his Department and his petty annoyances and excessive discourtesy are now quite unbearable.
These frequent complaints concerning his being overworked and his not being allowed private practice (these complaints notwithstanding) are I believe the causes of his ill humour and discontent. These complaints as His Excellency is aware have been frequently made in the last few years and latterly have been incessant. A Commission of Enquiry was appointed to consider these complaints and decided they were groundless. The Superintendent's remarks on that decision calling for His Excellency's disapprobation, sufficiently betray his ill temper and unsparing manner to those with whom he disagreed.
I am sure that his conduct is doing much harm in his Department for it is impossible to expect his subordinates to conduct themselves properly when they have such an example set them as his behaviour to his superiors which is subversive of all discipline.
I should have brought this complaint forward long ago if his treatment