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14
Mortuary.
In 1892 I first referred in my annual report to the
necessity of a mortuary for this district, and since then
have, year by year, brought the matter forward again. As
far as I am aware it has never been once taken into
consideration at this Board, but nevertheless, I have no
hesitation whatever in again mentioning it and urging you
to find the necessary time to consider whether it cannot
be arranged for. The reasons I gave last year still hold
good. They are in my last year's report, but as they can
be put forward now with added force, I repeat them. " In
the matter of accidents or deaths necessitating an inquest
the Coroner has for some time past taken to ordering the
removal of the body in nearly all instances to the mortuary
at Kingston, and then holding the inquest in that town.
This is a subject of very considerable importance to
relatives, witnesses, jury and medical men, as the distance,
one to two miles or more, and the bringing back of the
body in many cases, involves expense and much waste of
time. But in addition to this the Infectious Disease
(Prevention) Act, 1890, adopted by your Board, requires
the removal of bodies under certain circumstances to a
mortuary. I do not know what right or powers, if any,
we have of access to the Kingston mortuary for the
purposes of the Act, i.e. those dying of infectious diseases,
but I think the matter should be arranged for in some
more suitable way than at present, and better and more
convenient premises provided in our own district than those
we have to put up with at present."
Since then our acreage has been nearly trebled, and
the distances are consequently much further. I have just
recently had an experience that justifies me fully in pressing
this matter upon you, and to which I will refer at some
future time if the opportunity offers, but I may briefly