19

H.—3a

of the grounds. No cesspits exist; and the ashes are utilized in the kitchen-garden. The bath-room is on the ground floor at the rear of the hospital. There is a zinc bath, with cold-water supply. Hot water is brought from the adjoining kitchen. The bedsteads are of local manufacture, —wooden, with canvas stretchers. Hay mattresses are in use, but do not seem to be comfortable. There are hair bolsters and feather pillows for the beds which are now in use. The sheets, blankets, and counterpanes were much worn, but scruj)ulously clean. The ward furniture comprises plain tables and forms for meals ; there are some Windsor chairs, and one or two riding- and rocking-chairs, but many of these are broken and worn out. No other furniture is in use. There are no floor-coverings, except a small piece of cocoanut-fibre matting in the entrance passage. Holland blinds, with rollers, are provided for the windows. No pictures or ornaments worth mentioning were seen. There is a most excellent library of books for the use of the patients and nurses : these are kept by the Medical Officer in the surgery, and given out whenever required. Three newspapers are also provided. The stock of bedding, blankets, and linen is very small, and almost worn out; if it were required to make up ten or twelve beds, more would have to be procured for the purpose. Many of the articles shown to me as being on the inventory should be " written off" as rags. There is no clothing in stock. The garden has been much neglected and overgrown with grass and weeds, but is now by degrees being got into good order and well cropped with vegetables. I inspected the food, and found it of good quality. The dietary is a liberal one (with the exception that only potatoes have been in use; other vegetables will shortly be available). The meals are well cooked and well served, everything being beautifully clean. Extras are only given by the order of the Medical Officer, who himself serves out any stimulants which may be used. The Medical Officer visits the hospital daily. Two members of the Committee make a weekly inspection. Visitors are admitted thrice weekly. The hospital is now in charge of a married couple—Mr. W. Hall and wife. They appear to be very suitable people for their position, and the general order and cleanliness do them great credit. The man occupies all his spare time with the garden. Their salary is £78 a year, with rations; and they occupy a very small room, about 12 by 9 feet, which they furnish for themselves. At the time of my visit there were four in-patients, all of the male sex. One of these is a blind man in good bodily health: he has been nine months in the hospital. Some efforts are being made to get him sent to Ireland, his native country. Two of the other patients are merely infirm from old age. One of these makes himself very useful (Crossley, aged 78). No out-patients attend at present. No complaints of any kind were made to me, but all expressed themselves satisfied with their treatment. The fencing of the estate is becoming very dilapidated, and requires extensive repairs. The hospital requires painting and colouring. The door of wardsman and Matron's room requires altering, so as to open on the lobby, and not into the ward for females. A sink, with water-supply, is required in the scullery. A clothes-horse is required for drying and airing clothes, &c. Some additional carpenters' and garden tools are much needed. 28th November, 1882.

QUEENSTOWN. The hospital is situated at Frankton, about four miles from Queenstown, and was intended to serve for the whole of this district. It well placed on elevated ground, about eleven acres in extent, and faces Lake Wakatipu. The building is of wood, and shows very obvious signs of the difficulty of procuring materials at the time of its construction. The roof is of iron, and has recently been entirely renewed, but the floors badly require attention. They should be entirely removed, when practicable, and relaid in better material. The two wings of the building contain the wards —viz., two for males and one for females. The central portion contains dispensary, kitchen, pantry, store-room, washhouse, and rooms for warder and nurse. A detached cottage, to the right of the hospital, is the residence of the Medical Officer. The wards are fairly suited for their purpose, and are lighted by sash-windows. There are ceiling ventilators and open fireplaces. The walls are lined with boarding, which is varnished, and has a dark and heavy appearance. Iron bedsteads, of old pattern, are in use ; and each is furnished with chaff paillasse, flock mattress, and flock pillow. There are red-and-white checked, counterpanes and good blankets. These, with the linen, I found to be exceedingly clean. The ward furniture is of rough and primitive make. From each of the end wards a passage leads to a small building containing two earth-closets. These were well attended to, and perfectly free from smell. The kitchen looks old and dilapidated. The floor is in a very bad state of repair. There is a good small range, with boiler behind. The washhouse is a poor, narrow, and ill-lighted shed. The dispensary is well stocked and in good order: there is here a fair stock of surgical instruments. A general register of in-patients is well kept; also a payment-book, which is examined monthly by the Committee, and initialled by the Chairman. The Committee attend at the hospital monthly, and examine the accounts. All goods are procured, under contract, by written orders, which are compared with the accounts when sent in. There is no diet-scale in use. At the time of my visit there were in the hospital six males and two females : they all appeared to be contented with their surroundings. Two of the men were proper objects for the care of a benevolent institution : one of them, however, makes himself useful here as a carpenter. Altogether there is accommodation for twenty-two patients. There are not many visitors at this hospital. The clergy visit it at times, and always attend when requested. Newspapers are kindly provided by their proprietors, and there are a few books which were formerly given by the Provincial Government. The grounds are utilized in part as a kitchengarden, and there are some flower-beds in front of the hospital. "Water is pumped up from the Lake by a force-pump at the flour-mill below. There is no provision against fire. The liquid drainage is conducted away beyond the grounds, and there are no cesspools : the night-soil is buried. A small detached building is intended^ for use as a mortuary. I had the pleasure of seeing the Medical Officer, Dr. Douglas, who evidently takes much interest in his work, and labours under much disadvantage as regar<te\the building and its appliances. It was, I think, a mistake to expend money upon the roof. The whole hospital really requires to be rebuilt. It is evidently doing good work, and is much needed in this district. sth February, 1883.