25

H.—7

My visits to this Hospital are always a source of great pleasure to me. Everything about it is satisfactory. Its management is liberal, without being extravagant. The doctor is skilful and most attentive to his work ; and the steward and his wife are most satisfactory. There is a good stock of instruments and antiseptic appliances of all kinds. The public, and especially the member for the district, take a very great interest in the Hospital.

WANGANUI HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1890 ... ... ... 23 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 172 Total under treatment ... ... ... 195 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 159 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 14 Eernaining on 31st March, 1891... ... ... ... 22 Sex. —lsB males, 37 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Wanganui, 62; district north of Wanganui, 20; district south of Wanganui, 113. Nationality. —English, 67 ; Scotch, 21 ; Irish, 47 ; Colonial, 53; German, 2 ; Danish, 2 ; Swedish, 2 ; American, 1. Religion. —Church of England, 77 ; Roman Catholic, 48; Presbyterian, 38 ; Wesleyan, 9 ; others, 23. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 7,685; individual average days' stay, 39-41. Daily average cost per head, 3s. 9£d.; less patients' payments, 3s. 4Jd. Outdoor Patients. —Individual cases, 52 ; attendances, 283. Revenue and Expendituke. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 466 13 8 Rations ... ... ... 279 6 11 Local bodies ... ... ... 418 13 8 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 210 7 Subscriptions and donations ... 618 3 Surgery and dispensary ... ... 149 0 2 Rents ... ... ... 406 17 10 Fuel and light ... ... ... 97 2 1 Patients'payments ... ... 165 210 Bedding and clothing ... ... 32 8 0 Other sources ... ... ... 20 4 3 Furniture and earthenware ... 86 5 7 Balance from last year ... ... 228 13 4 Washing and laundry ... ... 3917 Salaries and wages ... ... 580 10 8 Water-supply and rates... ... 27 6 3 Funerals ... ... ... 11 7 0 Repairs ... ... ... 35 7 4 Additions to buildings ... ... 171 0 0 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 23 9 2 Other expenses ... ... 88 5 2 Total ... ...£1,713 310 Total ... ...£1,623 0 6 I have inspected this Hospital twice during the year, and on each occasion found everything working well. Miss Hope, whom I knew well in the Wellington Hospital as a capable nurse, had her department in thorough order. Her two assistants also I knew a3 good nurses. I was very disappointed to find the trustees had actually built a new fever-ward at a considerable cost, as a part of the old hospital. This ought to be pulled down as unfitted from its construction for its purposes. It was all very well to put off the building of a new hospital till better times; but to sink more money in a new building, which must either soon be removed or greatly embarrass the planning of a new hospital, or if a new site is chosen must be useless, was to my mind a very great mistake. The labour and trouble caused to doctors, nurses, and patients by the existing building, with its manifold disadvantages, I had hoped would be soon removed, but now I am afraid this new expenditure will perpetuate the evil. I found all the patients were being carefully treated by Drs. Connolly and lanes, and I heard no complaints.

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1890 ... ... ... 136 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 881 Total under treatment ... ... ... 1,017 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 812 Died , H 83 Remaining on 31st March, 1891 .... ... ... ... 122 Sex. —640 males, 377 females. 4—H. 7.