H.—22

8

Beligion. —Church of England, 27; Presbyterian, 55; Wesleyan, 4 ; Boman Catholic, 10 ; Lutheran, 1. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 1,880; individual average days' stay, 19-38. Daily average cost per head, 7s. 6Jd.; less patients' payments, ss. lid. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 117; attendances, 157. Eevenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 173 3 0 Bations ... ... ... 148 4 5 Local bodies ... ... ... 152 15 0 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 6176 Subscriptions and donations ... 170 17 1 Surgery and dispensary ... ... 43 12 6 Patients'payments ... ... 147 9 9 Fuel and light ... ... ... 27 15 0 Balance from last year ... ... 168 6 9 Bedding and clothing ... ... 613 0 Furniture and earthenware ... 22 4 9 Salaries and wages ... ... 368 11 8 Funerals ... ... ... 2 0 0 Bepairs ... ... ... 11 10 0 Additions to buildings ... ... 39 15 0 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 614 0 Insurance ... ... ... 8 14 9 Other expenses... ... ... 5144 Total ... ... £812 11 7 Total ... ... £743 16 11 Inspected 9th March, 1898. Dr. Thomson resides in the grounds, and I heard everywhere of his attention to his work. In this district there is an outlying mining centre called Macetown, lying high upon the ranges, and a proposal was mooted that the doctor's salary should be increased by £50 on condition that he should visit Macetown once a week, and treat patients there on the same terms as at the centre—Arrowtown. I pointed out that this would be an ingenious way of providing the people of Macetown with cheap medical advice at the cost of the colony. I understand that this view of the case has now been admitted. The Arrowtown Hospital is well managed in every respect.

ASHBUBTON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 12 Admitted during the year ... ' ... ... ... 183 Total under treatment ... ... ... 195 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 175 Died ... ... 8 Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... ... 12 Sex. —170 males, 25 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Ashburton County, 190; Lake Heron, 1; Timaru, 1; Christchurch, 1; Hanmer Plains, 1 ; Bangiora, 1. Nationality. —English, 52 ; Irish, 53 ; Scotch, 19; New Zealand, 58; Australians, 7; Welsh, 2; others, 4. Beligion. —Church of England, 74; Presbyterian, 41; Boman Catholic, 48; Wesleyans, 18; others, 14. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 4,291; individual average days' stay, 22. Daily average cost per head, ss. 6fd. ; less patients' payments, 4s. lid. Outdoor Patients. —None. Bevenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d From Government ... ... 508 7 1 Bations ... ... ... 304 9 4 Local bodies ... ... ... 490 0 0 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 14 6 6 Patients' payments ... ... 138 9 0 Surgery and dispensary ... ... 151 3 0 Other sources ... ... ... 8 0 0 Fuel and light ... ... ... 53 12 1 Balance from last year ... ... 155 11 1 Bedding and clothing ... ... 1886 Furniture and earthenware ... 51 9 4 Washing and laundry ... ... 2 5 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 441 18 10 Funerals ... ... ... 15 1 6 Bepairs ... ... ... 25 110 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 867 Interest ... ... ... 026 Insurance ... ... ... 15 15 0 Other expenses ... ... ... 91 18 11 Total ... £1,300 7 2 Total ... £1,193 18 11