H.—22

12

Mrs. Neill and myself have frequently visited this institution during the year, and on each occasion have found it to be well administered. I am disappointed to find that the new Marks Ward, owing to delays from various causes, is not yet in occupation. The slates, which had been ordered from Home, caused a long delay, and now the plastering has been so bungled, either by the architect or the contractor, that, in my opinion, it will all have to be broken down and done over again. Nothing short of that can be satisfactory. I hope the Board will not tolerate any patchwork. As, I pointed out when the plan was adopted, the cost of this ward addition has amounted to nearly double the architect's estimate. The beautiful view of the river and grounds could not, unfortunately, be taken advantage of for the large wards, and it seems a grim sort of irony that such an outlook should be reserved for the opthalmic, who are better in the dark. The position of the matron in this hospital seems for various reasons difficult to define, and is, I think, one of peculiar difficulty. The former matron seemed to have little to do with the nursing staff, and did not appear to have a friendly acquaintance with the patients. I hope the new matron's duties will be carefully determined in relation to those of the house surgeon and steward respectively.

Akaroa Hospital. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 1 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 35 Total under treatment ... ... ... 36 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 34 Died... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... Sex. —26 males, 10 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Akaroa County. Country. —New Zealand, 14; England, 4 ; Scotland, 2 ; Ireland, 6; France, 2 ; Denmark, 2 ; Italy, 3; China, 3. ' Beligion. —Church of England, 18 ; Presbyterian, 5 ; Boman Catholic, 11 ; Lutheran, 2. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 574; individual average days' stay, 16. Daily average cost per head, lis. 7d.; less patients' payments, 10s. Bevenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 143 15 3 Bations ... ... ... 112 6 4 Derived from North Canterbury Wines, spirits, ale, and porter ... 376 Hospital Board, of which it is a Surgery and dispensary ... ... 2780 branch hospital ... ... 143 15 3 Fuel and light ... ... ... 25 15 9 Patients' payments ... ... 44 12 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 150 0 0 Other expenses ... ... ... 13 411 Total ... ... £332 2 6 Total ... ... £332 2 6 I inspected this hospital on the 22nd March, 1898. There happened to be no patients on that date. Everything was in good order. The matron, Mrs. Penrose, is capable and careful, and Dr. Hargraves is very attentive.

COBOMANDEL HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 7 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 96 Total under treatment ... ... ... 103 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 86 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... ... 7 Sex. —96 males, 7 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Coromandel, 22 ; Auckland, 4 ; Waikato, 5; Opitonui, 2; Australia, 6; Napier, 3; Hawke's Bay, 3; Cabbage Bay, 2; Whangapoua, 5; Kennedy's Bay, 5 ; Otago, 8; other places, 28. Nationality. —English, 16 ; Irish, 17 ; Scotch, 9 ; New Zealand, 42 ; Australian, 5 ; other places, 14. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 2,767 ; individual average days' stay, 26-86. Dailyaverage cost per head, Bs. 6fd. ; less patients' payments, 7s. lOd. Outdoor Patients. —Individual cases, 120; attendances, 443.