H.—22

16

This hospital contained nine patients on the date of my visit, 13th July, 1897. Owing to the time of the steamer's arrival, I had to make my inspection very early in the morning. I found the night nurse on duty carefully attending to her work. Everything was in most gratifying order. The patients were very comfortable, and evidently well attended to.

GEEY BIVEB HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 52 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 152 Total under treatment ... ... ... 204 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 126 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 26 Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... 52 Sex. —lBo males, 24 females. Localities from which Patients came. — Grey Hospital District, 192; Christchurch, 1; Wellington, 1; Jackson, 6; Nelson, 1; Otira, 2; shipping, 1. Nationality. —British, 175; French, 1; German, 1; Spanish, 2; Danish, 3; Chinese, 10; Norwegian, 1; Swedish, 5 ; American, 1 ; West Indian, 2 ; Italian, 1; Finn, 1 ; Maltese, 1. Beligion. —Church of England, 65; Boman Catholic, 84; Lutheran, 8; Confucian, 10; Wesleyan, 30; Quaker, 1; Freethinker, 6. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 18,023 ; individual average days' stay, 88-34. Daily average cost per head, 2s. 9d.; less patients' payments, 2s. 7-J-d. Outdoor Patients. —Individual cases, 150; attendances, 231. Bevenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government .... ..,.. 1,769 310 Bations ... ... ... 745 2 2 Local bodies ... ... ... 650 0 0 Wines, spirits, ale, &c.... ... 80 3 8 Subscriptions and donations ... 932 0 2 Surgery and dispensary ... 75 8 0 Patients' payments ... ... 105 6 1 Fuel and light ... ... 151 19 6 Other sources ... ... 2 0 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 102 2 2 Furniture and earthenware ... 49 10 9 Washing and laundry ... ... 93 0 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 793 1 4 Water-supply... ... ... 6 15 0 Funerals ... ... ... 40 10 0 Bepairs ... ... ... 181 3 10 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 67 13 10 Interest ... ... ... 9 17 9 Insurance ... ... ... 30 0 0 Other expenses ... ... 60 7 3 Total ... ... £3,458 10 1 Total ... ... £2,486 15 3 Inspected 19th January, 1898. On the date of my visit this institution contained fifty male patients and two females, both chronics. Three-fourths of the total were refuge cases. Dr. Matthews is acting as locum tenens for Dr. C. Morice, with the benefit of Dr. Moriee's (sen.) advice and assistance. It goes without saying, therefore, that the patients are well cared for in every respect. It did not, however, seem to me that the head nurse took her proper position as the head of the nursing staff. A very much-needed supply of surgical instruments has been ordered, at a cost of £60. Three-fourths of the patients are chronic cases. A serious effort ought to be made to convert the existing building into an old men's home for the whole district from Boss to Beef ton. A new hospital ought to be built for hospital cases proper. The abortive attempt to build an old men's home at Hokitika has served only to complicate the difficulties surrounding the problem of dealing rationally with the aged poor on this coast. It is now more hopeless to effect any satisfactory solution than it was some years ago, when I recommended a new refuge on a piece of suitable land somewhere in the Grey Valley. The line of least resistance now would probably be the suggested conversion of the Greymouth Hospital.

HAWEBA HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 4 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 53 Total under treatment ... ... ... 57 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... ... 3