17

H.—22

Sex. —42 males, 15 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Hawera, 46 ; Stratford, 4 ; Wellington, 1; Gisborne, 3; Nelson, 1; Taranaki County, 2. Country. —England, 11; Scotland, 4; Ireland, 10; New Zealand, 28; Germany, 2; America, 1; Switzerland, 1. • : Beligion. —No record. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 1,374 ; individual average days' stay, 24-10. Daily average cost per head, 12s. Bd. ; less patients' payments, 10s. lOd. Outdoor Patients. —No record. Bevenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure: £ s. d. From Government ... ... 372 4 6 Bations .. ... ... 156 6 4 Local bodies ... ... ... 372 4 6 Surgery and dispensary ... 7920 Patients' payments ... ... 127 5 2 Fuel and light ... ... 45 13 6 Bedding and clothing ... ... 23 13 11 Furniture and earthenware ... 16 12 2 Washing and laundry ... ... 11 10 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 373 16 10 Bepairs and additions ... ... 80 9 1 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 58 15- 11 Interest ... ... ... 17 17 5 Insurance ... .. ... 7 17 0 Total ... ... £871 14 2 Total ... ... £871 14 2 Inspected 17th April, 1898. A good deal of discussion has taken place in the district over the question as to whether this institution is not unnecessarily expensive. It is characteristic of local government in New Zealand to encourage all sorts of extravagant demands for public conveniences of all kinds when they could quite well do without them. The New Plymouth Hospital and the Wanganui Hospital furnish ample accommodation for this whole coast. Some years ago I urged this view on the Chairman and Secretary of the New Plymouth Board, in whose district Hawera is; but I might as well have talked to the south-west wind. The Hawera people would have a hospital, and now the local bodies grumble at its cost. It is now too late to do so. It must be kept in a state of efficiency, and after careful consideration I do not see how they can reduce the staff unless they shut it up altogether. Stratford and Hunterville are beginning to agitate for hospitals as well, and where this movement is going to stop I cannot see. It would seem that wherever an enterprising doctor settles a State subsidy must be got for him by means -of a hospital. The Hawera Hospital is well managed, and good medical and surgical work is being done there. Unless a water-supply and drainage system is provided soon for Hawera, the hospital, if I am not mistaken, will have plenty to do without waiting very long.

HOKITIKA HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 37 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 163 Total under treatment ... .... ... 200 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 138 Died ... ... ... ... 28 Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... ... 34. Sex. —l4B males, 52 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Westland. Country. —England, 37 ; Scotland, 22 ; Ireland, 43 ; Germany, 11; Italy, 5 ; New Zealand and Australia, 63 ; China, 2; Austria, 6; Switzerland, 4; Denmark, 2 ; Sweden, 4 ; France, 1. Beligion. —Church of England, 64; Presbyterian, 50; Boman Catholic, 58; Lutheran, 10; Salvationist, 4 ; Wesleyan, 5 ; Baptist, 5 ; Freethinker, 4. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 12,055 ; individual average days' stay, 60-27. Daily average cost per head, 3s. 9d.; less patients' payments, 3s. 7d. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 370 ; attendances, 937. 3—H. 22.