H.—22

22

This hospital is managed very carefully, and is in a thoroughly satisfactory condition, both as regards the medical and surgical work, and the nursing is admirable. In one respect, however, 1 am obliged to make a grave protest against the custom which the honorary staff, by connivance of the Board, have allowed to grow up. Private patients are charged £3 3s. per week, and over and above this the patient is allowed to pay his doctor for operations, &c, any sum they may agree on. But further than this, and even worse from my point of view, any doctor in the district can send a patient into a private ward, attend the patient himself, and charge what he likes. I wrote the Board pointing out the manifest evils of this practice, and I intend, unless it is put a stop to at once, to move the Government to stop the subsidy.

NASEBY HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 7 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 167 Total under treatment ... ... ... 174 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 152 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... ... 10 Sex. —ll9 males, 55 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Hyde, 9 ; Bough Bidge, 3 ; Wedderburn, 5 ; Naseby, 42; Limeburn, 1; Kyeburn, 14 ; St. Bathan's, 15 ; Hamilton's, 7; Ida Valley, 8 ; Gimmerburn, 9 ; Patearoa, 15 ; Blackstone Hill, 11; Eweburn, 15 ; Invercargill, 2 ; Ophir, 2 ; Kokonga, 7 ; Dunedin, 1; Waihemo, 1; Cambrian's, 1; Waipiata, 3 ; Vinegar Hill, 1; Alexandra, 1; Matakanui, 1. Country. —England, 27; Scotland, 25; Ireland, 33; New Zealand, 74; China, 4; Victoria, 4; Tasmania, 2 ; Germany, 4 ; Malta, 1. Beligion. —Church of England, 60; Boman Catholic, 43; Presbyterian, 61; Confucian, 4; Salvationist, 4 ; Wesleyan, 2. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 3,135; individual average days' stay, 18. Daily average cost per head, Bs. 7f d.; less patients' payments, 6s. Bd. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 34 ; attendances, 60. Bevenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 504 11 6 Bations ... ... ... 245 8 4 Local bodies ... ... ... 332 13 6 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 22 19 6 Subscriptions and donations ... 130 3 9 Surgery and dispensary... .;. 180 0 9 Patients'payments ... ... 313 5 4 Fuel and light... ... ... 56 11 2 Other sources ... ... ... 749 Bedding and clothing ... ... 36 10 5 Balance from last year ... ... 291 10 0 Furniture and earthenware ... 23 210 Washing and laundry ... ... 350 Salaries and wages ... ... 549 710 Water-supply ... ... ... 800 Funerals ... ... ... 4 12 6 Bepairs and additions ... ... 146 2 4 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... . ... 20 3 10 Interest ... ... ... 0 8 3 Insurance ... ... ... 23 10 0 Commission ... ... ... 14 5 9 Other expenses ... ... 23 9 8 Total ... ...£1,579 810 Total ... ...£1,357 18 2 Inspected 11th March, 1898. It is always a pleasure to visit this hospital. The doctor is all that I could wish, and his treatment of and kindness to his patients are universally appreciated in the district. The nursing by Mrs. and Miss King is admirably done. A beautiful new operatingroom has been provided, and several other improvements have been effected.

NELSON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 24 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 166 Total under treatment ... ... ... 190 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 147 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 * Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... 24