H.—22

6

Receipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 826 3 6 Rations ... ... ... 532 16 10 Local bodies ... ... ... 1,386 13 0 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... 43 3 3 Subscriptions and donations ... 10 5 6 Surgery and dispensary ... 94 0 5 Rents ... ... ... 12 0 0 Fuel and light ... ... 155 7 6 Patients' payments ... ... 275 14 10 Bedding, clothing, furniture, and Other sources ... ... 105 12 2 earthenware ... ... 58 0 2 Balance from last year ... 1,150 19 5 Salaries and wages ... ... 848 17 1 Law expenses ... ... 10 10 0 Funerals ... ... ... 31 10 0 Repairs ... ... ... 52 15 8 Shelter-sheds ... ... 15 1 4 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 32 16 1 Interest and insurance ... 18 18 9 Commission (architect) ... 13 19 3 Telephones ... ... ... 21 5 10 Other expenses ... ... 690 17 6 Total ... ... £3,767 8 5 Total ... ... £2,619 19 8 Visited 21st December, 1904. —Owing to a bitter feud between the two divisions of the medical men of this district, and the apparently distracted policy of the Board, the last year or two have been years of endless trouble in the Hospital. It would serve no good purpose to detail the step by which the Hospital Doctor was harassed by the Board, how they got into a tangle over the plans for the new Hospital. More than once they have appointed unsuitable Matrons, while they rejected first-rate applicants. It was so hopeless at one time that I offered, subject to the Minister's approval, to administer both the Wairau and Picton Hospitals for some years in the belief that I could save enough money to build a new Hospital. The situation had become so intolerable that Dr. Anderson left the district. Dr. Bennet, a good man, has been appointed, and I hope quieter times will supervene.

CHARLESTON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 5 Admitted during the year... ... ... ... ... 35 Total under treatment ... ... ... 40 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Remaining on 31st March, 1905 ... ... 8 Sea;. —40 males. Localities from which Patients came. —Charleston, 22; Addison's, 7; Brighton, 2; Westport, 6; Cape Foulwind, 2; Greymouth, 1. Country. —England, 6; Ireland, 19; Scotland, 8; New Zealand, 7. Religion. —Roman Catholic, 19; Church of England, 14 ; Presbyterian, 7. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 1,940; individual average days' stay, 48-50. Daily average cost per head, ss. 2|d.; less patients' payments, 4s. Receipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 217 8 8 Rations ... ... ... 169 2 1 Local bodies... ... ... 90 16 8 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... 12 12 6 Subscriptions and donations ... 100 0 3 Surgery and dispensary ... 27 12 7 Rents ... ... ... 10 0 0 Fuel and light ... .. 10 14 10 Patients'payments ... ... 117 19 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 4 14 0 Other sources ... ... 2 17 0 Furniture and earthenware ... 8 10 0 Balance from last year ... 30 18 1 Salaries and wages ... ... 240 12 0 Funerals ... ... ... 6 0 0 Repairs ... ... ... 14 5 4 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 6 14 6 Insurance ... ... ... 273 Other expenses ... ... 2 2 0 Total ... ... £569 19 8 Total ... ... £505 7 1 Visited 2nd August, 1904.—There were in residence eight old men, bathed once a month. A cooking-stove has replaced the old range. It is a comfortable home for the broken-down miners.