12

H.—22

Visited 29th July, 1904. —Nothing has as yet been done to finish the new Hospital. Probably the unsatisfactory way in which the new wing was finished, especially as regards the plastering, has something to do with this. In any case, it is time to proceed to completion so as to enable the new buildings to be applied to their proper use. I found everything in good order, and got good accounts of the Matron, Miss Fothergill. The medical and surgical work is well attended to by Dr. Morice. There is the usual overwhelming proportion of chronic cases, and this makes it difficult to secure or retain capable nurses and matrons who are anxious to improve themselves.

HAWERA HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 15 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 106 Total under treatment ... ... ... 121 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ••• 98 Died 13 Remaining on 31st March, 1905 ... ... 10 Sex. —6B males, 53 females. Localities from which Patients came.— Hawera, Eltham, Manaia, Opunake, Kaponga, and Okaiawa. Nationality. —British, Colonial, German. Religion. —No record. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 2,917 ; individual average days' stay, 24-10. Daily average cost per head, 10s. lOd.; less patients' payments, 9s. Ofd. Outdoor Patients. —Nil. Receipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 859 16 6 Rations ... ... ... 392 3 1 Local bodies ... ... ... 753 7 6 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... 9 15 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 19 10 1 Surgery and dispensary ...' 158 311 Patients'payments ... ... 259 4 5 Fuel and light ... ... 143 15 4 Other sources ... 4 8 5 Bedding and clothing ... ... 48 6 10 j Furniture and earthenware .. 60 18 11 ; Washing and laundry ... ... 29 0 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 589 2 9 Funerals ... ... ... 14 7 0 Repairs ... ... ... 44 16 10 New buildings ... ... 72 15 10 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... 29 2 0 Interest ... ... ... 4 3 0 Insurance ... ... ... 27 17 6 Other expenses ... ... 28 12 11 Total ... ...£1,896 611 Total ... ...£1,653 011 Visited 20th January, 1905.—There is no change here. There were at the time of the visit fourteen patients, four of whom were convalescent. I have always regarded this Hospital as unnecessary, being within easy reach of New Plymouth and Patea, or even Wanganui. The New Plymouth Board could easily have resisted the demand that arose in the district for a fully equipped hospital of their own by providing a small six-roomed cottage, properly looked after. For precisely a similar reason an unreasonable demand has arisen for a hospital up to modern requirements at Stratford. This is not required at present. A cottage hospital would have been ample for all demands. I would earnestly appeal to those responsible to consider the ratepayers.

HOKITIKA HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 43 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 130 Total under treatment ... ... ... 173 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 105 Died 32 Remaining on 31st March, 1905 ... ... 36 Sex. —129 males, 44 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Westland, 161; Grey, 5; Nelson, 1; Wellington, 3; Christehurch, 1; Otago, 2.