26

H.—22

Visited 29th July, 1904.—N0w that the Grey River Hospital is accessible easily by rail, a cottage hospital, where emergency cases could be treated, and whence all cases capable of being transferred could be sent to Greymouth, would be ample for the needs of this town. To effect this reform, an Old People's Home should be provided in the Grey Valley, and the Greymouth Hospital plans completed.

RIVERTON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 14 Admitted during the year ... .. ... ... 183 Total under treatment ... ... ... 197 Discharged ... ... ... ... ••■ ••• 166 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ••• 15 Remaining on 31st March, 1905 ... ... 16 Sea;.—l4o males, 57 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Waiau, Orepuki, Colac, Riverton, Otautau, Thornbury, Nightcaps, Tapanui, Fairfax, Round Hill, Kelso, Lumsden. Nationality. —English, Scotch, Irish, Chinese, Maori. Religion. —Church of England, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Roman Catholic, Confucian. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 5,676; individual average days'stay, 28-81. Daily average cost per head, ss. lOd.; less patients' payments, 4s. 7fd. Outdoor Patients. —Individual cases, 70 ; attendances, 112. Receipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 894 210 Rations ... ... ... 387 610 Local bodies ... ... ... 875 10 0 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... 16 15 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 61.18 3 Surgery and dispensary ... 103 4 0 Patients'payments ... ... 343 1 6 Fuel and light ... ... 97 13 8 Other sources ... ... 13010 Bedding and clothing 28 5 4 Furniture and earthenware ... 41 6 0 Washing and laundry ... ... 14 10 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 695 16 3 Water-supply ... ... 3 9 3 Repairs ... ... ... 106 13 2 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 13 7 8 Interest ... ... ... 0 18 4 Insurance ... ... ... 15 2 4 Other expenses ... ... 134 6 8 Total £2,187 13 5 Total £1,658 14 6 Visited 20th May, 1905.—When this Hospital was built, I pointed out that with a large and wellequipped hospital at Invercargill there was no need for more than the old cottage hospital. Here, as everywhere else where I attempted to stem the current of the extravagance of local bodies, I was defeated. It is true that the Orepuki District and now the progress of settlement beyond the Waiau lend more justification for its existence. The practice of the Hospital has become much more enterprising in the hands of Dr. Trotter. The nursing is very good.

ROSS HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 9 Admitted during the year... ... ... ... ... 9 Total under treatment ... ... ... 18 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ••• 5 Died ; 2 Remaining on 31st March, 1905 ... ... 11 Sea;. —18 males. Localities from which Patients came. —Ross, 5; South Westland, 13. Country.— England, 6; Scotland, 4 ; Ireland, 4 ; New Zealand, 2 ; Poland, 1 ; Norway, 1. Religion. —Church of England, 6; Roman Catholic, 5 ; Presbyterian, 6; Lutheran, 1. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 3,834 ; individual average days' stay, 213. Daily average cost per head, 4s. Ofd. ; less patients' payments, 3s. 2£d.