9

H.—7

well. Repairs and rebuilding necessitated by destruction of store by fire were promptly put in hand. In progress also is a central bath-house, and alterations necessary to provide a nurses' home. Alteration of the byres, to bring them up to date, has been authorised, and a start has been made with the new dairy. Dunedin (SeacliS) : A new fishing-boat has been purchased, and a fish-curing house erected. New piggeries have been built. Additions have been made to the morgue. The fire-alarm system has been overhauled, and the electric-light storage-batteries renewed. In progress are an additional ward for women and one for men. Seacliff Auxiliary: The water-race and fire service have been completed. New piggeries have been erected. A site lias been fixed for additional buildings. The Camp: Fencing and drainage, painting and renovating. The decision not to use The Camp as a place of detention for criminals of unsound mind will necessitate provision being made elsewhere. In the meantime we must face a considerable extra cost for the adequate supervision of some patients. Hokitika: Additions and alterations to buildings—increasing the accommodation. Nelson : Painting and general renovations. Notice of intention to purchase land adjoining Mental Hospital under purchasing clause in lease. The erection of a day-room for female refractory patients has been authorised. Porirua: Extension of byres and cart-sheds. Building manure-tank. Water-power service extended to farm buildings, and steam service to dairy. Construction of auxiliary reservoir. Erection of Deisel oil-engine in place of renewing electric-light storage-batteries. Substituting copper for iron hot-water pipes throughout building. The overhauling of the local telephone and fire-alarm service is authorised, also the building of a cottage for the farm-manager, the fencingin of the water-catchment area, and the addition of blanket-washing machine and a collar and cuff ironer to complete the requirements of the laundry, where extensive improvements have been carried out. Wellington : On account of the uncertainty of the future of this Mental Hospital, little has been done. New laundry machinery has been installed, and the steam cooker renewed. As required by statute, my reports on the individual mental hospitals will be found hereunder, also the annual reports of the Medical Superintendents. The statistical tables are printed as an appendix. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals. Frank Hat.

ENTRIES OF VISITS OF INSPECTION TO THE VARIOUS MENTAL HOSPITALS. Auckland Mental Hospital. 18th January, 1908. I visited this Mental Hospital on the 14th, 16th, 17th, and to-day. On the first of these days Miss Maclean accompanied me, and she, Dr. Beattie, and 1 conducted a viva voce examination of the twelve candidates from this Hospital for registration as mental nurses. The results will be published hereafter, but it may now be stated that I consider the average a good one, which could not have been reached without careful teaching and hard work. My last visit was on the 18th July, and during the interval there have been eleven other visits of inspection. The interest taken by the District Deputy Inspector and Official Visitors to the Hospital in the well-being of the patients and staff is appreciated by Dr. Beattie, and is most helpful to the Department. Since the previous visit the lighting and comfort of the attendants' mess-room has been improved, three earthenware enamel baths have been added to the general bath-room on the male side, and the ventilation of the sanitary annexes has been rendered highly satisfactory by the free admission of air just above the ground-level: notwithstanding the hot weather, even the urinals were quite odourless. The new airing-court is now in regular occupation. It is not of the kind generally associated with the name, save that the area (large for the number using it), with its paths, grass-plots, and trees, is enclosed by a fence. This, however, does not obstruct the many beautiful views. It is an almost ideal compromise for those who cannot be trusted with the larger liberty which many of the patients enjoy. I am glad to see the site being prepared for the Medical Superintendent's residence. As 1 have before stated, it is not fair to expect an officer having tl;<e responsible charge of an important institution to dwell practically within it, and thus be denied those periods of rest and family life, in which the anxieties of office do not obtrude. Dr. Beattie and I discussed the plans of the residence and also those for the proposed Wolffe Bequest Hospital. I regret to find that much of the plaster-work in the institution shows signs of being defective. Above the cement dado in the single rooms on the women's side the plaster has been extensively picked away by destructive patients, and there are many unsightly patches. The margins of the holes newly made and not yet patched show how easily the plaster crumbles when once a start is made. In some rooms the plaster ceilings are unsafe, and will require immediate attention. The wards and dormitories were clean and in their usual excellent order.

2—H. 7.