15

H.—7

The general work of the Hospital and the farm have been carried on with a certain amount of success, but I cannot help noticing the lack of interest and thoroughness which characterizes so many of the junior staff on the male side. The senior men are all strenuous and trustworthy, but their race seems to be passing away. Suitable applicants do not yet present themselves, and men have to be appointed who clearly have few or no qualifications for the work. On the female side I have very little anxiety. There is difficulty in getting a sufficient number of applicants, but with few exceptions those appointed always prove themselves to be kind and capable. My thanks are due to Dr. McKelvey and to the great majority of the staff for their loyalty and support and to the Deputy Inspector, Official Visitors, and others whose interest in the patients is continuous and sincere. I have, &c, The Inspector-General, Mental Hospitals, Wellington. R. M. Beattie, » CHRISTCHUECH MENTAL HOSPITAL. Sir, — Sunnyside Mental Hospital, Christchurch, sth February, 1909. I have the hono.ur to forward herewith the annual report on this Hospital, together with the statistics for the year ending 1908. There have been 136 patients admitted during the year, of whom 109 were admitted for the first time. During that period 47 patients have recovered, giving a percentage of about 34-5. This percentage is lower than usual, but is to be accounted for by the unprecedented increase of admissions during the later months of the year. There were 36 deaths during the year, giving a percentage of 6-5 on the average number resident during the year, which shows that the general health of the community has been very good. There has been a large amount of new building and repairs carried out, and some are still under way. The workshops attached to the engine-room are finished, and a turning-lathe—a much-needed want —has been installed. To cope with the extra work soon to be added, a third boiler, as I have reported before, is urgently required. The new central bath-house is nearing completion, and when finished should be a valuable addition. The tepid swimming-pool is already in use by the staff, and is much appreciated. I regret that the whole work will not be finished before I leave, as I very much wanted to personally supervise the details of the new system of bathing. I have every confidence that the new system will be speedy and effective, and the bathroom will be a model for other institutions to copy. The new dairy has been completed, and is now waiting for a few details in connection with the water and steam fittings. The cowshed is being entirely remodelled, the stalls being divided by galvanisediron piping, and the floor and feeding-troughs are coated with Neuchatel asphalt. There will be no woodwork on the floor-level, and everything can be hosed down and kept sweet and clean. The Matron's new rooms are finished, and this will give her the advantage of rest and quietness whilst off duty, which she never enjoyed before, as well as providing room for eight female patients in her old rooms, which were situated in the midst of a noisy class of patients. I had hoped to be able to report this year that the nurses had been suitably accommodated in their new home, but, owing to the extra amount of work entailed by the fire in the store, our own workmen were kept too busy to start on this much-needed reform. Well-sinking operations are still in progress, and, I hope, nearing completion, when I trust that a pure and efficient supply of water will be provided. The hot-water system throughout the building has been remodelled, and, as far as we can see at present, it is working well for the daytime ; but, seeing that the old storage-tanks have been removed, there is no hot water available after the boilers have been banked up. If it is left as at present, it will necessitate a night staff consisting of two extra men. As there has been so much new building going on during the past year, I recommend that this ensuing year be taken up with necessary repairs throughout, and the finishing-off of the work already begun. One work which requires special attention is the converting of the old bathrooms into dormitories, and the provision of sanitary annexes on both male and female sides in accordance with the plans we have already discussed. The usual religious services and the patients' entertainments have been carried out throughout the year. According to your scheme of registration of mental nurses, lectures were given to the attendants and nurses by my assistant and myself, and I have to compliment the staff on the interest taken in the lectures and their work generally, and trust that as good a proportion of candidates are as successful as in the past year. There is still a great difficulty in getting and retaining nurses, but, from what I can gather, this is not from any distaste of the service, but from the general scarcity of female labour in the Dominion. The male attendants are much more settled, and there have been very few changes for the past four years. On the eve of my departure, I have to cordially thank the Government for the leave of absence granted to me, and have every confidence in leaving the care of the institution in the capable hands of my former assistant, Dr. Gribben. To Dr. Jeffreys, who has been most assiduous in his duties, and to the various members of the staff, 1 offer my sincere thanks for their hearty co-operation in the work throughout the year. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Wellington, W. Baxter Gow, M.D,