13

H.—22

Miss Hay, who has been Matron since the Hospital opened, and has done good work, resigned the matronship in March, and Miss Rose Macdonald, trained in Dunedin Hospital, and the first pupil in midwifery trained in this Hospital, was appointed Matron. Charitable Maternity Homes. Alexandra Home, Wellington. This Home was visited in May. There were nine single girls in, two waiting confinement and one recently confined ; also one married woman recently confined, and still in the maternity ward. There were seven babies in all. Everything was in very good order. As much laundry-work as can be undertaken is done at this Home, and all the housework and cooking. The Samaritan Home, Christchurch. In this Home a few maternity cases are received, such as girls with their second babies. A maternity nurse not registered is in charge of the midwifery cases, but the doctor attends at the confinements. There were five infants in with their mothers. A septic case had been brought in after confinement, and had been isolated, and every precaution taken. Linwood Refuge, Christchurch. Visited on the 16th March. There were thirteen girls in, three waiting confinement. There were eleven babies. An outside shelter has been provided for the babies during the day since my last visit. A fully qualified midwife trained at St. Helens Hospital, Dunedin, is now in charge of the maternity cases, and is training a pupil who is attending lectures at St. Helens. Mrs. Scott has resigned the position of Hon. Superintendent, owing to her departure from Christchurch. Mrs. Inwood has taken her place. The place was very clean and neat. The girls were engaged in laundry-work. Victoria Home for Friendless Girls, Invercargill. Visited on the 31st March. There were five girls in and four babies. The functions of this Home are various. Besides the girls who come here for confinement, there is one girl who has lived here for years, and goes out to work. Another young girl, who has not a suitable home, is here while waiting for a situation. In the meantime she is being instructed in housework. There were also two children whose mothers are away at work, and who pay for their maintenance. The accommodation is limited, but a new house is to be built shortly. Some good work is, I think, done here. Bethany Home, Napier. Visited on the Ist December. This charity has removed to a new house. The former, only confined premises, were not at all suitable. At the time of my visit there were five girls in, one recently confined. The new house is very well suited to the work done here. It was very clean, and had been newly painted and papered, but the furnishing was not yet completed. St. Mary's, Otahuhu. Miss Hudson, who had been for a long time in charge of this Home, resigned last year, and her place has been taken by Miss Handcock, from London ; and Mrs. Nixon, a registered midwife, is in charge of the maternity ward. I visited the Home on the 3rd April, and found everything in good order. Twenty-five girls and fifteen babies in. Door of Hope, Auckland. The Door of Hope continues to do very good work under the care of Miss Hutchinson. There was an outbreak of measles early in the year, which caused some trouble. Seven girls have been attended here by the pupil-nurses and Sub-matron of St. Helens Hospital. The Salvation Army Homes. Wellington. Visited in December. Adjutant Duff is now in charge of the Home. There were sixteen girls in and twelve babies. In December there was a death from septicaemia, but there has been no further trouble. One of the officers from the Home attended a course of lectures at St. Helens Hospital, received her practical instruction from the registered midwife in charge of the Home, and, having passed the State examination in midwifery, is now registered as a midwife. Christchurch. The work is here carried on in a very nice house built recently for the purpose. I visited the place with Maj or Paul in August, and found everything in good order. There are usually from sixteen to eighteen girls in, who remain for three months with their babies. An officer of the Army has from here been attending the lectures at St. Helens Hospital, and obtaining her practical experience from the registered midwife in charge of the Home, but has not yet succeeded in passing the State examination of midwives.