H.—22

21

Nationalities of patients : New Zealand, 854 ; England and Wales, 319 ; Ireland, 102 ; Scotland, 67 ; Australia, 66 ; Denmark, 5 ; Tasmania, 9 ; Nova Scotia, 1 ; Sweden, 1 ; Germany, 8 ; Norway, 3 ; France, 2 ; Switzerland, 2 ; Italy, 1 ; South Africa, 1 ; India, 1 ; Roumania, 1 ; Queensland, 1 ; China, 1 ; unknown, 24 : total, 1,469. Number of out-patients treated during year, 2,245; number of attendances of such out-patients, 12,695. , Here there is an increased expenditure of £600 in salaries, but a decrease m that of fuel and lighting, and £330 in provisions. The Hospital has been frequently visited during the year, and a great improvement has been noted in its general management and upkeep. A good deal of money has been expended on painting and generally renovating the old wards, which is repaid by a much brighter and more cheerful appearance. The Hyman Marks wards have been rebuilt and in occupation since January. The old wards which were taken into use after the fire have been retained for some consumptive patients and other chronic cases, thus relieving the main wards. Pending the completion of the children's ward, the old chronic ward, which was utilised for the women's medical after the fire, was thoroughly cleaned and painted and used for children. Largely due to the exertions of Mrs. Crooke and Miss Thurston (the Matron), an influential committee of ladies took up the matter of providing proper accommodation for children. The Christchurch public generously rose to the appeal, and some £4,500 was collected for this purpose, and the approved plan of this ward and of a women's surgical ward should shortly be carried out. Twelve new rooms and some, bathrooms were added to the Nurses' Home, but this scarcely provides sufficient accommodation for the staff, and additional provision will shortly be required. The Matron, Miss Ewart, who had been twenty-one years on the Hospital staff, and for about ten years Matron of the institution, resigned her post, and was succeeded by Miss Thurston, Matron of Greymouth Hospital, who took up her duties in October. The trained nursing staff, which had declined to a very low proportion, has been added to considerably, and is now more adequate to the needs of the Hospital. Lyttelton Casualty Waed. Visited on the 14th July and L3th October, 1908, and on the 12th March, 1909, by Miss Maclean. This place, which for a number of years was used for emergency eases under the North Canterbury Board, and then no longer supported as it was not considered necessary, was kept open by local subscription until, in July, 1907, it was again taken over by the Board. When I visited it 1 found it quite unfit for hospital purposes, though there were five cases there, which could all have been sent to the Christchurch Hospital. Some renovations have since been made and sanitary offices added, and the place is to be used as a casualty ward for first-aid eases only. 5. WANGANUI HOSPITAL. Governing body : The Wanganui Hospital Board. Usual date of meeting : Second Wednesday in the month. Secretary : A. C Ritchie. Honorary medical staff : Charles Barclay limes, M.8., consulting physician ; Joseph McNaughtan Christie M D CM., F.R.C.S., consulting surgeon ; John William Anderson, M.D., CM., James Harper Reid, M.8., C.8., Alfred Herbert Wall, M.R.C.S., M.8., Alexander Wilson, M.D., C.8., F.R.C.S., visiting surgeons. Stipendiary medical staff : Vacant on 31st March, 1909. Nursing staff : Matron, Miss Cecilia McKenny, and 6 registered nurses and 18 probationers. Domestic staff : 2 cooks, 2 housemaids, 2 wardsmaids, 3 laundresses, 2 porters, 1 gardeiter, 1 engineer and stoker ; 1 kitchenmaid. Number of beds available for males, 39 ; for females, 20 ; children's cots, 4 ; isolation and infectious, 7 ; total, 70. Average number of patients per diem, 63. Average number of patients to each of nursing staff, 2-6. In-patients : Number of patients on 13st March, 1908, 57 ; admitted during year, 691 ; discharged during year, 630 ; died during year, 50 ;in hospital on 31st March, 1909, 68. Sex—Male, 518 ; female, 230 : total, 748. Collective days' stay, 22,965 ; individual average days' stay, 31 ; average daily cost per head, 4s. 4|d. ; average daily payment per head, 7Jd. ; average daily cost per head after deducting in-patients' payments, 3s. 9d. ; weekly fee charged for maintenance, £1 Is. Percentage of cost of administration on maintenance-expenditure, 6-21. Localities, broadly, from which patients came : Wanganui Borough, 384 ; Wanganui County, 49 ; Waitotara County, 80; Rangitikei County, 36; Waimarino County, 58; Marton Borough, 52; Taihape Borough, 36 ; Eastbrook Borough, 12 ; Hunterville, 12 ; Bull's, 9 ; Couville, 2 ; Palmerston North district, 1 ; Taranaki, 2 ; -Patea, 1 ; Stratford, 1 ; Hawera, 3 ; Auckland, 2 ; Dunedin, 1 ; Wellington, 4 ; Napier, 2 ; Waitangi, 1. Nationalities of patients : English, 153 ; Scotch, 51 ; Irish, 63 ; New-Zealanders, 406 ; Australian, 39; Tasmanian, 12; American, 8; Indian, 3; Canadian, 1; Russian, 4; Italian, 3; Scandinavian, 3; Dutch, 1 ; Samoan, 1. . Number of out-patients treated during year, 103 ; number of attendances of such out-patients, 735.