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The this institution is favourable as compared with hospitals of similar size. The average cost per head—4s. 4Jd. —has been.slightly reduced, but the maintenance fees collected are very small, amounting only to 7Jd. per head per diem. Visited on Bth July and 10th November,|l9oB, Ist June, 1909. On the last occasion there were sixty-two patients in and two scarlet-fever cases, which were being nursed in a cottage in the grounds pending the erection of the new fever wards. The old fever wards were destroyed last year by fire ; but, although a good many children were in at the time, they were rapidy removed. The wards of the Hospital have all in turn been painted and renovated The theatre and its appointments have been considerably improved. It is probable that this Hospital, which in admission of cases is fifth in the Dominion, will shortly need enlargement. A children's ward is specially desirable. The men's smoking or day room —not a necessity in a general hospital—might be used for certain cases, and so relieve the wards. Shelters are to be provided for the consumptive patients hitherto treated on the verandahs. Several new rooms have been added to the Nurses' Home. Dr. Fergus resigned his position last year, and Dr. Withers^was appointed. After a short term of goodjjand promising work, Dr. Withers contracted typhoid-fever and succumbed. Dr. Miller was then appointed, and is now in charge. Miss McKenny is still doing excellent work as Matron. A district nurse has been appointed by the Women's Branch, Defence League, who may be able to relieve the Hospital of any chronic patients who can be accommodated in their own homes. More attention might be given to the Hospital grounds. 6. WAIKATO HOSPITAL. Governing body : Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Usual date of meeting :j Every fourth Thursday, beginning 7th January, 1909. Secretary : W. T. Conradi. Stipendiary medical staff : Hugh Douglas, M.8., M.S. Edin. Nursing staff : Matron, Miss E. M. Rothwell, and 2 registered nurses and 17 probationers. Domestic staff: 3 cooks, 3 housemaids, 2 wardsmaids, 1 wardsman, 3 laundresses, 1 porter, 1 gardener, 1 engineer and stoker, 1 messenger, 1 boy (telephone). Number of beds available for males, 42 ; for females, 16 ; children's cots, 6 ; isolation and infectious, 6 : total, 70. Average number of patients per diem, 53. Average number of patients to each of nursing staff,[2-6. In-patients : Number of patients on 31st March, 1908, 46 ; admitted during year, 618 ; discharged during year, 561 ; died during year, 45 ;in hospital on 31st March, 1909, 58. Sex—Male, 435 ; female, 229 : total, 664. Collective days' stay, 19,186 ; individual average days' stay, 29 ; average daily cost per head, 6s. 2d. ; average daily payment per head, Is. 2|d. ;jj daily cost per head after deducting in-patients' payments, 4s. lljd. ; weekly fee charged for maintenance, £1 15s. Percentage of cost of administration on maintenance-expenditure, 6J. Localities, broadly, from which patients came : Waikato County, 85 ; Waipa County, 152 ; Raglan County, 33 ; Piako County, 91 ; Kawhia County, 14 ; Te Aroha, 33 ; Hamilton, 98 ; Cambridge, 18 ; other districts, 140. Nationalities of patients : New Zealand, 419 ; Australasia, 42 ; England, 96 ; Scotland, 30 ; Ireland, 59 ; other countries, 18. The cost per patient increased from ss. 9d. to 6s. 2d., though 664 patients were admitted, against 567 the previous year. Visited in August and January. The new buildings were completed and opened in November. The additional accommodation, which is very well designed and carried out, will bring the Hospital into the first rank of hospitals of the Dominion. The administrative block especially is very convenient and easy to work. All the necessary accommodation for office and dispensary work, and store-rooms, has been very completely provided, and is within a compact space. The kitchen is very convenient, and is provided with good arrangements for sending food into the wards. The theatre is a fine room, well lighted, and adjoining the anaesthetic and sterilising rooms. The main wards are sixteen-bedded pavilions, and have wide open verandahs at the northern end, on to which the patients can easily be wheeled. The servants' quarters are built above the administrative block. The general tone and management of this institution are good. 7. GREY RIVER HOSPITAL. Governing body : Grey River Hospital Board of Trustees. Usual date of meeting : Third Tuesday in month. Secretary : Michael Phillips (non-resident). Honorary medical staff : James Wilson Mcßrearty, F.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Edin.; James Mcßrearty, L.F.P.S. Glasg., L.M. ; William McKay, M.D., F.R.C.S. Edin. Stipendiary medical staff : Charles G. Morice, M.D., F.R.C.S. Eng. (non-resideut) (on a trip to England) ; Thomas G. Telford, 8.A., M.D., D.S.M. (locum tenms).