H.—22

26

Nationalities of patients : New Zealand colonists, 306 ; Maoris, 16 ; England, 63 ; Ireland, 51 ; Scotland, 19 ; Rarotonga, 2 ; Australia, 30 ; Canada, 1 ; British South Africa, 2 ; Channel Isles, 1 ; United States of America, 2 ; Germany, 2 ; Austria, 4 ; Denmark, 1 ; Norway, 1 ; Sweden, 2 ; Switzerland, 4 ; Greece, 1 ; France, 2 ; Tahiti, 1 ; Burmah, 1. Number of out-patients treated during year, 437 ; number of attendances of such out-patients, 3,555. Visited on 19th August. There were thirty-two patients in, the great majority being males. The Hospital is usually full, but not overcrowded. The staff quarters had been added to, and all is very convenient. The Trustees had decided to erect a small isolation ward and shelter for consumptives,. Improvements had been made in the sanitary arrangements of the lavatories and flushing-sinks provided, which made considerable difference in the nurses' work. The septic tank had given trouble, but afterwards worked well. Dr. Walsh and Miss Stewart carry on the Hospital very capably and quietly. The excellent and economical administration of this institution should furnish an example to other hospitals in the Dominion.

13. PALMERSTON NORTH HOSPITAL. Governing body : District of Palmerston North Hospital arid Charitable Aid Board. Usual date of meeting : Second Thursday in month. Secretary : Walter Ruth erf urd (non-resident). Honorary medical staff : Frederick Monckton, M.R.C.S., L.S.A. Stipendiary medical staff : Arthur Anderson Martin, M.D., F.R.C.S. Eng. ; George Wilson, M.8., CM. ; John Henry Lee Macintire, M.R.C.S., L.S.A. All non-resident. Nursing staff : Matron, Miss Mary McLagan, and 5 registered nurses and 12 probationers, jDomestic staff : 1 cook, 2 housemaids, 1 kitchenmaid, 1 wardsman, 1 laundress, 2 gardeners. Number of beds available for males, 26 ; for females, 22 ; children's cots, 1 ; isolation and infectious, 9 : total, 58. Average number of patients per diem, 37. Average number of patients to each of nursing staff, 2-05. In-patients : Number of patients on 31st March, 1908, 40 ; admitted during year, 523; discharged during year, 470 ; died during year, 42 ; in hospital on 31st March, 1909, 51. Sex —male, 344 ; female, 219 : total, 563. Collective days' stay, 13,615 ; individual average days' stay, 24 ; average daily cost per head, 6s. If d. Average daily payment per head, Is. 3f d. ; average daily cost per head after deducting in-patients' payments, 4s. lOd. ; weekly fee charged for maintenance, £1 4s. 6d. Percentage of cost of administration on maintenance-expenditure, 8. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Palmerston North, 504; Wellington, 15 ; Wanganui, 21 ; New Plymouth, 5 ; Dunedin, 1 ; Napier, 4 ; Waipukurau, 1 ; Dannevirke, 2 ; Auckland, 1 ; Pahiatua, 3 ; Masterton, 4 ; Christchurch, 1 ; Stratford, 1. Nationalities of patients : English, 115 ; Scotch, 25 ; Irish, 41 ; New Zealand, 305 ; Australian, 31 ; Tasmanian, 9 ; Norwegian, 7 ; German, 7 ; Danish, 11 ; French, 5 ; American, 1 ; Egyptian, 1 ; Chinese, 1 ; Roumanian, 1 ; Spanish, 1 ; Assyrian, 1 ; Pole, 1. Visited on 7th July, 1908, and 31st May, 1909. On the last occasion there were forty-nine patients in—twenty-five women and one little boy in the female wards, twenty-three men in the male ward, two being cases of phthisis treated on the verandah. The consumptive-annexe is finished and now occupied. There were no cases in the fever ward. The theatre now just finished is a great improvement, and was much needed. Excellent work is done here. The additions to the Nurses' Home were completed, and give ample and comfortable accommodation for the staff of seventeen or eighteen nurses. Their dining-room is still in the old building, and is supplied from the main kitchen. The back premises had all been painted recently, and looked fresh and clean. The work of the Hospital is rapidly increasing, and it is probable the ward built above the women's ward, but not yet completed, will be required ere long. A district nurse has recently been appointed by a private committee in the town to attend to patients in their homes, so this may relieve the Hospital of chronic patients and those with minor ailments. An admirably managed institution, principally owing to the efforts of Mr. Rutherfurd, who is an ideal Hospital Secretary.

14. TIMARU HOSPITAL. Governing body : South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Usual date of meeting : Third Tuesday each month. Secretary :H. S. Russell. Assistant, 1. Honorary medical staff : D. D. Dryden, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S. ; W. E. Gibson, M.8., M.R.C.S. ; D. Talbot, M.8., M.R.C.S. ; H. V. Drew, F.R.C.S. Stipendiary medical staff : D. H. Bett, M.8., M.R.C.S. Nursing staff : Matron, Miss Jean Todd, and 3 registered nurses and 12 probationers,