5.-22.

18

HOSPITALS.

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. Governing body : Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Usual date of meeting : Alternate Tuesday evenings. Secretary: F. J. Fenton. Honorary medical staff :T. C. Savage, M.8., F.R.C.S.; T. 11. Inglis, M.8., Ch.B.; G. Gore Gillon F.R.C.S. Eng.; G. B. Sweet, M.B. :B. J. Dudley, MB.; J. H. Neil, M.8., Ch.B., M.R.C.S.; J. C. Pabst, M.D.; C. Frost, M.8., Ch.B.; H. M. Goldstein, M.8.; A. Clark, F.R.C.S. Eng. Stipendiary medical staff : J. J. Eade, M.8., Ch.B. ; C. K. Smith, M.8,; R. J. English, M.B. Matron: A. D. Peiper. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Auckland, 2,826; North Auckland, 102; Thames and Coromandel, 15; Walkato, 23; Bay of Plenty, 15; Waihi, 4; Waiapu, 1; Rotorua, 3; King-country, 22; Dun.edin, 2; Taranaki, 5; Canterbury, 3; shipping, 122. Visited several times by myself during the year, and by the Assistant Inspector in April and October. The renovation of the central block has been completed, and is a very great improvement, both to the appearance and to the usefulness of the Hospital. Plans for additions to the nurses' quarters, which are so badly needed, are in course of preparation; and it is to be hoped that the erection of the administration block will be shortly put in hand. There have been many changes in the administration of the Hospital, and the result of new management has been that a very considerable saving has been effected. There is every reason for hoping that the new secretary, Mr. Fenton, will effect considerable economies in the several departments —in fact, as compared with last year the cost per bed has been much reduced; but I can hardly believe that he has already brought the cost as low as stated in the report—viz., £74 — if he has "adopted the same methods of computation as other hospitals. The Matron, Mrs. Wooten, who lias been in charge for nearly twelve years, was compelled through ill health to resign her position in December, and Miss Peiper, late Matron of St. Helens Hospital, Auckland, was appointed in her place.

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. Governing body : Wellington Hospital Board of Contributors. Usual date of meeting : Alternate Tuesdays. Secretary: J. Coyle. Honorary medical staff: Honorary Consulting Physician — 11. Adams, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond. Honorary Consulting Surgeon—G. E. Anson, M.D., B.C. Cantab., M.R.C.S. Eng. Honorary Consulting Ophthalmic Surgeon —H. W. M. Kendall, L.S.A. Lond., M.R.C.S. Eng Honorary Ophthalmic Surgeon —G. W. Harty, M.8., F.R.C.S., Edin. Honorary physicians--C. D. Henry, 8.5., M.B. Camb.; C. M. Begg, M.D., M.R.C.P., F.R.C.S. Edin.; H E Gibbs, M.D., F.R.C.S. Edin.; W. E. Herbert, M.D., F.R.C.S. Edin. Honorary surgeons— W. E. Collins, M.B. Lond., M.R.C.S. Eng.; D. P. James, F.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond.; H. C. Faulk'e, L.R.C.S. Edin., L.F.P.S. Glasgow; Dr. McLean, M.8., CM. Edin. Honorary Dental Surgeon —W. H. Didsbury. Honorary Masseur —Royd Garlick. Stipendiary medical staff: Resident Medical Superintendent—H. Hardwick Smith, F.R.C.S. Eng.; M.8., B.A. Cantab.; house surgeons —S. J. Simpson, P. S. Foster, W. Woodhouse. Matron : F. K. Payne. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Wellington City, 1,902; Wellington suburbs, 303; Petone, 176; ships in port, 82; Hutt, 78; sundry small places in district, 59; Upper Hutt, 36; Wairarapa, 26; Levin, 17; Palmerston North, 1-i; Otaki, 13; Wairau, 13; Hawke's Bay, 12; North Canterbury, 12; not stated, 9; Westport, 6; Otago, 6; Porirua, 5; Rangitikei, 5; Taranaki, 5; Wanganui, 5; Auckland, 4; Grey, 3; Nelson, 3; Buller, 2. The Hospital was visited several times during the year. On each occasion the wards were found full, and, with one exception, in good order, but the sanitary annexes and ward kitchens need to be brought up to modern requirements. On one visit the men's quarters were far from clean. The scarlet-fever ward is nearly completed, and when it is occupied a great blot on the administration of the Wellington Hospital will be removed, the present fever ward and children's ward being in much too close proximity. For some time past the Board has recognized the necessity for erecting a children's ward, the present building being far from satisfactory ; but it was obvious that the Board's first duty was to erect a proper infectious-diseases block. Now, however, owing to the generosity of the Wellington public, a new children's block is assured. There is room for improvement in the manner in which meals are served, better measures being needed to keep the food hot during-sits distribution; and this is recognized by those in authority.