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NAPIER HOSPITAL. (Governing body: Napier Hospital Trustees. Usual date of meeting: Second Monday of month. Secretary: James Scheele. Honorary medical staff: H. F. Bernau, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.; T. C. Moore, M.D., B.S : J J Edgar, M.8., M.S. Glasgow; J. P. D. Leahy, M.8., M.S. Syd. Stipendiary medical staff: J. S. Wilson, M.D., Ch.B. N.Z., M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R C P Loud ■ J. E. L. Simcox, M.8., Ch.B. N.Z. Matron : E. K. Berry. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Napier, 310; Hawke's Bay County, 189; Hastings, 147; Taradale, 26; Park Island, 29; Wairoa County, 19; other districts, 19; seamen, 5. During the last year the Hospital has been visited several times. This Hospital has made great advances during a short period, and, instead of being the tenth hospital, is now the seventh in the Dominion. The new chronic ward is completed, as well as the Nurses' Home. The old building which was the Nurses' Home has been altered and adapted to make a women's medical ward, and in it a large number of typhoid cases have been treated, relieving the congestion of the women's ward, which can now be reserved for surgical cases. The increased accommodation is made full use of, and it has been necessary to add considerably to the nursing staff. Hie new children's ward erected through the generosity of the present Chairman, Mr. Shrimpton, is a model of its kind. Last year I had occasion to severely criticize the management of this institution. A good deal yet remains to be done in the direction of economy, especially under the items " provisions " and "drugs and dressings." The newly appointed Medical Superintendent and Matron are giving these matters considerable attention.

WAIKATO HOSPITAL. Governing body: Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Usual date of meeting: Every fourth Thursday. Secretary: W. I. Conradi. Stipendiary medical staff: Hugh Douglas, M.8., M.S. Edin. Matron: E. M. Rothwell. Localities, broadly, from which patients came:- Counties—Waipa, 155; Waikato, 100; Raglan, 39; Piako, 21; Matamata, 32; Rotorua, 29. Boroughs—Hamilton, 135; Cambridge, 24; Te Aroha, 33. Towns—Huntly, 60; Morrinsville, 21; Frankton, 44. King-country, 144; other places, 43. Visited in October and again in June, 1910. The new Hospital is well kept up and its wards are well filled, and generally it is in excellent order. During the past year the Board has very properly decided to provide Dr. Douglas with an assistant, and the former will now have more time to devote to a general supervision of the various departments, which, owing to stress of work in the past, has been practically impossible. For a hospital of this size the average cost of provisions for the last three years has been £28 per bed; last year it was £29. The cost of drugs and dressings is also comparatively high. With these exceptions the institution is being well managed, and the district has every reason to be proud of its Hospital.

TIMARU HOSPITAL. Governing body : South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Usual date of meeting: Third Thursday each month. Secretary: H. S. Russell. Honorary medical staff: N. V. Drew, F.R.C.S. Eng.; W. E. Gibson, M.8., C.8.; L S Talbot, M.8., C.8.; W. H. Unwin, F.R.C.S. Eng.; W. C. Burns, M.D., C.B. Glasgow. Stipendiary medical staff: F. F. A. Ulrich, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. (resident). Matron : Jean Todd. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Geraldine Borough, 10; Geraldine County, 21; Waimate Borough, 4; Waimate County, 34; Timaru Borough, 250; Temuka Borough, 30; Levels County, 129; Mackenzie County, 19; casually, 16; shipping, 3. Visited three times, the last visit being on the 19th April, when I had an opportunity of meeting the Board. The admissions at this Hospital have increased during the year. I have always found the Hospital in excellent order: I have had occasion to severely criticize the cost of administration of this institution, the cost per bed for provisions having been exceedingly high. Happily, however, there is a distinct diminution under this item from the returns of the past year, the actual cost of maintenance being about £1,000 lower, though the average daily number of patients under treatment last year was 48, against 36 the previous year. Nor can it be fairly said that the patients have suffered from this economy. The Secretary has a deal to explain as regards the small amount of fees collected from patients (£630). During the year Dr. Bett resigned, and Dr. Ulrich is now in charge of the Hospital.