37

H.—22

LORNE FARM, SOUTHLAND. Governing body : Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Usual date of meeting: Thursday preceding second Friday in month. Secretary: Thomas Pryde. Stipendiary medical staff: Alexander Hendry, M.8., Ch.B. Master : Charles H. Cole. Matron: Mrs. C. H. Cole. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Southland County, 49; Lake County, 13; Wallace County, 2; Invercargill, 39; South Invercargill, 9; Gore, 15; Campbelltown, s;' Winton, 1; Gisborne, 3; Dunedin, 2. Visited on 27th May. There were forty-eight children, thirty-eight men, and eleven women —a total of ninety-six— in the institution. As mentioned in previous reports, I do not like the indiscriminate mixing-up of children with the aged and the infirm, although it is true that some of the defects of the system are to a certain extent minimized by the fact that the children attend the State school. It is absolutely wrong to accommodate sixteen boys in the male quarter. The place was in very good order.

PARK ISLAND OLD PEOPLE'S HOME, NAPIER. Governing body: Hawke's Bay United District Charitable Aid Board. Usual date of meeting: Second Monday of month. Secretary : James Scheele. Stipendiary medical staff: J. S. Wilson, M.D., Ch.B. N.Z., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P • J E L Simcox, M.8., Ch.B. N.Z. Master: William Bannerman. Matron : L. M. Bannerman. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Woodville County and Borough, 9; Dannevirke County and Borough, 19; Waipawa County and Borough, 17; Waipukurau County, 8; Weber County, 18; Patangata County, 7; Hawke's Bay County, 38; Napier, 29; Hastings, 19;' Wairoa County and Borough, 10; other districts, 23.

MEMORIAL HOME, WOOLSTON, CHRISTCHURCH. Governing body: Ashburton and North Canterbury United Charitable Aid Board. Secretary : Thomas C. Norris. Stipendiary medical staff: G. S. Clayton, M.D. Matron: Margaret Higgins. Localities, broadly, from which patients came : Christchurch, 54; Selwyn County, 15; Lyttelton Borough, 4; Woolston Borough, 3; Ashburton County, 2; Kaikoura County, 1; Akaroa County, 2; Amberley Town District, 1; Oxford Road District, 2. Visited on 31st August. As usual, everything was in good order in the Home, and the old people were comfortable and contented. There were sixty-seven inmates, six of these being men—three in married quarters, and two whose wives had died, and one who had been here for many years. One of the men was a professional gardener, who still occupied himself with gardening, and has done a great deal in the Home flower-garden. The new chronic wards are completed and almost ready for occupation. The Board is trying to get two trained nurses to take charge, with two probationers as assistants. There is accommodation for forty patients. The wards are very good, but no suitable provision has been made for emptying or rinsing sinks in the lavatories, which are so small and narrow that it will be difficult to assist any patient into them. There are several old women and chronic invalids scattered through the old building who are badly in need of nursing, and these will shortly be put in one of the wards. The old women in the single rooms all seemed happy. Miss Higgins makes the place as homelike as possible for them, and them to have their little personal possessions about; and, although the rooms are crowded-looking, they are clean, and keeping them tidy and clean gives occupation which tends to make their owners content. The dinner, in course of preparation, was well served.

" TUARANGI " HOME, ASHBURTON. Governing body : Ashburton and North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, Christchurch. Secretary : Thomas C. Norris. Stipendiary medical staff: Dr. Maude. Master: F. H. Knight. Matron: E. Knight. s