91

H.—3l

There were 9 patients in the hospital—6 male and 3 female. Miss Sealy, the Matron, was managing the general direction of the Hospital, Sanatorium, and the secretarial work, with Sister Pownell as her assistant. The Hospital wards were in good order. The nurses' cottage had been completed since my last visit, and is comfortable: but it is a pity another room was not built for an extra nurse when occasionally required. This Hospital might be worked in conjunction with the Wellington Hospital, both in regard to the exchange of patients and the staff. Many cases in the main Hospital might be drafted here when semi-convalescent. The increase in cost per bed is accounted for by the increase in the item " Salaries and wages." Ohiro Home. Honorary medical staff: Mathew Holmes, M.D., F.R.C.S. Stipendiary medical staff: J. Hardwick-Smith, M.8., 8.C., F.R.C.S. Master: A. H. Truebridge. Matron : A. Truebridge. Locality, broadly, from which patients came : City of Wellington. Visited on 27th April. There were 117 inmates, 33 of whom were women. There were 9 in the sick ward; 2 of these were in bed. Some of the beds had been removed, leaving more space in the ward. Being a bad day, the men were nearly all crowded into the smoking-room, with the windows shut. A few were out working in the vegetable-garden, cleaning windows, and washing. Some good work had been done by the men recently—-a retaining-wall against a clay bank built and cemented, and a good flight of steps made —a great improvement in the back yard. The place was in good order, as usual. In the intermediate ward there were 21 men. It is not used so much for casuals as at first, but troublesome men are put here, and men first sent here from the gaol. Mr. and Mrs. Truebridge are still in charge. Otaki Sanatorium. Honorary medical staff: H. C. Faulke, F.R.C.S. Edin., L.R.C.P. Edin, L.C.P. and S. Glasg. Stipendiary medical staff: W. H. J. Huthwaite, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond. Matron : E. M. Sealy. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Wellington, 51; Hutt, 5; Wairarapa, 2; Wanganui, 2; Auckland, 1; Dunedin, 1; Napier, 2; Palmerston, 2; Westport, 1; Otaki, 9. In the Sanatorium there were 23 patients —only 10 men, and on the women's side 11 women and girls and 2 little boys. Here everything was, as usual, in good order. The men who were fit were engaged in work in the garden, and one has charge of the poultry. The head gardener has charge of his own department now, and is extending the work. He has two assistants. Another shelter has been built. The cost of this institution was only £79 per bed last year, considerably less than half that of the cost of the Cambridge Sanatorium. The Otaki institution has much in common with the Otaki Hospital, which naturally tends to reduce the cost of both institutions. Governing Body : North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Usual date of meeting : Third Wednesday in each month. Secretary : T. C. Norris. Christchurch Hospital. Honorary medical staff: Hugh T. D. Ackland, F.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.; J. A. Terras Bell, M.D.; Jas. F. Duncan, M.B . F.R.C.S.; Percv C. Fenwick, M.8., M.R.C.S.; Walter Fov M.8., CM.; H. M. Inglis, M.8., CM.; Maurice Louisson, M.8., M.R.C.S.; Gerald Russell, M.8.; John Stevenson, M.8., F.R.C.S. Stipendiary medical staff: C H. Pentreath, M.8., 8.C., 8.A.; H. Widdowson, M.8., 8.5.; Mary Glowery, M.8., B.S. Matron : Mabel Thurston. Localities, broadlv, from which patients came: Christchurch and suburbs, 1,392; Lj-ttelton, 80; Rangiora, 23; Kaiapoi, 32; Sumner, 8: New Brighton, 23; Akaroa, 27; Amuri, 14; Cheviot, 12; Kaikoura, 10; Selwyn (old county), 283; Ashley County, 48; other hospital districts, 45; Chatham Islands. 1 ; no fixed address, 18; shipnine:, 5. The Hospital has been visited a good manv times during the year, and on each occasion the wards have been found very fully occupied, frequently extra stretchers being made up. The new buildings for children and female surgical patients will greatly relieve this congestion. They were opened in June. The wards are very fine, well planned, and, owing to the generosity of the public, the children's ward has been erected with all the most modern improvements. It has been necessary, in order to maintain a large enough staff of nurses to adequately meet the requirements of the various institutions under the Board, to make extensive additions to the Nurses' Home. These are nearly completed. Dr. Foster has recently resigned the position of Senior Resident, and Dr. Scott was appointed Medical Superintendent.