99

H.—3l

Arrow Hospital. Honorary medical staff : .1. Bell Thomson. M.B. Matron : Annie Clarke. Localities, broadly, from which patients came : Arrowtown, 19; Macetown, 12; Gibbston, 7; Arrow Junction, 6; Lake Hayes, 4; Cardrona, 4; Arrow River, 3; Crown Terrace, 3; Frankton, 2; Pembroke, 2; Skipper's, 2; Invercargill, 1; others, 8. Visited llth February, 1911. There were :', patients —2 males and 1 female. The latter was a paralytic, having been an inmate for six months. The place is well looked after by Dr. Thomson. A registered nurse is to be appointed as Nurse-matron. In previous reports I have suggested that with the Wakatipu Hospital within eight miles there is no need for this little Hospital; but the Southland Board has decided that so long as the residents of Queenstown and Arrow contribute £200 yearly towards the maintenance of the Hospital it will be kept open. Perhaps, after all, this is the wisest course. There is a reduction in the cost per bed in every department. Wakatipu Hospital. Stipendiary medical staff: Alexander Stewart. M.8., CM. Matron : Ethel Clare. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Lake County. 47; Queenstown, 21; Southland County, 1; Invercargill, 1; outside the district, 2. Visited llth February, 1911. There were 2 patients in—l a hemiplegie. who had been in hospital two years; the other a man who had been admitted for pleurisy five months previously. A new hot-water apparatus had recently been installed at a cost of £200. It is said to act satisfactorily, but it is difficult to see why such an elaborate system should be necessary in so small a Hospital. The place was generally in good order. In previous reports I have stated that 1 cannot see that it is necessary for the Southland Board to maintain both the Arrow and Frankton (Wakatipu) Hospitals; but the residents of these towns have promised the Hoard to contribute not less than £.'5OO a year each towards their maintenance. There is a reduction in the cost per bed in every item. Kew Fever llospitid. Stipendiary medical staff: W. J. Barclay, M.D. Matron : Mrs. Cowan. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Mataura. 3 Wyndham, 2: Invercargill, 2; Southland County, 3. Lome Farm Home. Stipendiary medical staff: W. J. Barclay. M.D. Master : Charles H. Cole. Matron : Mrs. C. H. Cole. Localities, broadly, from which patients came : Southland County, 46; Wallace, 3; Lake, 15; Stewart Island, 6; Invercargill, 33; South Invercargill, II; Gore, 15; Campbelltown, 7; Winton, 4; Mataura, 3; Wyndham, 2; Dunedin, 2 Visited 28th January, 1911. There were 100 inmates—3fi men. 8 women, 18 girls, and 38 boys, 10 of the children being under five years of age. 1 have pointed out in previous reports that it is a bad principle to house in one institution inmates varying in age from one to eighty-five years. This is the only institution in the Dominion that approaches in constitution the Home workhouse—justly condemned by the Royal Commission. Yet it is only fair to state that the children looked well and happy, and gave every evidence of being well cared-for. The children of school age attend the State school. The farm and garden were in excellent order, and I cannot understand why the Board does not make more use of this institution for providing dairy and vegetable produce for the Hospital and other institutions. In fact, it would be better to build a new laundry here and do the washing for the base Hospital than to erect a new laundry on the Hospital grounds. Governing Body : South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Usual date of meeting : Third Tuesday each month. Secretary : H. S. Russell. Timaru Hospital. Honorary medical staff: J. 11. Loughnan, M.8., CB. ; E. Thomas, M.R.C.S.; W. C. Burns, M.D.' Stipendiary medical staff: George H. Ussher. M.D., F.R.C.S. Matron : Jean Todd. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Geraldine Borough, 14; Geraldine County, 23; Waimate Borough, 8; Waimate County, 39; Timaru Borough, 297; Temuka Borough, 30; Levels County, 120; Mackenzie County, 29; casuals. 83; shipping, 6. Visited 29th March.