H.—3l

100

There were 42 patients. There was a falling-off by 4 of the average number of patients under daily treatment. As usual, the wards were in excellent order. There was a slight increase in the payments by patients. There is a decrease in the cost of " Provisions " per bed of £1 16s., and an increase of £6 10s. per bed in "Surgery and dispensary"; but £100 more was spent on surgical instruments, and an increase of £7 in " Domestic and establishment," and in " Salaries and wages" an increase of £5 —a total increase in maintenance of £17 per bed. Despite this fact, the cost per bed is not much above the average for hospitals of this size (£93), the returns last year being abnormally low. Despite this set-back, which I regard as more apparent than real, there is every evidence that a more rigid watch is being taken by the Chairman and his officers in the management of this institution than was the case three years ago. Waim-ate Hospital. Stipendiary medical staff : Herbert C. Barclay, M.D., F.R.C.S. Matron : Mabel Mander. Locality, broadly, from which patients came : Waimate County. Visited' 28th March. There were 7 patients in hospital —4 men and 3 women. Considerable improvements have been effected in this Hospital—in fact, I have never seen ii in such good order. Nurse Mander, trained at the Dunedin Hospital, is now in charge. She loyally assists Dr. Barclay in the management of this little Hospital. A new lavatory is badly needed in the men's ward. The cost per bed of this Hospital has risen by some £50, a matter which it is difficult to account for, except for the fact that there were 3 less patients under daily treatment. Last year this Hospital held the distinction of being the lowest as regards the cost per bed in provisions, the Thames Hospital excepted. Talbot Infectious Diseases Hospital, Timaru. Stipendiary medical staff : George H. Ussher, M.D., F.R.C.S. Eng. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Levels County, 16; Geraldine County, 2; Waimate County, 4; Timaru Borough, 9. Old Men's Home, Timaru. Stipendiary medical staff : George H. Ussher, M.D., F.R.C.S. Master : James Young. Matron : Grace Young. Governing Body : Cook Hospital and Chahitablk Aid Board. Usual date of meeting : Third Friday in each month. Secretary : H. M. Porter. Gisborne Hospital. Stipendiary medical staff: E. E. A. T. Rigg, B.Sc, M.B., B.S., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.; W. Carlyle Wilson, M.A., M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.S. Matron : Miss Godfray. . Localities, broadly, from which patients came ; Gisborne Borough, 256; Cook and Waikohu Counties, 224; seamen, 3; outside New Zealand, 19. Visited the Gisborne Hospital on 27th October. There were 42 patients in the fever ward —12 females and 1 child; 3 were typhoid cases. The wards were all in good order. Some improvements have been made for fire-extinction, and better means of escape provided by means of a wide door on to verandahs from each ward. This was considered necessary in spite of the fact that a new Hospital is to be erected. It is a pity that in this Hospital, when the work is of a fluctuating nature, the eight-hour system should have been established for muses, thus necessitating a much larger staff than required, there being an average proportion of only two patients to each nurse, and a large number of these chronic cases. The domestic staff is also large. It is expected that the new Hospital shortly to be erected will lie ready within the next twelve months. There is a reduction of £21 per bed in the cost of this institution, the principal economies being effected in "Provisions," £1; "Surgery and dispensary,," £4 15 j "Domestic and establishment." £7 ; " Salaries and wages," £7 15s. — a very creditable record. Old People's Home,, Qitborne. Honorary medical staff: Hospital House Surgeon. Master :' R. C. Vigis. Matron : Mrs. R. Vigis. Localities, broadly, from which patients came: Cxisborne Borough, 17; Cook County. 30; Waikohu, 6. Visited on 27th October. There were 18 men and 2 women in. Of the inmates, 8 are in receipt of the old-age pension, and 1 has an Imperial pension,