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At Porirua a ward with single-room accommodation for 40 patients and extra day-room accommodation is making satisfactory progress, and should be ready for occupation in spring. There is also in course of erection a two-story building for attendants. At Sunnyside a building for 50 women is practically finished. At Seacliff additions have been made for infirm male patients, and a large dormitory (suitable sleeping-accommodation having been provided to replace it) was converted into a day-room. The additions at Simla are occupied by an intermediate class between the working and the refractory patient. Extra sitting-room accommodation for patients and attendants has been completed at the Byres Building. At Waitati a building for 50 patients is about ready for occupation. At Hokitika, additions and alterations have been completed, largely adding to the available accommodation. The increase in the number of patients during 1911 was 86, but the average yearly increase for the three previous years was 143, and for the three before that 62. The averages of recoveries and deaths during these triennial periods are sufficiently alike to be ignored, the natural increase in the population will not account for the rise, and therefore, unexpectedly, one was in the position of finding, instead of about 62 being added to the mental hospital population at the end of the year, a sudden jump to about 143. The difference between an advance of 62 to 143 per annum, and that advance not proving largely casual, is more than one had cause to expect and prepare for. During this period of increasing residua one mental hospital was closed, adding largely to the difficulties of building with sufficient expedition to overtake the ordinary demand. The present position is as follows : Excluding Auckland, because, though the excess is about to be wiped out, the accommodation provided at Motuihi is temporary only ; and Tokanui, because the building now finished relieves Auckland, and the building in course of erection will take a little time to complete, excluding also the additions in hand at Porirua, because they will not be completed till spring, there will be before this is presented an excess of accommodation for males to the extent of 69 beds, but the accommodation for women is 32 short of the requirements, representing 2-72 per cent, of their number. Allowing for the increase in number of patients in the interval, when the buildings at Porirua and Tokanui are completed it is estimated that there will be an excess of accommodation for males of 88 beds and for females of 6 beds. New Works Section. The formation of a Works Section divided between the Department of Hospitals and this Department will expedite the getting-out of plans for future buildings. With an experienced architectural draughtsman working in a special direction, undistracted by intercurrent work having a different bearing, one may reasonably expect the acquirement of a degree of facility in design and the standardizing of all fittings and as much of the furnishings as seems desirable. He would soon become familiar with the requirements of each institution and be in a position to modify the designs to suit these ; also he would learn the modifications necessary for accommodating the different classes of patients. When one considers the yearly increment of patients, it is sufficiently obvious that this Department alone will be able to guarantee that the Works Section will be kept busy; and even if the cost were not divided between the two Departments there can be no question that there will be a direct economy, as well as the indirect economy that will be effected by the proposal to standardize as many requirements as possible along the lines already introduced with respect to some fittings. This would allow of our carrying a moderate stock that would obviate delay, which otherwise is at times inevitable, and permit replacements being easily made by the artisan staff at the institutions. Farming Operations. Weather-conditions during the year were unequal; to begin with they were unfavourable, but towards the end of the season there was a recovery, especially in the north. This affected the price of feed, &c, but our results are satisfactory as shown hereunder in the statement of expenditure and receipts in connection with the farms at the mental hospitals : — Dr. £ s. d. Gr. £ s. d. To Salaries and wages .. .. .. 2,556 19 6 By Cash sales of produce, &o. .. .. 5,444 1 9 Feed .. .. .. .. 3,432 911 Value of produce grown on farms and Seeds, &c, manures .. .. 1,012 18 4 | consumed in the mental hospitals., 12,20116 11 Implements, harness, repairs, &c. .. 739 18 0 Stock .. .. •• .. 436 15 0 Rents, rates, &o. .. .. .. 806 2 5 Fencing, roading, &c. .. .. 274 17 11 Harvesting, threshing, &a. .. .. 71 14 2 Railages .. .. .. .. 138 6 9 Buildings ........ 79 19 2 Sundries.. .. .. .. 446 15 4 Balance .. .. .. .. 7,649 2 2 £17,645 18 8 £17,645 18 8