H.—7. Minors. The procedure which permits of defective children being cared for without a reception order granted by a Magistrate was put into operation in the case of 3 boys and 3 girls. Two of the boys were transferred to the Home for Defectives, KichmondSingle Patients. There were 2 patients, both males, admitted under Part II of the Act. One of these was discharged, and the other was transferred to a mental hospital. Private Care. In the last report attention was drawn to the penalties to which any one was liable who undertook the oversight, care, or control of a mentally defective person without notification (section 122), and to the prohibition (section 123) against two or more such persons being cared for in the same house except (subsection (6)) in the ease of a general hospital or a special hospital not kept for gain. It is well that these facts should be known. Persons of average common-sense receiving payment for the oversight, care, or control in private of a mentally defective patient should know that the law is being transgressed, and should seek information. In future prosecutions the Department will not be satisfied with merely drawing attention to the requirements of the Act and asking for a nominal penalty. Accommodation, &c. The position with regard to buildings is as follows: — Auckland. —Auxiliary No. 2 (female) for noisy and troublesome patients, taking them out of the main building, has been occupied- The accommodation is for 75. A day-room and dormitory added to the Women's side, main building, have been occupied. Auxiliary No. 3, for 100 male patients, is nearing completion. A cottage has been built for the Assistant Medical Officer, who now resides in it. The removal of the noisy patients has altered the character of the main building on the women's side, and the wards lately occupied by these patients have been altered, thoroughly renovated, and adapted for an infirmary. Thus bit by bit the whole of the main building will be modernized. Porirua. —A large extension of day-room space, Ward No. I (male) and A Ward (female). The block of buildings for a reception-house, sick-hospital, and nurses' home is progressing favourably. The accommodation on the women's side is considerably taxed, but will be relieved almost immediately by transfer to Tokanui. The women's unit at that hospital is now being furnished for that purpose. The drying-closets in the laundry have been found inadequate for requirements, and an extension is now being carried out. Mechanical water-filters have been set up. Tokanui. —A unit for 50 males has been completed and another started. A reservoir with 75,000 gallons capacity is being constructed on the nearest hill to the present buildings. Water will be pumped from the present pumping-station. The electric light has been installed. Some minor buildings have been erected for the farm and for the accommodation of the married staff. Sunnyside. —A nurses', home for those employed in the main building, with accommodation for 50, is well advanced, and promises to be a comfortable and picturesque building. Its occupation will relieve an equal number of single rooms in the main building for the accommodation of patients. The block of buildings now in progress will be approached from Martin's Lane, and will be employed as a reception-house, sick-hospital, and nurses' home. The general design is the same as at Porirua, the accommodation being for 25 each, males and females, in the reception block,' and 25 each in the hospital portion, with suitable day-rooms, verandas, &c. The advent of electric light derived from the Lake Coleridge supply has been a great boon. We are using the current for heating some of the single rooms, and also for power purposes. The main hall has been much improved by the introduction of windows where possible, and the scheme of redecoration has been carried out with considerable skill and taste. An addition to D Ward is about to be undertaken, and a report has been made with regard to the introduction of the Vigilant automatic fire-alarm. Seacliff. —A reception cottage for males, corresponding to the reception cottage for females which has been successfully in use for a number of years, is about ready for occupation, and is eminently suitable for its purpose. It would be hardly possible to obtain a more beautiful site for this building. On the women's side a building is Well advanced which will add largely to the dormitory and single-room accommodation. In the planning of this building additions in the near future have been kept in view. When this is occupied one of the dormitories on the front of the main building will be adapted for a day-room, as was done some years ago on the male side. A considerable extension has been made to the nurses' home. The comfort and convenience of the new dining-room for male attendants must appeal to them. On account of the decided falling-off in patients capable of milking, machine milking has been installed- The bakehouse has been fitted with breadmaking machinery. Nelson. —As I stated before, this hospital is old, and, having been built of wood, which has served its time, needs to be gradually rebuilt in some permanent material. Plans and specifications have been drawn up, and tenders are about to be called for the first instalment of this work —namely, a kitchen block in brick and a small reception hospital (removed from the main building) also in brick. Meantime a temporary ward attached to the auxiliary is in course of construction. To this temporary ward will be removed in turn the inmates of any particular ward being rebuilt. New stables, barn, and byres are urgently needed, and a start has been made. Hokitika. —This is also a wooden building, the life of which has undoubtedly been prolonged by scrupulous attention to cleanliness and by executing repairs promptly. A concrete fire cut-off has been carried through the centre of the main building, and less important ones will follow. These will largely minimize the danger of any fire that may break out becoming extensive.