7

H.—7

system under trial, one " closed villa " is necessary to take the relatively small number deemed untrustworthy. Plans are well advanced. The above refers to additions to Stoke, where an institution on the villa or village plan is coming into being. At Nelson proper, whence the majority of men patients have gone to Stoke already, the auxiliary building has been adapted to a villa for imbecile boys. In this building there is a section for very young children which is fitted up and decorated as a nursery. The boys are under the care of nurses. Hokitika. —Visited January, March, May, and December, 1922, and in March this year. Some measure of real progress can be reported. The first new block of buildings is completed, the new drainage is junctioned up, and the, reception hospital is to be constructed in part by outside, contractors and in part by ourselves, according to an arrangement entered into with the Minister of Public Works. We have started on our part, removing the old buildings occupying the, site and preserving the Nurses' Home for removal and re-erection as an isolation hospital. The installation of electric light and power is another forward move. The patients were well fed, and no complaints were made to me. Their general health was good. The forestry experiments appear to be most hopeful. Christchurch. —Visited in March and December, 1922, and in March this year. The, addition to the day-rooms of Wards 2 and 4 is a great boon, and the dining-room additions should soon be in occupation. A. small addition for infirm women on the ground floor is the. next want. The perished plaster on the male side is gradually being repaired. Parts already completed and decorated look very well indeed, and accentuate the necessity for pushing on with the remainder. The reception hospital and its amenities make it a very desirable building for its purpose, and I have never visited it without some patient paying it a tribute spontaneously. " The Lodge," Hornby, is now in workingorder and working well. There is satisfaction in knowing that the experiment has justified itself. I was particularly pleased on my last visit, when invited by one of the ladies to afternoon tea, to find the others distributed naturally in the room, and to listen and join in the, small-talk associated with such occasions- a stranger introduced would have thought himself in a well-ordered private house. Seacliff .— Visited in March and December, 1922, and in June this year. The patients in this institution and the adjunct at Waitati were found well, and with few exceptions contented and happy. As usual, any person wishing his case investigated was accorded a private interview. Those who so applied proved quite unfit for discharge. The food is good, and the general health of the patients was satisfactory. Some addition is wanted on the men's side, and I think, in pursuance, of the policy not to add materially to Seacliff, that a villa should be built at Waitati. Here also should be the main laundry for both institutions. We will, get a report, but, merely judging by appearances, there is an ample water-supply. Apart from this villa, the most needful addition at Seacliff is a new kitchen. A site has been selected, but it is really a matter for an architect to discuss on the spot with all the officers likely to be concerned. It will be time enough thereafter to consider the reorganization of the domestic services. Ashburn Hall. —Visited in March and December, 1922, and in March and June this year. This licensed hospital continues to fill a useful purpose. No complaints were made to me on my visits ; the health of the patients was good, the quality and serving of the food very satisfactory. It is quite evident that Dr. Will exercises a kindly supervision which is appreciated by his patients. In conclusion I have to express my thanks to the Medical Superintendents and their administrative officers, and to the Head Office Staff, whose devotion to duty I now record, for another year's work well done. I regret to report that Dr. Gow's ill-health has necessitated his absence on sick-leave. I hope, sir, before long that you will visit the institutions personally and learn our requirements on the spot. I am sure when you have been the round, you will recognize favourably what has been done, and what we want in the immediate future. I have, &c, Hon. Sir Maui Pomare, K.8.E., C.M.G Frank Hay.

MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENTS' REPORTS. AUCKLAND MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Beattie reports : — Our numbers decreased during the year from 1,084 to 1,070. There were 226 admissions, of whom the largest numbers were farmers and labourers, and, in the case of women, those engaged in domestic duties : of the total number in the Hospital at the end of the year, 513 were born in New Zealand, 192 in England, 85 in Ireland, 58 in Australia, and 4.0 in Scotland. The remainder consisted of 45 Maoris and patients drawn from various countries. The recovery-rate was 46-41 per cent. The death rate anounted to 9-16 per cent. This was aggravated by 17 deaths from enteric fever. During the year a severe outbreak of typhoid fever occurred due to a cause outside of our control. There were over 100 cases in the Hospital. The next chief cause of death was senile decay. It is perhaps necessary again to draw attention to the large number of senile cases in our Hospital and the inadequate provision which is made for them. As they are largely confined to the infirmary ward, it is absolutely essential that a new Hospital block bo built to accommodate about 10 definitely Hospital patients. The general work of the Hospital is being carried on with the amount of celerity to which one i3 becoming accustomed. The female side is admirably staffed, and the complaints from that side almost negative. I have to thank Drs. Tizard and Crawley for their help and assistance during the year, and the work of the Matron is kindly appreciated by the sisters, the staff, the patients, and myself.