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Treatment performed during 1923. The following is a summary of the operations performed from January, 1923, to December, 1923, by dental surgeons, dental nurses, and trainees: Fillings, 47,610; extractions, 37,978; minor operations, 19,171 : total operations, 104,759. Of the above amount the twenty-five dental nurses, the placing-out of whom was commenced in May, have performed the following: Fillings, 23,750; extractions, 18,674; minor operations, 8,110: total operations, 50,534. Of the filling-work shown above, approximately 44 per cent, of the fillings were in permanent teeth. Accommodation. Since my last report surgeries have been established at Murohison, Whangarei, Hamilton, Huntly, Hunterville, Palmerston North, Masterton, Lower Hutt, Christchurch East, Clyde, and Mosgiel. In each case the room has, been supplied and fitted up free of charge to the Department by the local people, who, generally speaking, have responded in a very generous manner and have been only too willing to provide the facilities required. This has meant a great saving to the Department, and, apart from this, has the effect of stimulating a greater amount of interest on the part of the local people in the welfare and success of the scheme, and ensures their co-operation, so essential to smooth working, which T think would be lacking if the Government assumed the whole responsibility. Greater appreciation of our efforts is now being shown, and I do not anticipate any difficulty in finding suitable accommodation for the nurses when the next distribution is made. Equipment. The stocks ordered last year are coming to hand regularly, and in practically every case the materials purchased have proved entirely satisfactory. Now that some accurate estimate of our requirements can be made there should be no difficulty in arranging for regular forward purchase from abroad, thus rendering ourselves practically independent of the local market. The Defence Medical Stores have recently closed down, and the whole of the issuing is now being done from the Department's own store. SECTION 2.—PROPAGANDA. During Health Week in November last our exhibit at the Wellington Town Hall attracted considerable attention, and the dental nurses in attendance had the opportunity of imparting much useful information to a large number of inquirers. The giving of advice to parents at the chair-side on dental matters and in connection with diet, of course, forms an important and valuable part of the nurses' duties, and I am pleased to say that their efforts are being greatly appreciated and are, I am convinced, proving productive of much good. When meeting the various committees and parents early in the year in connection with the establishment of surgeries I took the opportunity of addressing them upon tho prevention of dental disease, and have at various times arranged for the publication in the newspapers of articles dealing with these matters. Several letters commenting favourably upon our scheme have been received from abroad, and during the year we have received visits at the clinic from many members of the dental and medical professions. Among the former was Dr. Nathan, of the dental staff at Harvard, who was very much impressed with our work, and requested an outline of the whole scheme. This was supplied him, and shortly after his return to the United States a very commendatory letter was received from Dr. Cooke, Professor of Preventive Dentistry at Harvard, who considered that our scheme was greatly in advance of those of either England or the United States. Among the distinguished medical men was Dr. E. Mayo, of Rochester, who was good enough to publicly express his approval of our methods. Thos. A. Hunter, Director, Division of Dental Hygiene. PART VII.—MAORI HYGIENE. I have the honour to submit herewith my annual report for the year ending 31st March, 1924. SECTION I.—GENERAL HEALTH. Typhoid Fever. The general health of the Maori people has shown a decided improvement even over last year. There have been no widespread epidemics entailing special provisions, except in the case of an outbreak of typhoid fever in the farthest north settlement of Te Mingi. Cases of typhoid have occurred in other parts, but the Maori. District Health Nurse has been able to deal with them very effectively, and isolation and inoculation have checked their spread. In the case of Te Mingi, the people who were ardent followers of Ratana were adverse to calling in outside human aid. By the time news of the cases of sickness had reached the district nurse the disease had spread amongst several families. Prompt isolation prevented its spread to the nearby village of Te Hapua, and over thirty cases were nursed in their homes by District Nurse Fergusson and her assistant. It was impossible to remove cases to the too-far district hospital at Mangonui without serious danger. The services of the relatives of the patients were cheerfully given, and the nuree, by utilizing their assistance, not only coped with the epidemic with as little financial obligation to the Department and the Hospital Board as possible, but gave invaluable instruction to the people.