H.—7

6

The new amendment to the Act was used in sixteen cases ; no doubt the numbers will increase as the advantages of this procedure become more generally known. The system of parole has been extended and is much appreciated by the patients. The usual recreation has been provided in the way of weekly picture entertainments, dances during the winter, bowls, parties to the races, show, &c. The fancy-dress ball, Christmas entertainment, and annual picnic were all very successful. The Te Awamutu Band and the Salvation Army Band also provided entertainments. The new villas are practically completed, and will shortly be occupied by female patients. During the year a new electric fire-alarm system has been installed, and is now in proper workingorder. The Official Visitors have paid regular visits and have been able to secure various gifts for the use of the patients. Lectures have been given to the junior and senior members of the staff ; and four nurses and five attendants obtained the State certificate for mental nursing. In conclusion, I have to thank all members of the staff for their help and co-operation in the work of the Hospital. PORIRUA MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Williams reports : — 1 have the honour to present my report for the year 1929. The total number of patients under care during the year was 1,789. On the Ist January there were 1,508 patients on the register (820 males and 688 females) ; on the 31st December there were 1,535 (823 males and 712 females). The admissions for the twelve months totalled 281 (.153 males and 128 females). The number discharged during this period was 153, of whom 129 were " recovered." The number of deaths was 101. The number of voluntary boarders admitted during the year was 95, 40 of these were readmissions ; 83 were discharged ; and 10 died. Seventeen persons (9 males and 8 females) were admitted under section 8 of the 1928 amendment of the Mental Defectives Act; all were subsequently committed. If one may judge from the expressions of opinion by relatives of the patients concerned this method of admission has already done much towards becoming a success ; there is little doubt, too, that as the measure becomes more widely known, advantage of its provisions will be taken more frequently. It is the dread of the preliminary visit to the police-court which causes many relatives to defer the admission of a patient until his disorder has become unmanageable, and his treatment correspondingly more difficult. Overcrowding is still of serious dimensions. A measure of relief has been afforded, however, by the opening and occupation of the new Nurses' Home. The quarters vacated by the nurses have been converted into cheerful airy dormitories accommodating some thirty-six patients. The proposed transfer of approximately one hundred female patients to Tokanui early in 1930 will further alleviate our difficulties. Referring again to the Nurses' Home. This is an attractively designed building of handsome dimensions, which will accommodate eighty-six nurses and staff. It is very well and tastefully furnished throughout, and this improved and comfortable dwelling has done much towards promoting the efficiency and keenness of the female staff. During the period under review renovations and painting have been carried out in many of the wards, and the interior, at least, of the Hospital is now almost completed and presents a bright and cheerful sight. The outside, however, particularly of the main building, remains somewhat shabby ; the painting of this is really necessary, and would result in vast improvement to the general appearance. The changes made in the diet scale for patients by Miss Davies, lately dietitian, have been to the patients' good, and they are not uneconomical. The addition, too, of a sister-tutor to the nursing staff has also been productive of much benefit, for not only have teaching-facilities been increased, but also the very nature of the subjects taught has done much to popularize the course of mentalnursing and to make it more interesting. The psychiatric clinic at the Out-patients' Department, Wellington Public Hospital, has grown to such dimensions that it was found necessary last year to allow this two days per week. It would appear now that very soon three days will be necessary, though, to be sure, from our own point of view, this is hardly feasible as yet. Complete records were not kept for the whole twelve months, but since the Ist September there has been an average daily attendance of eight patients, giving a total of 241 consultations for the period named—-that is something over 700 consultations per annum. Patients have been referred to the clinic for diagnosis and advice by city medical practitioners ; by the Social Welfare Department; by the Prisons Board ; by the police ; by the pensions authorities ; and, of course, in addition to in-patients of the Public Hospital, those coming of their own initiative have also been seen and treated. The referring to us by practitioners of Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Wairarapa, and other districts, of various patients, testifies further to the popularity of the clinic, and to the added spread there is of the knowledge concerning it and its functions. Concerning amusements and recreations for the patients, the usual weekly entertainments, as well as dances at regular intervals, have been given ; also concerts by various amateur and professional artists interested in the welfare of the hospital. Christmas-tree entertainments were held at the main building, at Rauta, and at Nairn ; these functions are, I think, and naturally so, more enjoyed than any others by the patients. My grateful thanks are due to the Welfare Branch of the Women's