H.—3l

Auckland Hospital Board. Auckland Hospital. —Approval has been granted for the erection of a bathhouse and treatment department at Wilson Homo. Final plans and specifications have been received for additions to Nurses' Home. A number of alterations of a minor nature to the Hospital have been approved. Consideration is still being given to the Board's major building scheme. Whangarei Hospital Board. Whangarei Additions to the hospital are Hearing completion. The boiler-house, laundry, and additions to Nurses' Home are completed, and the removal of the maids' cottage to a new site has been effected. Kaipara Hospital Board. Dargaville Hospital— Sketch plans for the new hospital at Dargaville are under consideration. Bay of Islands Hospital Board. Kawakawa Hospital—Additional accommodation has been provided for nurses. Mangonui Hospital Board. Kaitaia Hospital.—The erection of additions to the Nurses' Home, new Laundry, and boilerhouse are progressing satisfactorily. The replanning of the hospital is being proceeded with. St. Helens Hospital, Christchurch. The sketch plans have been finalized for a modern Maternity hospital. It is hoped to proceed with the plans and specifications necessary for the calling of tenders in the near future. Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer. The following are extracts from the annual report of the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Chisholm " General. During the past year the number of patients presenting for admission has been well above the average, both on the male and female sides. The women's hospital continues to be busy and overcrowded. The male hospital has had more than the usual number of patients. " Women's Hospital. —This section of the institution has been busy and active, and during the year has been, to some extent, overcrowded, but we have not had to refuse urgent cases for any length of time. The general conditions of the hospital are good. The equipment is satisfactory and the patients who pass through the hospital have been satisfied with the general administrative care. " Male Hospital.—This side has been a little busier during the year, but the conditions are very unsatisfactory. The new hospital is now rapidly approaching completion, and the difficulties which we have experienced on the male side will then cease to concern us. " Medical Staff—Dr. Elmslie was appointed as senior assistant Medical Officer, vice Dr. Tovey, resigned. " Nursing Staff.—Miss Hodges, who has been Matron for some fourteen years, terminated her services at the end of the year. Miss Hodges rendered valuable service to the hospital. 1 wish to take this opportunity of expressing to you appreciation of the work that Miss Hodges has done. Miss Trott, who has been sub-matron of the institution and Sister in Charge for so many years, has been appointed Matron. There have been many changes in the nursing staff, and it is difficult at the present moment to get nurses to stay more than approximately six months or a year. This fact of a rapidly changing staff is, I understand, not peculiar to this hospital, but it is found generally throughout all the hospitals. The hospital aide staff, also, has shown many changes, and there are times when some difficulty is experienced in obtaining the necessary number to staff the hospital. " Massage Department.—This Department continues to work satisfactorily. On the female side conditions are good. The male side is not so satisfactory. Recently an inspection of the Massage Department was carried out by Miss Roberts, of the Dunedin School of Massage, whose report was that the work and the arrangements were satisfactory. " Tea Kiosk. —This continues to satisfactorily serve the public and manages to cover its running expenses. " Bathhouse and Swimming-pools. —There have been no alterations or improvements in the swimming-pool and bathhouses during the year. The pools are popular, and I understand that arrangements are now in hand in regard to extension of the swimming-pools and reconstruction of the bathhouses. " Electric Light.—The energy from the power-house is sufficient for a limited supply to the village and the hospital, but arrangements are now well in hand for the extension of the Lake Coleridge power, by the North Canterbury Power Board, to Hanmer. This will prove of great benefit, as there is no doubt that the electric power available has been a great difficulty to us for many years. " Water Service. —Considerable improvements have been made to the headworks at the reservoir, and also a filter tank has been installed on the hill behind the town. The headworks alterations have proved very satisfactory and the new intake works well. The filter tank will not be of great use until the new electric power is available from Lake Coleridge and the demands of the power-house ior water lessens.

54