H.—7.

The opening of the new villas and the admission centre coincided with the outbreak of the present war, and this has created a shortage of staff, both male and female, with the result that we have been unable to open the new villas. Of the thirty-four male attendant staff, eight have enlisted, and three of these are at present on active service overseas. The patients on the whole are happy and contented, and appreciative of their parole privileges, which have been extended to all patients as consistent with their mental conditions and the public safety. They are fully occupied in constructional work on the farm and in the grounds, in the gardens, laundry, and in the sewing room. Mr. McFarlane, Public Works Department, has taken his usual active interest in the progress of the hospital, and for his many useful and practical suggestions I am very thankful. A weekly clinic is conducted at the Auckland Public Hospital. One hundred and forty-nine new cases were seen, whilst there were 523 attendances. New cases were referred by the Pensions Department, 121; medical practitioners, 12; hospital, 12; military authorities, 2; spontaneous, 2. I would like to welcome Dr. and Mrs. I. 11. Gray to Kingseat. Dr. Gray has been appointed Assistant Medical Officer. During the year, Mr. Tibbie, our Chief Clerk, was transferred to Tokanui Mental Hospital, and his place was taken by Mr. M. S. Moss, of Head Office. I would like to congratulate them both on their promotion.

TOKANUI MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Tothill reports : — The total number of cases under care during the year was 795, which includes 37 voluntary boarders. Admissions numbered 121, of whom 6 were transfers from other institutions and 19 voluntary boarders. The discharges were 38 patients under certificate, 14 voluntary boarders, and 9 transferred. There were 37 deaths, heart-disease being the predominant cause. At the end of the year 691 patients, including 44 on probation and 17 voluntary boarders, remained on the register. Cardiazol treatment has been given to a number of patients. Approximately 80 per cent, of the male patients are engaged in some form of occupation. An occupational therapy class lias been commenced for the women. During the year considerable improvements have been carried out in the various buildings. Several wards are at present doing their own cooking, and during this year all but two wards will have an independent kitchen service. The officers' quarters are now in occupation, and the glasshouse has been completed. The new slaughterhouse would have been in use but for the delay in obtaining steel meat-rails. Tar-sealing of the front drive is in progress. It is hoped that work will soon be commenced on the new laundry block, as the increase in patients makes this most imperative. A farm workers' villa is in the course of construction. Developmental work continues on the farm, and the dairy herd was tuberculin tested. The usual sports and entertainments were provided.

PORIRUA MIiNTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Lewis reports : — The total number of cases under care during the year was 1,999; of these, 1,771 were the subjects of a reception order ; 218 were voluntary boarders, and 10 were remanded for observation. The admissions totalled 443 during the year, of whom 336 were certified patients and 107 were voluntary boarders ; in addition, 9 were admitted on remand. We discharged 202 patients during the year, and 78 were well enough mentally to be on probation in the care of relatives or friends at the end of the year. There were 130 deaths during the year, and 22 were transferred to other institutions. The usual psychiatric work has been carried on outside the hospital, regular bi-weekly visits being made to the Wellington General Hospital, where the out-patients' clinic and the male and female psychiatric wards have continued to provide a useful service. The Palmerston North General Hospital has been visited each month, and some cases have been seen in some Government institutions. The number of separate cases seen in the course of this work was 212 in-patients at Wellington Hospital, 99 out-patients at Wellington Hospital, 66 patients at Palmerston North Hospital, and 10 other cases. Total cases seen outside this hospital, 387. During the year the new carpenter's, painters', and bootmaker's shops' in the new boiler-house block were occupied. The installation of the boilers has been completed, but unfortunately there has been difficulty in getting the copper piping required to connect up our new boilers with the existing hospital reticulation. We have not been able to occupy the new baker's and butcher's shop block as there are still minor details to be completed ; however, there is every prospect of. these buildings being occupied early in the New Year. The old carpenter's shop will make a satisfactory occupational block, and we hope to have some simple alterations completed at an early date. More active steps have been taken with the new sewerage scheme, and the completion of this very necessary work is in sight.

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