PARLIAMENTERY REPORT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2278, 15 September 1899, Page 7

PARLIAMENTERY REPORT.

The annual report of Dr Macgregor, Inspector of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions for year ending 31st March has been received. Ou this occasion, however, the Inspector has given his assistant, Mrs Grace Neill, an opportunity of setting forth inde pendently her conclusions concerning our charitable institutions for poor relief, of which there are 23 charitable aid boards and eight "separate institutions" which are relief-distributing bodies. In addition to these—22 hospitals are "separate institutions," and 5 other institutions are devoted to some special purpose. The total amount expended ou charitable aid in New Zealand for the year (exclusive of hospitals) was £93,070, being an increase of £6'J97 over previous year, £50,150 having bdeu dis tributed in out door relief. Illustrations are given of the great diversity of the working of the Act of 1885 as adopted in Wellington, Christchurch ami Dunedin. Below are the summaries of reports on local institutions. ARROWTOWN HOSPITAL.

Number of patients on 31st March, 1899. 2 ; admitted during year ending 31«t March, 1899, 102 ; total, 104 ; discharged 93 ; died 3 ; remaining on 31st March, 1899, 8 patients. Males 76, females 28.

Total collective days' stay in hospital 1,668 ; individual average days' stay, 16 03. Daily average cost per head, 8s 9id; less patients' payments 5s B£d. Outdoor patients.—lndividual cases, 130 attendances, 183. Revenue.—From Government, £2ll os6d ; subscriptions and donations, £l5B 4s 2d ; patients' payments. £205 3s 6d ; balance from last year, £IOO 17s Id : total, £725 5s 3d. Expenditure.—Total £732 16s lOd, the chief items being rations, £l5O 3s 3d; surgery and dispensary, £59 2s 3d ; salaries and wages, £375 16s, other expenses, £49 7s 4d.

The assistant inspector reports : —" This hospital is looked after with the utmost solicitude by the Trustees and the people generally. A very pleasing feature of the general interest in the institution is the fact that a beautiful bookease has been provided at the Trustees' expense. On the day of my visit heie there were four men and two women patients. In the fever hospital there was a case of phlegmonous erysipelas, and it was being treated with great care and skill by Dr Thomson. The condition of the Hospital is quite satisfactory."

QUEENSTOWN HOSPITAL. Number of patient* on 31st March, 1899, 11; admitted duriug the year. 111, total under treatment. 122; discharged, 110; died, 6 ; remaining on 31st March, 1899, 6. Males, 100 ; females, 22.

Total collective days' ttay in hospitals 3,516 ; individual average days' stay, 28 "82. Daily average cost per head, 5s s£d ; less patients' payments, 5s 3j;d. Outdoor patients.—lndividual cases, S9 ; attendances, IS6. Revenue.—From Government, £3lO 12s lid; local bodies, £286 10s; subscriptions and donations, £65 Is sd; patients' payments, £324 lls ; balance from last year, £272 9s Ud; total, £1,241 5s 3d. Total expenditure, £1227 17s 6d, the chief items being rations, £223 8s lid ; wines, etc., surgery and dispensary, £67 2s; fuel and light, £7B 8s 5d ; salaries and wages, £421 ; bedding, clothing, furniture, etc., £97556 d ; additions (fever ward) £263 5s 6d ; other expenses, £44 12s lid. The assistant inspector reports" My visit to this Hospital was made early in the day, so that a little confusion was inevitable. I found the pitients all very comfortable, and speaking in the highest terms of the treatment they received. The advantages of this climate in cases of phthisis becoming are so well understood that I think it is only a question of time when this Hospital must be enlarged. Meanwhile the Trustees ought as soon as possible to pro»ide a hot-water supply. As in all our goldfield hospitals, the patients feel as comfortable as if they wore at home, and in many cases it is the best home they ever knew, so far as comfort is concerned,"