H.—3a

private and municipal subscriptions to these charities, the province gives, in addition to this fixed allowance, a further sum per day for each inmate, equal in the aggregate to one-fourth of the money received from all other sources than provincial aid. The workings of this Charity Aid Act have produced the most satisfactory results. New and well-arranged hospitals have been erected, and old ones reconstructed; private subscriptions have been largely augmented; and greatly-increased efficiency in management has been obtained in nearly every institxition subject to the provisions of the Act. Inspection. — " Another point of almost equal importance relates to the supervision and inspection of the public institutions. Direct and sufficient authority is vested in the Government Inspector to deal promptly with all defects, irregularities, and troubles as they arise, no matter whether the defects are of a structural, administrative, or disciplinary character. Other methods of inspection may be equally, and perhaps more, effective ; but unless inspectors, commissioners, boards of directors, or other officials or bodies of a like character, are, in addition to their inspectoral and recommendatory powers, clothed with sufficient executive authority to remedy defects and supply deficiencies, it appears to me that the prime requisite of a system is wanting." I have not been able to ascertain the exact population of the Province of Ontario, but I have reason to believe that it was in 1880 very considerably in excess of that of New Zealand at the present time. If this be the case, it will be instructive to compare the number of hospital patients in each of these countries : —Ontario : 5,302 in-patients, 9,540 out-patients : total, 14,842. New Zealand : 6,110 in-patients, 8,985 out-patients : total, 15,095. The total amount paid in aid of hospitals by the Province of Ontario was £9,963. The appended tables give particulars of the receipts and expenditure, and also of the admissions, discharges, and deaths, during the year 1882. It will be seen that 522 of the in-patients died, the death-rate being about B's per cent, of the total number treated. At the close of the year the number of beds occupied was 621, or 7 more than at its commencement. The pressure upon the limited accommodation Jias, in some districts, been great, and enlargements and additions are contemplated or in process of being carried out. George Wallington Grabham, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Inspector of Hospitals.

Table I.—Showing the Admissions, Discharges, and Deaths of the In-patients, and the Number of Out-patients Treated during the Year 1882.

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JXLi jr. j.. In-patients— Number of patients in hospitals on the 1st January, 1882 ... Adoiitted during the year 490 4,281 124 1,215 614 5,496 5,771 1,339 6.110 6,11 Discharges and deaths— Recovered Believed ... Not improved Died 3,427 344 77 420 983 112 24 102 4,410 456 101 522 Total discharged and died 4,268 1,221 5,489 Remaining in hospitals at 31st December, 1882 Out-patients— Total number of out-patients treated during the year 497 5,453 124 3,532 621 8,985