H.—3a.

5

CHAELESTOK The hospital stands in about an acre of land, close to the town. There is a small portion of the grounc cultivated as a kitchen-garden, and a few flowers are grown. The remainder is in grass, aad no utilized. The principal building is erected of wood, with a shingled roof, and contains one large ward with eight beds, for male patients. At one end is a verandah, used as a carpenter's shop, and at thi other end a lean-to building contains a lavatory and a dispensary. The dispensary has a small stocl of drugs, but no surgical instruments of any importance. These latter appear to be provided, wher necessary, by the Medical Officer. The lavatory contains a night-commode and a small sink, into whicl the slops are poured. This is also used occasionally as a urinal, and discharges into an open guttei just outside. This is an objectionable plan, and sure to prove offensive at times. If not removec altogether, the sink should be trapped and the drain enclosed. The ward is lofty and airy ; the wall; are boarded, but, for about 6 feet in height, have been covered with calico and whitened. A good mam unframed prints are on the walls, and I noticed a clock and two models of ships in glass cases. Ther< is a range of book-shelves, but the books are very limited in number. Newspapers are rcgularl] supplied for the patients' use. The windows have sashes, arranged to open either above or below. A good fire is burning in an open grate. The bedsteads are of iron, and have straw paillasses am mattresses. One or two are filled with flax. Hair pillows are in use, and two contain feathers. Th< bedding is very good and clean. Two of the bedsteads are specially fitted for changing bedridder patients. In the ward is also a large table, with American-cloth cover, and forms, for use at meals Two male patients at present occupy beds. A corner of the ward is divided off with green-baiz< screens. Here is kept a portable bath, and a quantity of clothing and linen are in it and upon i vacant bed. A proper linen-press is much needed. Holland blinds are fitted to the windows. A detached building, in shape like the letter [_, contains the kitchen and three other rooms occupied bj the Steward, and also for purposes of vaccination. The kitchen is roughly constructed and draughty It contains a good American stove and a dresser, with suitable crockery. Outside is an opening ink which kitchen slops are poured. These find their way, through a partially-covered drain, to a sort oi dry race outside the kitchen-garden. Near the kitchen is a good coal-shed, where also kerosene, &c. are kept. A small mortuary is situated at a short distance, and, being seldom required for its specia" use, is occupied with a good deal of lumber. In the kitchen-garden are two closets with a cesspool, which has not yet required emptying, but has an overflow into the neighbouring dry race. This may give trouble at some future time. Pans containing dry earth or ashes would be preferable. The watei is obtained from two tanks which collect the rainfall. Supplies are obtained under contract. Writter orders are not given. The Steward keeps an account of the bread and the milk supplied, but not of the meat. There is no diet-scale. The inventory of hospital p-roperty has not been corrected for severai years. The Committee meet monthly in the town, and visit the hospital every week. The Medicai Officer attends daily, and oftener when desirable. The Steward has the whole of the nursing and domestic work to do without help. The buildings have a rough-and-ready sort of appearance, and the furniture is scant and meagre ; but I found everything very clean, aud the patients expressed entire satisfaction with their surroundings. The sum of £1 weekly seems to be collected, wherever possible for their maintenance. 23rd February, 1883.

CHBISTCHURCH. I hate this day made a thorough inspection of this hospital, with its grounds and outbuildings. The situation is very good, being conveniently near the town, and adjacent to the river, on which a boat is kept for the use of the patients. The estate occupies about eight acres, all of which is well kept. A large kitchen-garden supplies abundance of vegetables to the establishment. The old buildings contain t*vo.,wards and a dining-room on the ground-floor, and three wards above. These rooms are principally used for old men who are convalescent, but are also used for cases of erysipelas and typhoid fever. Only one patient was upstairs at the date of my visit. In this block also are the store-rooms, and the apartments allotted to the House Steward and Housekeeper. All are very suitable for their purpose, but I cannot say the same of the kitchen and its offices, which are situated at the back of the old buildings. This part of the structure requires rebuilding, and the cooking-apparatus replacing, as it is extravagant in fuel, and, in great measure, worn out. The scullery is small and offensive-smelling, being undermined by rats. The new buildings are constructed of concrete below, on piers and arches; with a superstructure of corrugated iron and wood. There are three principal wards, two for males and one for females, which open in front into a handsome and useful corridor; on either side of the passages leading from the wards are situated convenient rooms for the nurse, the ward-kitchen, the store-room, and a special small room for troublesome or noisy patients. Above these blocks of rooms are small dormitories, three in number: one of these is reserved as a ward, the other two being used as bedrooms by the assistant nurses and cleaners. At the back of the principal wards are projecting buildings, containing, on one side, the bath-room and lavatory, and, on the other side, the closets and urinal. A central projection in front of the new building contains the apartments of the House Surgeon (two sitting-rooms, two bedrooms, and a dressing-room), the staff-room, the dispensary and waiting-rooms. The principal wards are lofty and airy. There are large windows, the central portion of which opens, and ventilation is assisted by a fretwork opening in the ceiling, and by a large central gas-sunlight. There are also, for lighting the wards, several gas-pendants. The windows have Venetian blinds over their lower portion, the upper panes of glass being painted white. Heating is accomplished by fireplaces standing out in the centreline of the wards, and having descending flues. Iron bedsteads, of old pattern, with iron laths, are in use. Upon these are .placed a straw paillasse and a hair mattress. There is one woven-wire mattress in use for a patient who has fractured his spine. The blankets and sheets were good and scrupulously clean, as also were the counterpanes and pillowcases. The pillows are filled with flock, but there are a few containing feathers. The furniture comprises a large deal table, with forms for use at meals. There are Windsor chairs and a few rocking- and arm-chairs ; bedside lockers, and a small washstand.