7

H.—3a.

pensary should be used as wards, and the smaller rooms as offices, for which they are quite large enough. With any increased number of patients it would be necessary to provide additional staff for nursing and housework. There is a good fenced garden, which is rapidly going out of cultivation for want of labour ; and is, in its present condition, useless. The liquid sewage is poured upon some part of the garden. Night-soil is put into a detached privy, and the excreta of fever-patients buried in a deep hole. The Warder has only been a few weeks in his present situation, and was unable to give me much information as to the procuring of supplies and the checking of accounts. 31st March, 1883.

CEOMWELL. Situated in twenty acres of ground, on an elevated plain, one and a half miles from the town. The hospital is built of stone, with a stucco front, an iron roof, and a central ventilating-shaft. The front rooms are a large ward for males, a smaller one for females, a ward with three beds, the dispensary, and the Warder's room. Behind these rooms a passage runs, in the rear of which are the kitchen, pantry, and bath-room. A lean-to building in the rear contains wash-houso and stable. At some distance behind the hospital is the dead-house ; and there are separate detached earth-closets for each sex. The wards present an aspect of homeliness and great comfort. They have large sashwindows and glazed doors opening to the grounds. It is hoped, when funds permit, to erect verandahs outside these doors —?• very desirable improvement. There are ceiling ventilators in connection with the central shaft. Open fireplaces are provided, but, not being found sufficient, have been replaced by iron stoves. The floors are covered with linoleum floor-cloth ; framed pictures are hung on the walls, and a good supply of books and papers is provided. Iron bedsteads are fitted with straw paillasses and chaff (winnowings) beds and pillows of excellent quality. There are also hair mattresses, an airbed, and feather pillows for special use. Some of the rug-counterpanes are old, but serviceable, and the whole of the bed-clothing is beautifully clean. Green-holland blinds are fitted to the windows, and suitable chairs, tables, and lockers are provided, The bath-room contains a portable bath only. The dispensary is well kept, and has a good stock of drugs. Surgical instruments are provided by the Medical Officer, iso prescription-book is kept, but there is a general register, giving all particulars of the patients and their payments, which vary from £1 a week for subscribers to £2 for non-subscribers. A particular account is kept of all stores procured and issued: this book is balanced monthly. All goods are procured by written order. No diet-scale is in use, and there is no inventory kept. Admissions are obtained by subscribers' tickets, but accidents need no recommendation. The kitchen is a good one, and has a large American range, with boiler. Crockery of good quality is provided. The dinner to-day consisted of soup, roast mutton, and .potatoes. There is a small, well-arranged pantry adjoining the kitchen, but no scullery. The water used for domestic purposes is rain-water; for washing, &c, it is obtained, by means of a small race, from the hills. Liquid drainage is disposed of, with the ashes, in a distant hole ; poultices and refuse are burned ; night-soil is buried. There is a small flower-garden, and unsuccessful attempts have been made to grow vegetables, for which the soil is by no means fitted, being too dry and shingly. The Committee hold monthly meetings in the town, and visit the hospital occasionally. The Medical Officer, Dr. Btackpoole, appears to take much interest in his work. I found beds occupied by two men and two women, all of whom were proper subjects for hospital treatment; they 'were perfectly contented. In a word, the hospital is well planned, under good management, and in most praiseworthy order. 7th February, 1882.

DTTNEDIN. 1 hate this day inspected this establishment, including the outbuildings and grounds, have examined the books and the stores, and have seen every patient, with the exception of two. The building was erected for an exhibition, and considerable ingenuity has been exercised in adapting it to its present use. It is built of brick, with a facing of stucco and a basement of stone. At the back is a large wooden annexe, containing the out-patients'department; the dispensary; a large ward occupied by chronic, incurable male patients ; and a very large room which serves for an exercising space for convalescents, and also as a drying-room for clothing in wet weather. Near this part of the building is a new and commodious reading-room, supplied with books, magazines, and papers. There is a library also in another part of the hospital, which is well stocked with books purchased by means of a special fund. A small wooden annexe on the north side contains the lying-in department, which consists of two wards, a small kitchen, and a room for the midwife. The front part of the hospital contains a vestibule and a very large entrance-hall; also three large wards for male patients, officers' dining-room, operat-ing-room, and single room for an excited patient. On the floor above are the officers' quarters ; and also six wards, three being for male patients and three for females. In the basement are various store-rooms, and the kitchen ; also a dark, damp, and unsuitable strong-room. A row of detached wooden buildings, on the south side, consists of dead-house and post mortem room, earth-closets and urinals, stables, ashpit, and vegetable house. On the north side are placed the laundry and a small greenhouse. The grounds are exceedingly well kept, and comprise ornamental gardens and a large area stocked with fruit-trees and vegetables. The whole of the buildings appear to be in good repair. The drainage runs into a cesspool, which is situated too near the hospital for safety (about 50 feet). Here the solid matters accumulate, and are taken away once a week. The earth-closets are also emptied at the same time, together with the ashpit. The water-supply is from the city mains, and is delivered under great pressure. Hydrants and hose are provided for extinguishing fire, and have recently been tested.. Kain-water is not saved, being too dirty for use in the laundry. The wards are lofty, well-lighted, and airy. The brick walls are coloured; and in some of the rooms a painted dado has been introduced. The windows have large flap openings at top and bottom, well protected to prevent draught ; and other ventilators are in use in and near the ceilings. Open fireplaces are adapted for burning wood. Gas-brackets are provided for lighting. The furniture is plain and