H.—3a

10

a building used as a lumber-room, and containing also three closets. There is also in the kitchengarden a small mortuary. The water-supply is principally rain-water, which is collected in a number of iron tanks ; there is also a well with a pump. A supply in readiness for flre-extiuction is kept in numerous buckets ; hose is attached to the tanks ; and large portions of the walls of the wards are hinged, to open as fire-escapes. I saw, and conversed with, the whole of the patients : there can be no doubt that they are treated with much kindness and consideration. The whole of the establishment I found to be in excellent order, and scrupulously clean. The Committee visit it every fortnight. The Medical Officer attends twice daily, and oftener when necessary. 19th February, 1883.

G-REYTOWN. The hospital is about a mile from the town. It stands on light and sandy soil, the estate comprising about an acre and a half, fenced in with posts and rails. The ground is principally covered with rough grass, which has invaded the paths. There are some flower-beds in front, and a drying-ground behind, but no portion is utilized as a kitchen-garden : in fact there is an appearance of neglect over the whole. The building is pleasantly situated, facing nearly due north, with a good view of the hills in front. It is in good general repair, but the lower part requires painting externally. There are two wards, the walls of which have been recently plastered. These were untidy-looking, and the floors were not clean. Ventilation is by sash-windows and apertures in the ceilings. There are open fireplaces for burning wood, &c. Kerosene-lamps are used for lighting. Iron bedsteads, with chaff beds and pillows on straw paillasses, are provided. The counterpanes and sheets were very clean. Brushes and combs are provided for each patient, and towels, which are kept in the kitchen. There is a very small stock of linen and bedding. The ward furniture comprises small tables, Windsor chairs, and pieces of carpet. There are no washstands, and blinds have not been put up since the plastering was finished. There is a picture-screen in the women's ward, and a large number of books and papers are provided. There were some cut flowers, a few plants in pots in the passage, and a large number of flowering-plants under the verandah. No lavatory or urinal is provided. The kitchen has no range or boiler, but a colonial oven. The cookery and utensils are of suitable character. The scullery is little more than a cupboard, and has no sink or water-supply. Under a verandah at the back of the hospital there is a rain-water tank supplying a sink, and here the crockery, &c, is washed up. There is also here a meat-safe, which should be removed to a shady place near the rain-water tank, as it now receives the full morning sun. The stores were kept in a small room, and were found to be of good quality. A bedroom only is provided for the Steward and Matron. A dispensary and surgery combined contains a stock of drugs, procured from a local chemist, and a few instruments, splints, &c. Stimulants are not kept in stock at present, but procured as required. The books kept are a diary for visits and suggestions, and a register of admissions and discharges. No book is kept by Steward or Matron, and they have not seen any inventory. There is no dietary scale, but liberal meals are given, vegetables and fruit being purchased as required. No out-patients attend the hospital. Inpatients are admitted by orders from the Committee, and an annual subscription of ss. appears to entitle to admission. The members of the Committee visit the hospital in rotation, and the Secretary is frequently there. There are very few visitors other than friends or relatives of the patients. A Church of England and a Roman Catholic clergyman attend at times. In the grounds of the hospital are two immigrant-cottages, each containing three small rooms. One of these is used as a laundry, bath-room, and store-room, and was found to be very dirty and untidy. The other cottage can be utilized as a fever-hospital, but has been occupied for ten months by a Maori boy, who has a severe gunshot wound of the knee. His whole family seem to have taken up their residence here, and have made the place, together with the laundry, very filthy. They have also placed three pigs in an empty stye at the back. A small detached building is provided for the mortuary. This needs ventilation and a window-blind or screen. Two privies and a fowlhouse complete the outbuildings. The water-supply is from a well with a common pump. No provision is made against fire. The drain from the sink runs out at the back of the land. The privies are emptied about once a month, the soil being buried. Other refuse is burned. Besides the Maori boy there was only one in-patient at the date of my visit. This was a man with a fracture of the spine. He had no complaint to make but of the bedding, and feared ho would get bed-sores. The Steward and Matron have only held office three months, and therefore some allowance may be made for the slovenly appearance of the hospital and its belongings. They assured me it was much worse when they first arrived. I recommend that a kitchenrange and boiler be provided; that the exterior of the building be painted ; and that a better kind of bedding be procured, at least for severe cases. 14th December, 1882.

HOKITIKA. The hospital is about a mile and a half from the town, and is placed upon elevated ground, commanding a fine view of the sea. The grounds are about fifteen acres in extent. A large portion is planted with ornamental trees and flowers ; another large part being used as a kitchen-garden, and well stocked with vegetables. The building is of wood, with a corrugated-iron roof, and appears to be in good general repair. Internally some painting is needed, especially in the wards ; and some leaky tanks near the roof of the store-room require repairs. Koughly speaking, the ground plan of the hospital has the form of the letter J-j ; the four projections containing the wards, and the central part a large corridor, operating-room, dispensary,, &o. The kitchen and servants' rooms are placed at one of the hinder corners of the building, being approached by a verandah. The two front wards are in use for male patients —medical-and surgical. At the back is the female ward. The fourth ward is not at present in use. These rooms have good sash-windows, with green-holland blinds. There are ventilators in the ceilings, and open fireplaces in the centre of the floor. Kerosene-lamps are used for lighting. The bedsteads are of iron ; bedding in good order, and very clean. The paillasses and mattresses are filled