H.—lB

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

HOSPITALS IN NEW ZEALAND, (REPORT ON), BY DR. GRABHAM, INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Inspector of Hospitals to the Hon. the Colonial Secbetary. Bib,— Wellington, Ist June, 1885. I have the honour to present the following report for the year 1884. No alteration has occurred in the number of the colonial hospitals, which remains at 38. All of these, with one exception, have been visited at least once since my last report, the more important ones twice, or, in some cases, more frequently. Charleston Hospital, being unoccupied when I was at Westport, was not inspected. Alterations and Additions. Government expenditure on new buildings and enlargements has been almost in abeyance, pending improved legislation, during the past financial year. I have, however, to note the following works which have been carried out or completed since the date of my former report:— Auckland. —A hot-air disinfecting chamber has been erected. Hokitika. —Two small wards built for purposes of isolation or separate treatment. Invercargill.— Kitchen enlarged, laundry built, also a patients' dining-room, linen-store, a ward for four patients, and three bedrooms for officials. Other improvements of existing buildings have been effected. New Plymoitth. —Better rooms provided for Steward and Matron, their former apartments being thrown into the hospital, thereby adding to the patients' accommodation. Napier. —The new children's ward, and ward for females completed, furnished, and fully occupied.. Kitchen enlarged. Boss. —A new surgery and dispensary provided in a detached building. Botorua. —Hospital buildings further advanced towards completion. Thames. —A large new surgical ward, operating-room, and a small isolating ward erected. Wakatipu. —A large ward for female patients built. A number of minor improvements are noticed in the individual reports of the hospitals. Condition op Hospitals. The improvement alluded to last year continues. As a rule the establishments are kept scrupulously clean and in good sanitary condition. Additions in the way of comfortable bedding, furniture, and ornamental objects are constantly being made. Nursing. 1 have no alteration to report. Wellington continues to furnish the only training-school for probationers. Auckland would follow suit, but has no proper rooms"for the purpose. Christchurch and Dunedin might well improve upon their old-fashioned arrangements.