11

H.—9

GEEYMOUTH HOSPITAL. Last year I made a detailed report of the structure and furnishing of this hospital, and there is nothing calling for further remark except that the space in front of the building has been nicely laid down with gravel and surrounded by young trees and a neat picket-fence. New benches also have been added for the use of the patients. The new building at the southern end has been completed, and contains a fine laundry and drying-room, as well as a room for the gardener, and a store. The demand for accommodation for persons suffering from delirium tremens has been met by providing a suitable room, 12ft. by lift., containing two beds and a fireplace. It has not yet been occupied, and I understand there is no provision made for nursing them. With regard to the internal arrangements, the care and skill of Dr. Morice, and the comfort and kindly treatment of the patients, I can only repeat that they are entirely satisfactory. I pointed out that the warder on the male side has too much to do, and that there was a good deal of untidiness in consequence. This has since been rectified. There were thirty-nine patients when I visited the hospital—thirty-four males and five females. 25th January, 1888.

[GEEYTOWN HOSPITAL. This hospital has been greatly improved both as regards the buildings and fts surroundings since my last visit. The ground in front has been nicely laid out and the paths gravelled. The two patients which the hospital contained at my visit were very carefully looked after in every respect. There were twenty-three patients treated during the year. Four of these were subscribers of ss. for a ticket, and nine were destitute. The maintenance-money paid was £22 12s. The total expenditure for the year was £332, and voluntary subscriptions amounting to £148 were received. 2nd February, 1888.

MOUNT IDA-NASEBY HOSPITAL. This hospital is the pride of the miners, and their satisfaction with it is thoroughly justified. A new male ward, 29ft by 20ft., has been added to the north end of the building. Mrs. Fitzgerald, wife of the wardman, was the only patient, and I was sorry to find her illness compelled their resignation. I found everything in perfect order. 19th March, 1888.

NAPIEE HOSPITAL. It is not necessary this year to give a detailed account of this admirable hospital. Its financial administration is careful to the borders of parsimony, and the kindliness and attention of Dr. Menzies and his staff have secured universal commendation. In former times it is easy to see the people of Hawke's Bay had very large ideas of what a hospital ought to be ; but I think that to have two fever hospitals, one for ordinary fevers, and one, as I was told, for scarlatina, is carrying things too far. In plain terms, I think the recent expenditure on the scarlet-fever hospital utterly unjustifiable. If the trustees have any money to spare they would be spending it usefully by laying on hot water to the bath-room of the surgical ward. The patients on the day of my last visit numbered ten males and six females. 6th April, 1888.

HOKITIKA HOSPITAL. This hospital has been immensely improved both within and without since my last visit. The dismal dingy look is entirely gone, and it is now airy, cheerful, and tidy. I found, however, that the blankets are, for the most part, worn very thin : the trustees ought to supply, before winter at least, fifty pairs of good Kaiapoi blankets. The salaries are as follows : Doctor, £300; dispenser and house steward, £156; secretary, £150; day-wardsman and dresser, £150 and rations, including a bottle of whisky a week, equal altogether to £200; night-wardsman, £100 and found ; cook, £90; female nurse, £78; laundress, £65 and found; housemaid, £56 and found ; gardener and messenger, £90 and rations. On the day of my visit there were in the hospital twenty-two male patients and one female. Dr. Collins is most assiduous and attentive to his patients, and I heard all the other officers highly commended.

INVEECAEGILL HOSPITAL. The wards of this hospital have been cleaned and distempered, and look much more cheerful than when I last saw them. The ventilation of No. 2 Male Ward has been much improved, and the comfort of the patients greatly increased by the new folding-doors opening on the verandah. A new Towsey-Jackson bed, costing £18, has been added to No. 1 Ward for paralytic cases, and also a new bed with adjustable back-rest, furnished with a hinged mattress of hair resting on a wire frame. Arnold's patent patients-raising apparatus is very handy for enabling weak persons to be removed without fatigue. The new stair is a great improvement, but the narrow tortuous divisions at the top are very awkward when a patient has to bo carried to No. 5 Ward. The central block contains a magnificent new dispensary on the right of the entrance, with a convenient board- and consultationroom on the left. There is also a fine large instrument press well stocked. In Mr. Wolfe's office a splendid bookcase, well furnished with new books well bound, has been added, and it is intended to transform the western block in the same style as the central block as soon as the funds will permit of it. The attention and kindness of Dr. Lowe and his staff are spoken of in the highest terms by the patients, of whom there were thirteen in the hospital on the day of my visit—nine males and four females. 13th March, 1888.