H.—3.

Inspection. The circumstances of this hospital, may be taken as exemplifying the difficulty which exists in several parts of the colony. Seven of the nineteen patients who were on the books at the beginning of last year were chronic cases, all of whom ought to be in a refuge, but are kept in a separate ward of the hospital because there is no refuge to send them to. These cases were retained during the whole year, so that in calculating the daily cost per head the average falls, because they require no medicine, nor any special treatment. Nothing could more clearly demonstrate the necessity for transferring such cases to suitable refuges, for there they could be suitably maintained at a cost of something like 6d. a day, whereas in this hospital they cost ss. sfd. The keeping of such cases in a hospital compels the authorities to treat them in all respects as patients, for they grumble and make themselves very troublesome-under a sense of injustice if theyTlo not receive the same attention. The condition of the hospital, both as regards the attention of the doctor and the general management and nursing, I found very satisfactory.

CH-AELESTON HOSPITAL. Number of patients, 31st March, 1888 ... ... ... 4 Admitted during the year ' ... ... ... ... 28 Total under treatment ... ... ... 32 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 Died ... ... ... ... 4 Eemaining, 31st March, 1889 ... ... ... ... 9 Sex. —32 males. Nationality. —lrish, 12 ; English, 11; Scotch, 6; French, 2 ; Welsh, 1 Religion. —Eoman Catholic, 13 ; Protestant, 19. Bevenue and Expendituke. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From local bodies ... ... 122 11 5 Eations ... ... ... 132 7 7 From Government ... ... 243 15 5 Wines, spirits, ale, and porter ... 12 11 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 103 0 0 Surgery and dispensary ... ... 18 111 Bequests ... ... Fuel and light ... ... ... 1020 Bents ... ... ... •■■ ••• Bedding and clothing ... ... 13 2 0 Patients' payments ... ... 59100 Furniture and earthenware Other sources ... ... ... 080 Washing and laundry ... ... 4163 Salaries and wages ... ... 237 10 0 Water-supply Funerals ... ... ... 500 Eepairs ... ... ... 74 610 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 16 1 6 Interest Insurance ... ... ... 400 Commission Other expenses ... ... ... 25 9 6 Total ... ... £529 4 10 Total ... ... £553 8 7 The total collective days' stay, 1,411; individual average stay, 44-09. Average cost per head per day, 7s. lOd.; less repayments, 7s. Inspection. I found this hospital, on my visit (18th February), contained five patients, none of whom had any complaint to make of their treatment. A rough comfort was apparent in all the arrangements.

CHEISTCHUECH HOSPITAL. Number of patients, 31st March, 1888 ... ... ... 56 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 592 Total under treatment ... ... ... 648 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 507 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 43 Eemaining, 31st March, 1889 ... ... ... ... 98 Localities from which PgMents came. —Christchurch, 185; Sydenham, 105; Lyttelton, 14; St. Alban's, 20; Kaiapoi, 10; Eangiora, 9; Amuri, 6 ; Kaikoura, 7 ; Akaroa County, 13 ; Ashburton, 15 ; Waimate, 2; Dunedin, 3; Auckland, 3; Oamaru, 3; Burnham, 6; Selwyn County, 57; no settled home, 134. Sex. —420 males, 172 females,

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