H.—3.

Total collective stay of patients in hospital, 36,94 5 days ; individual average days' stay, 42-2. Daily average cost per head, 3s. _3fd., less patients' payments, 2s. lOfd. Outdoor-patients— individual cases, 2,109 ; attendances, 5,699. Localities from which Patients came. —Dunedin and Suburbs, 582; Port Chalmers, 23; shipping, 30; Waikouaiti, 8; Blueskin, 12; Milton, 15; Mosgiel, 17; Palmerston, 9; ITapanui, 4; Oamaru, 7; Clinton, 6; Port Molyneux, 6; Green Island, 7; Greytown, 4; Batclutha, 5; Cromwell, 2; Greymouth, 3; Eeefton, 1; Westport, 1; Ida Valley, 2; St. Ba.han's, 1; Teremakau, 1; Switzers, 1; Bomahapa, 1; Naseby, 1; Waimate, 4; Kaitangata, 4 ; WelPngton, 1; Lawrence, 4 ; other districts, 111. Country. — New Zealand, 241; Scotland, 193; England, 179; Ireland, 148; Australia, 31; Germany, 13 ; Sweden, 12 ; China, 12; Tasmania, 12; South America, 6; France, 4; Jersey, 4 ; Holland, 4; Denmark, 4; West Indies, 3; Canada, 3; Norway, 1; Switzerland, 1; Java, 1; East Indies, 1; Finland, 1. Beligion. — Presbyterian, 301; Church of England, 255 ; Eoman Catholic, 187 ; Wesleyan,»36 ; other Protestants (sects not known), 8; Chinese, 12 ; Baptist, 41; Salvationist, 8 ; Methodist, 3; Independent, 13; Freethinker, 5 ; Plymouth Brethren, 3 ; Mohammedan, 1 ; Jew, 1. Revenue and Expenditure. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. * £ s. d. Contributed by Government ... 3,020 1 6 Eations ... ... ... 1,490 18" 9 By local bodies ... ... 2,451 11 11 | Wines, ales, spirits ... ... 210 12" 3 Subscriptions and donations ... 205 1 0 ; Surgery and dispensary ... 1,006 910 Bequest, Eussell Trust ... 30 13 8 Fuel and light ..'. ... ' 355 13 4 Rents ... ... ... ... Bedding and clothing ... 74 5 6 Patients'payments ... ... 859 15 6 j Furniture and earthenware ... 141 0 7 Other sources ... ... 26 15 9 I Salaries and wages ... ... 2,158 12 5 Water ... ... ... 52 0 0 Funerals ... ... ... 30 0 0 Eepairs ... ... ... 260 18 4 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... 72.133 Insurance ... ... ... 31 2 6 Commission ... ... 23 6 6 | Other expenses ... ... 224 2 2 Total £6,593 19 4 \ Total £6,131 15 5 Inspection. I inspected this hospital on the 30th January, 1889. I was particularly careful in making inquiries of the patients in all the wards without any official being present as to how they were treated by the nurses. Though the fullest opportunity was afforded I heard not a single complaint. As I have pointed out in former reports, the fact that this hospital was never designed for its present purpose, and the further fact that it is the only one connected with a medical school whose requirements are constantly growing, made it inevitable that the progressive tendencies thus set in operation must make large demands for improved accommodation and appliances. This is the explanation of the agitation that has taken place over the condition of this hospital; and the rapidity with which the agitation answered its purpose—of hastening the building of a nurses' home and certain special wards—while it is a subject of congratulation to all, yet seems to me to have been dearly bought by the unjustifiably evil reputation which has been fixed on the hospital all over these colonies. The evils complained of had all been previously pointed out so far as they were real, and steps were being taken to remedy them. Mr. Houghton, the Chairman, was already collecting money for this purpose ; and the very day before the storm burst he was in consultation with me on the subject. No one doubts the superiority of trained female nurses over the class of male nurses that have hitherto of necessity been employed in the Dunedin Hospital. Especially of late years, it has become possible to get for this work well-educated ladies, who are very different from the oldfashioned type of hospital nurse ; and no doubt it was somewhat trying that the hospital which in all the essentials of medical and surgical treatment of disease was ahead of all the other hospitals of the colony should, nevertheless, be the only one of our large hospitals where the best system of nursing was unattainable. While the spirit of reform is abroad in Dunedin I would suggest that the general appearance of all the wards would be vastly improved, and the comfort of the patients greatly increased, by replacing the present beds with Eowcliff s beds, which were adopted in the new Edinburgh Hospital, and have been introduced into our asylums and all the larger hospitals of the colony. A little more expenditure also is required to provide more liberally for bed-linen. Every bed should have a pair of clean sheets each week, and I find that this was not the case up to the date of my visit. Except in those evils which the structural deficiencies of the building caused, I affirm that this hospital was well managed, and the patients well treated.

* Buildings for year cost £978 6s. Bd., not included in expenditure.

11