H.—3.

Inspection. I inspected this hospital on the 26th August, 1888. Everything was in satisfactory order, except that there were evidences of neglect and incapacity on the part of the gardener and porter. In Miss Swayne's department everything was very clean. The patients, of whom there were six, spoke highly of their treatment both by Dr. Pollen and the matron. The walls have been repainted, and have a very cheerful appearance. A hot-water supply ought to be added, and the baths ought to be enlarged. Here, as elsewhere, the difficulty of keeping refuge cases will cause complications.

GEEY EIVEE HOSPITAL. The number of patients, 31st Marcß*, 1888 ... ... ... 43~ Number admitted during the year ... ... ... 131 Total under treatment ... ... ... 174 Discharged ~. ... ... ... ... ... 116 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 Eemaining, 31st March, 1889 ... ... ... ... 29 Localities from which Patients came. —Grey Valley, 64; Greymouth, 34; Brunnerton, 31; Marsden, 24; Teremakau, 11; North Beach, 9; Wanganui, 1. Sex. —157 males, 17 females. Country. —England, 46; Scotland, 16; Ireland, 52; New Zealand, 21; Australia, 7 ; Germany, 4; China, 10; America, 2; Austria, 2; Isle of Man, 2; France, 3; Canada, 2; Sweden, 2; Wales, 2; Azores, 1; Belgium, 1; Spain. 1. Beligion. —Church of England, 66; Presbyterian, 24; Eoman Catholic, 62; Wesleyan, 4; Confucian, 9; Church of Christ, 1; Baptist, 1; Lutheran, 3 ; Salvation Army, 2 ; Freethinker, 2. The total collective days' stay in the hospital was 13,818; individual average days' stay, 7941. Daily average cost per head, 3s. 9Jd.; less patients' payments, 3s. 8-J-d. Out-patients, 323; attendances, 752. Eevenue and Expenditure. Bevenve. £ s. d. J Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 1,205 4 11 Eations ... ... ... 607 19 5 From local bodies ... ... 275 0 0 Wines, spirits, ales, &c. ... 87 7 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 729 410 Surgery and dispensary ... 127 17 10 Patients'payments ... ... 42 8 7 Fuel and light ... ... 11l 15 9 Other sources... ... ... 15 6 4 j Bedding and clothing ... ... 66 17 7 Furniture and earthenware ... 142 14 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 1,225 9 6 Funerals ... ...• ... 26 8 8 jEepairs ... ... ... 91 9 7 Printing, advertising, stationery ... 63 6 3 Insurance ... ... ... 2500 | Other expenses ... ... 36136 Total ... ...£2,267 4 8; Total ... ...£2,612 19 1 Inspection. I inspected this hospital on the 15th February, 1889, and found thirty patients in residence— twenty-five males and five females. There is one feature of this hospital which calls for some remark. In one of the wards of the new part of the building there were nine patients, whose ages ranged from fifty to seventy-one, and who had all been from two to twelve years in the hospital. In the large male ward there were thirteen patients, and of these five were chronic cases—one in hospital six years suffering from asthma, another had been in two years suffering from chronic bronchitis, another three years and a half suffering from paralysis, and so on. It is apparent, therefore, that owing to the fact that there is no suitable refuge for old broken-down miners on the coast the hospitals, and especially the Greymouth hospital, are largely diverted from their proper uses. In the preceding statement it will be observed that the comparatively small average cost per head is so low as compared with other goldflelds hospitals mainly because so many of the inmates were there all the year round. The appearance of the wards is greatly improved as well as the comfort of the patients by the beautiful new beds which have been procured. I was also much pleased to find that the dirt and slovenliness which I found fault with in some of the wards have entirely disappeared.

GEEYTOWN HOSPITAL. Number of patients, 31st March, 1888 ... ... ... 1 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 27 Total under treatment ... ... 28 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Eemaining on 31st March, 1889 .., ~, ~, ~, 2

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