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necessity of defining "maintenance of institutions," so as to make it include the erection of new buildings where such are required to keep the institution in a condition sufficient for the public demand for necessary accommodation ; and second, the difficulties surrounding the questions of settlement. A Bill has been prepared to deal with these matters, which will, I believe, remove all real difficulties in the working of the Act that can be profitably faced until such time as the country and the Parliament have made up their minds to deal with the whole question of local government and direct taxation in a systematic and comprehensive way.

AEEOWTOWN HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1893 ... ... ... 5 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 103 Total under treatment ... ... ... 108 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 101 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Eemaining on 31st March, 1894 .. ... ... ... 4 Sex. —60 males, 48 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Arrow, 38 ; Gibbston, 9; Macetown, 34; Cardrona, 5; Skipper's, 5; Arthur's Point and Miller's Flat, 5; Wanaka, 1; Queenstown, 1; Maori Point, 4 ; head of lake, 1. Country. —England and Wales, 13 ; Ireland, 13 ; Scotland, 9 ; New Zealand, 52; Victoria, 8; Tasmania, 2; Denmark, 2 ; Norway, 2 ; Tahiti, 1; born at sea, 1. Religion. —Church of England, 52; Presbyterian, 20; Wesleyan, 8; Eoman Catholic, 17; Lutheran, 3; Salvation Army, 3. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 1,246; individual average days' stay, 11-54. Daily average cost per head, 9s. lljd.; less patients' payments, Bs. 6-Jd. Outdoor Patients.— lndividual cases, 33 ; attendances, 66. Be venue and Expbndittjee. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 292 7 11 Eations, and fuel and light ... 138 8 8 Local bodies ... ... ... 172 8 2 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 31 8 6 Subscriptions and donations ... 92 9 1 Surgery and dispensary ... ... 2976 Patients' payments .... ... 86 10 9 Salaries and wages ... ... 357 10 0 Other sources ... ... ... 386 Eepairs and furnishing ... ... 25 13 2 Additions to buildings ... ... 18 0 0 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 518 6 Interest ... ... ... 1 12 4 Insurance ... ... ... 3 15 0 Commission ... ... ... 050 Other expenses... ... ... 2572 Total ... ... £647 4 5 Total ... ... £637 5 10 Arrowtown Hospital, 25th February, 1894. On examining the records of this institution I was surprised to find that out of 103 cases admitted during the year no less than thirty-five were entered as quinsy. Struck with this extraordinary circumstance, I told Dr. Nichols that he had either mistaken diphtheria for quinsy or had purposely tried to mislead. Either alternative ought not to be possible in a public hospital. The hospital itself is well arranged and well managed. A new fever-ward, containing three beds, has been built, and a good bath-room and closet have been added at the west end of the male ward. The whole has been newly painted by Mr. Dickenson in his leisure time. It would be a great advantage if the swamp behind were drained and made into a vegetable-garden.

ASHBUETON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1893 ... ... ... 16 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 134 Total under treatment ... ... ... 150 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 137 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Eemaining on 31st March, 1894 ... ... ... ... 6 Sex. —126 males, 24 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Bakaia to Eangitata Eivers, with 6 exceptions. Nationality. —English, 46 ; Irish, 44 ; Scotch, 18; Australians, 5 ; New, Zealand, 30; others, 7. Religion. —Church of England, 63 ; Presbyterian, 28; Wesleyan, 5; Eoman Catholic, 42; Lutherans, 2; Congregationalist, 1; Salvation Army, 5 ; no religion, 4. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 3,316; individual average days' stay, 22-11. Daily average cost per head, 7s. lOfd.; less patients' payments, 7s. 2fd. Outdoor Patients. —None.