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Thames Hospital. Nothing could be more satisfactory than the way in which this old and badly-designed building is utilised by Dr. Williams and his staff. I explained to the secretary and trustees, some of whom represented to me the need for certain new wards, that many other parts of the colony were much worse off in respect of accommodation, and that, in my opinion, it would be unjustifiable to pull down the old wards. The Thames district can quite well wait for better times before demanding new buildings.

TIMABU HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1893 ~. ... ... 25 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 282 Total under treatment ... ... ... 307 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 260 Died ... 20 Eemaining on 31st March, 1894 ... ... ... ... 27 Sex. —193 males, 114 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Hospital district, 266; outside hospital district, 41. Nationality. —English, 93 ; Scotch, 40 ; Irish, 50 ; colonial, 117 ; Erench, 2; Swede, 1; East Indian, 4. Beligion. —Church of England, 138; Eoman Catholic, 65 ; Presbyterian, 52 ; Wesleyan, 13 ; Primitive Methodist, 13; Congregationalist, 4; Salvation Army, 12; Baptist, 8; Plymouth Brethren, 2. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 8,075 ; individual average days' stay, 26'30. Daily average cost per head, ss. ; less patients' payments, 4s. 6d. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 162 ; attendances, 520. Bevenue and Expenditure. Revenue. £ s. d. I Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 971 57 j Eations ... ... ... 509 14 1 Local bodies ... ... ... 971 5 7 j Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 33 15 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 36 67 j Surgery and dispensary ... ... 214 10 5 Eents ... ... ... 15 7 6 Fuel and light... ... ... 227 0 0 Patients'payments ... ... 203 2 3 Bedding and clothing ... ... 94 10 1 Furniture and earthenware ... 37 3 0 Washing and laundry ... ... 18 14 4 Salaries and wages ... ... 628 4 8 Water-supply ... ... ... 21 17 4 Eepairs ... ... ... 110 15 3 Additions to buildings ... ... 178 0 0 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 39 13 2 Insurance ... ... ... 16 3 5 Other expenses ... ... 6769 Total ... ...£2,197 7 6 Total ... ...£2,197 7 6 Timaru Hospital, 15th March, 1894. I have satisfied myself by careful examination of its working that this hospital continues to deserve the high degree of confidence which the public repose in its management. One point I desire to make a suggestion about—namely, that there ought to be established a system by which the nurses should be examined and certificated, as well as taught. If the staff do not see their way to do this they might arrange with the Christchurch Hospital.

WAIKATO HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1893 ... •>... ... 14 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 229 Total under treatment ... ... ... 243 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 209 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 14 Eemaining on 31st March, 1894... ... ... ... 20 Sex. —196 males, 47 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Waikato, 46 ; Waipa, 64 ; Piako, 41; Eaglan, 18 ; Kingcountry, 4 ; Hamilton, 47 ; Cambridge, 17 ; Auckland, 4 ; Napier, 1; Sydney, 1. Country. —England, 64; Scotland, 17 ; Ireland, 41; New Zealand, 103; British America, 1 ; Sweden, 1; Denmark, 2 ; Bast Indies, 1; Channel Islands, 1; Australia, 9; Tasmania, 1; United States of America, 1; Eussia, 1. Beligion. —Church of England, 120; Eoman Catholic, 44; Presbyterian, 33; Wesleyan, 33; Lutheran, 4 ; Baptist, 2 ; Salvationist, 2 ; Hauhau, 1; others, 4. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 5,389; individual average days' stay, 22-17. Daily average cost per head, 7s. 9Jd.; less patients' payments, 6s.