H.—22

28

Westport Hospital, 10th June, 1894. I visited this hospital twice since my last report. On both occasions I found everything working well. Owing to a charge of malpraxis against Dr. Wright, and an unfavourable verdict, with which the Judge disagreed, I regret to find that Dr. Wright is leaving in consequence. He has been a conscientious and devoted officer.

BOTOBUA SANATOEIUM. EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1894. £ s. d. Eesident Medical Officer ... ... ... 400 0 0 Matron ... ... ... ... ... ... 79 11 8 Bath attendants and servants ... ... ... ... 350 8 0 Rations ... ... ... ... ... ... 323 10 1 Fuel and Light ... ... ... ... ... ... ml2 3 Furniture and crockery ... ... 471610 Surgery and dispensary ... ... ... ... 1695 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 13 0 1,351 1 3 Received for maintenance ... ... ... 428 4 10 £922 16 5 Number of patients on 31st March, 1893 ... ... ... 11 ■ ' ' ■ Admitted during the year ... ... ... 55 Total under treatment ... ... 66 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 Remaining on 31sfc March, 1894 ... ... 10 Average number resident during the year, 7 ; daily average cost per head, 10s. 6fd., less repayments for maintenance, 7s. 2-|d. The time has come when the Government should adopt some comprehensive scheme for the development of the whole thermal region of New Zealand, of which the existing sanatorium can only be regarded as a nucleus. I hope to find the Lands Department bring forward such a plan, with the necessary vote to carry it out. I visited the sanatorium twice during the year, and lam satisfied that it is in a very satisfactory condition.

CHAEITABLE INSTITUTIONS. I have visited all the charitable institutions in the colony, and found that everywhere, except at New Plymouth and Napier, suitable buildings were provided. The Napier Board are taking steps to secure a good site, with a considerable area of good land, within five miles of the town, ■with a view to erect a home for aged people. In Gisborne I found an untidy cottage, without suitable conveniences, rented at £40, where six men are boarded, at a cost of 10s. per week. The rooms and beds were dirty, and the whole place very squalid. The cost per head per week throughout the colony varies from ss. 5Jd. to 10s., according to local circumstances and the numbers resident. I have refrained as much as possible from urging the establishment of new institutions, in the hope of a comprehensive Act dealing with large districts, where the governing bodies should have larger powers. I have in former reports urged that the whole of the cost of what I may call the State children should be taken over from the local bodies, and boarded out under the supervision of the Education Department. Meanwhile, lam glad to find that nearly all the children are being boarded out, mostly in the country, at a cost varying from ss. to Bs. a week. D. MacGregob, M.A., M.8., Inspector of Asylums and Hospitals.