H.—22.

ASHBURTON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1896 ... ... ... 14 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 140 Total under treatment ... ... ... 154 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 135 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Remaining on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... ... 12 Sea;.—llB males, 36 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Rakaia to Rangitata. Nationality. —English, 44 ; Irish, 43 ; Scotch, 13 ; New Zealand, 41; Australians, 6 ; Welsh, 1; Swedes, 2; German, 1; Dutch, 1; American, 2. Beligion. —Church of England, 64; Presbyterian, 32; Roman Catholic, 43; Methodist, 11; Salvation Army, 2 ; Lutheran, 1; Hebrew, 1. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 3,830; individual average days' stay, 24-87. Daily average cost per head, 7s. 3Jd. ; less patients' payments, 6s. 6fd. Outdoor Patients. —None. Revenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 654 16 2 Rations and light ... ... 402 15 3 Local bodies ... ... ... 630 0 0 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 16 10 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 20 13 6 Surgery and dispensary ... ... 152 18 10 Patients' payments ... ... 136 0 6 Fuel ... ... ... 53 18 9 Other sources ... ... ... 10 7 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 71 16 4 Balance from last year ... ... 97 16 0 Furniture, earthenware, and ironmongery ... ... ... 87 12 1 Salaries and wages ... ... 443 16 0 Funerals ... ... ... 11 6 6 Repairs ... ... ... 40 6 5 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 450 Interest ... ... ... 080 Insurance ... ... ... 14 19 3 Other expenses... ... ... 93 9 8 Total ... £1,549 13 2 Total ... £1,394 2 1 Inspected by me on the 31st March, 1897, and by Mrs. Neill on the 12th January. Of the ten beds in the large male ward nine were occupied. Two patients occupied one bed in the female ward, and one male patient was in one of the single rooms. The whole was scrupulously clean, and very comfortable. Mrs. Mackay is assisted by a nurse trained in Dunedin. I called attention to the absence of temperature charts at the head of the beds.

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1896 ... ... ... 11l Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 1, 229 Total under treatment ... ... ... 1,340 .Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,093 Died 109 Remaining on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... ... 138 Sex. —898 males, 442 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Auckland City and Suburbs, 845; Auckland district, 300 ; Auckland North, 89 ; Auckland South, 76 ; shipping," 30. Nationality.— English, 356 ; Scotch, 82 ; Irish, 148; New Zealand, 627 ; Australian, 47 ; American, 13; German, 15; Swedes, 22; French, 1; Austrian, 6; Danish, 2; Chinese, 3; Indian, 6 ; South Sea Islands, 5 ; Portuguese, 1; Belgians, 2 ; Italians, 2 ; Africans, 2. Beligion. —Church of England, 646 ; Eoman Catholic, 292 ; Baptist, 33 ; Wesleyan, 114; Presbyterian, 198; Congregationalist, 13; Salvationist, 16; Lutheran, 14; Jewish, 2; Christian Brethren, 4 ; other denominations, 7 ; Nil, 1. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 43,313; individual average days' stay, 32-32. Daily average cost per head, 4s. 6£d.; less patients' payments, 3s. ljd. Outdoor Patients. —Individual cases, 518 ; attendances, 4,238.

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