H.—22

14

On the 19fch December, the date of inspection, this hospital contained twenty-six patients— twenty males and six females. The new matron, Miss Spooner, took charge in October. She was for some time at the Waipawa Hospital, and I hope she will prove satisfactory. Her staff at present .consists of two nurses and two probationers and a porter; but, as the opening of the new wards has increased the work, another assistant is to be engaged. The sooner the small wards in the old part of the hospital are done away with the better. It is a risk to the patients, and not fair to doctor or nurses, to have serious operation cases in them. I am glad to see that the people of the district have determined to make a special effort to provide more ward-accommodation, which will meet the requirements of modern surgery.

KUMARA HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1896 ... ... ... 15 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 43 Total under treatment ... ... ... 58 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Remaining on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... ... 9 Sine.—4S males, 15 females. Localities from which Patients came. — Kumara, 31; Dillman's, 10 ; Greenstone, 6 ; Ross, 2 ; Hokitika, 1; Taipo, 2 ; Callaghan's, 3; Stafford, 1; Kapitea, 2. Nationality.— English, 19 ; Irish, 14 ; Scotch, 1; New Zealand, 14 ; Norwegian, 1; Indian, 1 ; Welsh, 2 ; Victorian, 1; Channel Islander, 3 ; Chinese, 2. Religion. —Church of England, 29; Roman Catholic, 20; Presbyterian, 4 ; Wesleyan, 3; Confucian, 2. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 3,984 ; individual average days' stay, 68-69. Daily average cost per head, 4s. 3-Jd.; less patients' payments, 4s. O-fd. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 92 ; attendances, 120. Revenue and Expbndituee. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 386 3 9 Rations ... ... ... 236 14 2 Local bodies >~ ... ... 203 17 10 Wines, spirits, ale, &c... ... 31 14 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 142 4 0 Surgery and dispensary ... 94 17 9 Patients'payments ... ... 48 6 6 Fuel and light ... ... 41 12 6 Bedding, clothing, furniture, &c 77 6 10 Salaries and wages ... ... 320 18 8 Funerals ... ... ... 25 0 0 Legal expenses ... ... 6180 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 930 Interest ... ... ... 6 18 6 Insurance ... ... ... 690 Total ... ... £780 12 1 Total ... ... £857 12 5 This is a very comfortable cottage hospital, kept in perfect order. The matron is a thoroughlytrained nurse, and it is a pleasure to hear the patients speak of their gratitude for her unfailing kindness. Dr. Scott is a thoroughly reliable and careful man. The garden affords an abundant supply of vegetables, though the gardener is a patient suffering from locomotor ataxia.

LAWEBNOE HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1896 ... . ... 9 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 88 , ~, Total under treatment ... ■~ ... 97 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 81 Died 7 Remaining on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... ... 9 Sex. —6B males, 29 females. Locality from which Patients came.— Tuapeka County. Country. —New Zealand, 30; England, 19 ; Scotland, 16; Ireland, 21; China, 3 ; Victoria, 4 ; Italy, 1; Canada, 1; Denmark, 2. Religion. —No record. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 2,601; individual average days' stay, 2681. Daily average cost per head, 7s. 3Jd.; less patients' payments, ss, 7fd. ■ Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 52.