7

H.—22

CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... 71 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 1,370 Total under treatment ... ... ... 1,441 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,239 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 11l Remaining on 31st March, 1899 ... 91 Sex. —Bsl males, 590 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Christchurch, 589; Suburbs, 413; North Canterbury district, 227; Lyttelton, 48; Dunedin, 2; Akaroa, 11; Ashburton, 3; Timaru, 2; Gore, 1; Temuka, 1; no home, 144. Country. —New Zealand, 702; England and Wales, 404 ; Ireland, 159 ; Scotland, 94; Australia, 38; Germany, 6; France, 2 ; Denmark, 4; Sweden, 9; Italy, 3; Switzerland, 1; India, 2 ; Tasmania, 7 ; Belgium, 2; Austria, 3 ; Norway, 3 ; Finland, 1; Syria, 1. Religion. —Church of England, 655 ; Roman Catholic, 205 ; Presbyterian, 186; Wesleyan, 120; Baptist, 20; Congregationalist, 5; Lutheran, 25; Church of Christ, 3; Salvationist, 18; Bible Christian, 6; Plymouth Brethren, 3; Jewish, 2 ; Greek Church, 1; unknown, 192. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 31,475 ; individual average days' stay, 21-84. Daily average cost per head, ss. 2Jd.; less patients' payments, 4s. lOfd. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 756 ; attendances, 6,679. Bevenue and Expendituee. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 4,130 6 7 Bations ... ... ... 1,848 8 2 Local bodies... ... ... 4,767 5 3 Wines, spirits, &c. ... ... 70 1 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 36140 Surgery and dispensary ... 690 14 5 Patients'payments ... ... 470 6 5 Fuel and light ... ... 835 14 4 Other sources ... ... 59 3 4 Bedding and clothing ... ... 213 12 7 Balance from last year '.'.' 4,363 3 7 Furniture and earthenware ... 45 13 11 Salaries and wages ... ... 3,504 14 11 Funerals ... ... ... 26 18 6 Repairs ... ... ... 310 16 8 Additions to buildings ... 1,766 3 3 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 71 11 6 Insurance ... ... ... 70 12 5 Commission ... ... ... 616 Other expenses ... ... 1,683 10 3 Total ... £13,826 19 2 Total ... £11,144 13 5 r» The hope of attaining continued peace in the administration of this Hospital seems still a long way off. It seems to afford a signal example of the turmoil that in some centres seems to be inseparable from the popular control of such institutions. The people of Christchurch, it seems to me, take fits of furious fault-finding, and then sink into a state of lethargic neglect as to the persons into whose hands they commit the control. Perhaps the more glaring instance of bungling that has come under my observation is the history of the fine new Hyman Marks pavilion. In June last I wrote to the Board, pointing out that the plastering all over was so full of myriads of cracks that no surgeon would dare to use any part of it for hospital purposes. It has stood useless ever since, though for years the Board was clamouring for fresh accommodation. Though any person by simple inspection could not fail to see that the whole must be stripped, yet at my last visit they were actually putting up an electric-lighting apparatus over this plaster. Dr. Fox and the chairman were at daggers drawn, and I felt very despondent as regards the Hospital government; yet the medical work was well done, and the discipline admirable. Akaroa Hospital. Number of patients on 31st March, 1898 ... Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 19 Total under treatment ... ... ... 19 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 17 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Remaining on 31st March, 1899... ... ... ... 1 Sex. —ll males, 8 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Akaroa County. Country. —New Zealand, 9; England, 4 ; Scotland, 2; Ireland, 2; Germany, 1; Denmark, 1. Religion. —Church of England, 8 ; Presbyterian, 4; Roman Catholic, 5 ; Lutheran, 2. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 370; individual average days'.stay, 19-47. Daily average cost per head, 16s. 5d.; less patients' payments, 15s. 4d.