H.—22.

years, notably a sheltered and sunny verandah leading out of the nursery : the girls are tidier in person, look brighter, and their surroundings are cleaner and in better order than was the case at date of last report: the attention of the Committee should now be turned to the improvement of the laundry and drying-room. The Levin Memorial Home for Girls is working very satisfactorily : there are 25 little girls : they look bright and happy, clean, wholesome and healthy : they attend school regularly, and get an admirable report from the headmaster, whilst the elder girls are carefully taught household work : the Matron, Miss Ockenden, has the art of "mothering" her big family, and this is really a " home " for the children, and not merely a charitable institution : it would be well if we had more such Cottage Homes in New Zealand. St. Mary's Home, Karori, is doing good work in taking girls from evil surroundings, and training them to be useful members of society. Two new hospitals have been opened during the year, one at Whangarei and one at Pahiatua. The Waihi Hospital Contributors have been incorporated as a separate institution, and the foundation-stone of the new Waihi Hospital was laid in June. An Act to provide for the registration of trained nurses in New Zealand came into force on the Ist January, 1902, and a large number of trained nurses have availed themselves of its provisions. The Act in no way interferes with the right of every person to employ whatever nursing he may desire, nor does it interfere with the employment of any untrained woman by a medical man or the public. The State merely gives a reliable list of nurses who have undergone three years' training in a general hospital, and whose training has been tested by State examinations. An organized movement is on foot in England to attain the same result, and. the following quotation from the Philadelphia Medical Journal of the 15th March shows that America is following on similar lines : " The question now arises whether, in view of the methods by which many so-called trained nurses are educated and let loose upon an unguarded public, the State should not intervene and at least limit an abuse which is dangerous to the sick and an injustice to women who have conscientiously prepared themselves for their chosen calling. We believe that at the present day the most satisfactory solution of the question is to be found in some State regulation of trained nurses. This regulation should involve three things—first, a minimum period of service as student nurses ; second, a minimum degree of qualification on the part of a hospital that attempts to organize a training-school; third, a general examination of all candidates before a State Board. The question is one which needs deep consideration. We hope it will be agitated before the next session of the Legislature." The Council of the Scottish Women's Liberal Association, at their annual meeting in April, passed a unanimous resolution advocating the State registration of nurses. Geace Neill, Assistant Inspector of Hospitals, &c.

AEEOWTOWN HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1901 ... ... ... 9 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 81 Total under treatment ... ... ... 90 Discharged ... ... ... . ... ... 77 Died 7 Eemaining on 31st March, 1902 ... ... 6 Sex. —64 males, 26 females. Locality from ivhich Patients came. —Lake Vincent and Southland Counties. Nationality. —British, 73; Foreign, 8. Beligion. —Church of England, 30 ; Presbyterian, 28 ; Wesleyan, 4 ; Soman Catholic, 17 Lutheran, 2; Confucian, 1 ; unknown, 1. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 1,376 ; individual average days' stay, 15-29. Daily average cost per head, 10s. lOd. ; less patients' payments, 7s. 9£d. Outdoor Patients. —Individual cases, 91 ; attendances, 150. Eeceipts and Expendituee. Beceipts. £ s. d. j Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 395 8 5 I Eations, fuel, and light ... ... 151 13 6 Local bodies ... ... ... 302 0 0: Wines, spirits, &c. ... ... 213 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 117 0 8. Surgery and dispeusarv ... ... 59 3 3 Patients'payments ... ... 209 16 10 j Fuel and light ... ... ... 30 9 0 Balance from last year ... ... 87 18 0 j Furniture, Ac. ... ... ... 515 6 Salaries and wages ... ... 400 10 10 Funerals ... ... ... 9 0 0 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 617 6 Commission ... ... ... 949 Insurance ... ... ... 9 19 9 Other expenses ... ... 61 3 6 Total ... £1,112 3 11 Total ... £746 10 7 Visited 26th April. —Five men and two women patients. Everything satisfactory. A substantial isolation ward has been added, but without a bath-room or small kitchen

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