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arrangements, often complicated and difficult, as regards the examinations, have earned my highest appreciation and gratitude. These bi-annual examinations have been moulded on the system of the New Zealand University. The examiners have no knowledge of the name nor hospital of the candidates whose papers they are examining, "and great care has been taken in selecting as examiners medical men who have had special knowledge of the training of nurses. The examination in practical work of each nurse is undertaken by a medical man and a registered nurse jointly.

AEEOWTOWN HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1902 ... 6 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 88 Total under treatment ... .. ... 94 Discharged ... ... ... . ... ... 88 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Eemaining on 31st March, 1903 ... ... 3 Sea;.—62 males, 32 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Lake Vincent and Southland Counties. Nationality. —British, 86 ; Foreign, 2. Religion. —Church of England, 25 ; Presbyterian, 38 ; Wesleyan, 5 ; Soman Catholic, 19 ; Lutheran, 1. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 1,660; individual average days' stay, 1766. Daily average cost per head, lis. 3fd. ; less patients' payments, Bs. lid. Outdoor Patients. —Individual cases, 78 ; attendances, 105. Eeceipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 351 6 10 Eations, fuel, and light ... ... 246 7 11 Local bodies ... ... ... 211 10 0 Surgery and dispensary, &c. ... 87 15 4 Subscriptions and donations ... 79 11 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 24 8 4 Patients' payments ... ... 194 18 3 Furniture, &c. ... ... ... 646 Other sources ... ... ... 1101 Salaries and wages ... ... 420 8 0 Balance from last year ... ... 365 13 4 Funerals ... ... ... 16 2 6 Eepairs and additions ... ... 70 17 0 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 930 Insurance ... ... ... 10 6 3 Commission ... ... ... 740 Other expenses ... ... 36 3 3 Total ... £1,213 19 6 Total ... £935 0 1 Visited 19th October. —I found this Hospital satisfactorily managed, as it has always been since I have known it.

ASHBUETON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1902 ... ... 16 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 201 Total under treatment ... ... ... 217 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 185 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 Eemaining on 31st March, 1903 ... ... 17 Sex.—l7s males, 42 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Ashburton, 190 ; Springfield, 7 ; Timaru, 4 ; Otago, 5 ; Eakaia, 6 ; Christchurch, 5. Country. — New Zealand, 83; Australia, 13; England, 48 ; Scotland, 34; Ireland, 32 ; America, 3 ; Guernsey, 4. Religion. —Church of England, 101; Presbyterian, 40; Soman Catholic, 47; Wesleyan, 20 Salvation Army, 2; Baptist, 5; Agnostic, 2. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 5,178; individual average (lays' stay, 23-86. Daily average cost per head, ss. 2fd.; less patients' payments, 4s. 6f d. Outdoor Patients. —None.