H.—22

4

sitting-room has been extended. Mr. and Mrs. Tonking in charge, assisted by their daughter. Complaints made by an old man were found on investigation to be unreasonable. There is a want of single rooms. The number of inmates : twenty-three males and one female. At Hamilton the Home for Aged Poor is improved by setting one of the rooms aside for a bathroom. The urinal (which is inside) and w.-c. are trapped, but not the two hand-basins. The old bath was seldom used ; it was situated in a dark recess from the men's dormitory. The Master told me that the urinal was all right, for he flushed it out once a day ! All the windows were closed, even on the lee side' of the house. The beds were clean, and the food was good. The garden was well kept. At Gisborne the provision for old people is merely a makeshift—two or three cottages in a small section of garden-ground. The inmates are well fed and fairly clad. The new Napier Refuge was visited and the new buildings, of a suitable design and conveniently as well as beautifully situated, were well advanced. The work was well done and carefully superintended by a competent man. It is best to forget the old condition of things now. The Jubilee Home, Wanganui, was built for a college, and is not very suitable for its purpose ; and the garden is much too small. The results on the health and comfort of the inmates are depressing, for there is very little means of interesting either their minds or bodies. Except for these drawbacks, they are well fed, well clad, well lodged as far as possible, and well treated. In Nelson nothing has yet been done to improve the accommodation for the old people, and the same is the case in Timaru. Plans are being prepared. The Oamaru Old People's Home contained thirteen males and four females. They were temporarily lodged in the old Council Chambers. Mr. and Mrs. Young have been in charge for a year. A good meal was served during the visit, and, allowing for the unsuitability of the dwelling, things were very fair all round. The new building is progressing apace. Unwashed sea-sand is being used in the building. The local men say this is quite right, but Mr. Campbell, the Chief Government Architect, condemns the practice. The area of land is much too small. The Otago Benevolent Institution is carefully looked after by the trustees. Mr. Clulee, the secretary, is very attentive to his work, and Mr. and Mrs. Mcc do their duties well, considering the number of inmates they have to deal with. The contemplated midwifery school will solve the difficulty which want of suitable accommodation made it so hard to deal with in the past. The great question of all has still to be faced before this institution can be considered worthy of Otago, and that is the inadequate extent of the grounds for the 225 inmates and the necessary staff. The old building was unsuitable from the beginning, and the newer buildings, though well designed, are much too close together, and cannot be extended. The nursing arrangements are behind the age. In regard to food, clothing, and kindly treatment I have nothing to complain of. The Old People's Home, New Plymouth ; the Ohiro Home, Wellington ; the Jubilee Home, Christchurch ; the Ashburton Home ; and the Lome Farm, Southland, are all well managed and creditable institutions as regards cleanliness and comfort of inmates.