15

H.—7

The following return for the year ended the 31st December, 1906, as to the working of the farms attached to the hospitals is highly satisfactory: —

Amount spent on farms for year ended the 31st December, 1906, £6,492 7s. 6d. Another year the results of the various operations may be given in detail, if deemed of sufficient interest. Women patients do the "mending" and make certain articles of clothing, &c, and thus help to lighten the cost of a very large item in maintenance. There is a note in the Seacliff report of the 11th February, 1906, on the therapeutic value of work as compared with the cash value of the products of labour, and, in comparison, the relative cash value is small indeed. The confuting of the argument that maintenance should not be charged for patients who work need not lie repeated here. Among the special industries the most noteworthy is the very successful fishing-station at iSeacliff. Fishing as a regular recreative industry for patients is, as far as I know, unique. Erection of New Buildings : Principal Additions and Alterations to Hospitals for Mental Diseases during the Year 1906-7. Auckland. —Completing male airing-courts. Furniture and fittings for additions. Paintinginside laundry and outside main building. Erection of store and bakehouse. Christchurch. —lmproved water-supply —new pumps, and extension of mains. Ventilating and lighting female-wards, new skylight, painting, &c. Fire appliance—hose, <fee. Erection of cast-iron water-tanks in tower. Extension of laundry, and alteration to suit new machinery. Seacliff. —Fire appliances—curricle telescopic escape, hydrants, hose. Accommodation for dairy cattle. Painting and general improvements. Erection of piggeries, fish-curing house, &c. Seacliff Auxiliary (Waitati). —Completing water-race and fire service. Erection of dispensary and laboratory. Erection of swimming-bath. Hokitika. —Repairs. Nelson. —Completion of dam for reservoir to fire service, and enclosing same with galvanisediron fence. Painting. Improvement of fire service. Porirua. —Erection of cow and cart sheds, pigsties, &c. Fencing at dam. Water-power service to farm buildings, channelling, &c. Construction of filter-bed, drains, &c. Supply and installation of oil-engine and dynamo. Construction of heater for hot-water supply, and renewal of iron pipes with copper. Wellington. —Building machinery-house and installing laundry machinery therein. The Camp, Dunedin. —Furnishings and fittings, and telephone-line. Repairs to buildings and laying out grounds. Drainage-works. Laying on hot and cold water, fitting range, &c. Home for Defectives, Richmond. —Erection of rooms for cook and housemaid. Erection of iron tanks and stands. Changes in the Service. Mrs. Neill, whose connection with the joint Department of Asylums and Hospitals as assistant to the late Dr. MacGregor lasted over nearly twelve years, retired at the end of the year, and was granted three months' leave of absence. More recently the hospital side of her work claimed her great organizing ability. Her services in connection with the State registration of nurses and ruidwives,_ and in the initiation of the State maternity hospitals, will be kept in grateful remembrance. Mrs. Neill was the first woman inspector of mental hospitals, and, being -an exceptional woman, fully justified the experiment. She did more —she created the necessity for the continuance of the office. Miss H. Maclean, who succeeded Mrs. Neill, is a registered nurse who has had experience of the insane. When the Departments divided at the beginning of this year, it was arranged, to our great satisfaction, that Miss Maclean should continue to serve in both Departments. Mr. J. A. Flesher, solicitor, has been appointed Deputy Inspector at Christchurch, and Mr. J. Park, solicitor, has been appointed Deputy Inspector at Hokitika. Mr. S. Myers has been appointed Deputy Inspector at Dunedin, to act for Mr. Cohen during his absence from the colony. Mrs. E. A. Armitage has been appointed Official Visitor for Auckland, Mrs. E. A. Brown has been appointed Official Visitor for Wellington, and Mrs. E. W. Cunnington has been appointed Official Visitor for Christchurch.

Produce sold for Cash. Produce consumed in Mental Hospital. Total. Auckland Christchurch Seacliff Hokitika Nelson Porirua Wellington ... £ s. 595 4 950 14 1,184 16 50 9 223 13 668 13 193 1 d. 6 1 8 6 0 4 9 £ s. d. 1,976 1 1 1,820 19 3 3,603 8 0 311 16 6 653 19 1 1,471 18 10 599 19 5 £ s. 2,571 5 2,771 13 4,788 4 362 6 877 12 2,140 12 793 1 d. 7 4 8 0 1 2 2 Totals 3,866 12 10 10,438 2 2 14,304 15 0