34

H.—7

The percentage of recoveries on admissions is 47"69 for males and 51 for females. A great improvement has been made on the female side in the matter of ventilation, two single rooms being sacrificed in one corridor to admit of air and light. Arches were also cut in dormitorywalls, and a cross-draught secured where the air was particularly stagnant. This work is still going on, as well as replacing the old insanitary closets with up-to-date pans, and doing away with the wooden casings. This all takes time, but it is progressing satisfactorily on the female side. The male side is much the same as the female side was, and the lavatory accommodation should be renovated as soon as possible. We had a regrettable loss by fire, in November, of about 50 pounds' worth of seed-potatoes and the storehouse and boxes. The cause of the fire was probably a rag left smouldering, which patients had used to light their pipes with. Luckily the wind was in a safe direction, else the whole of the stables and cowsheds might have been destroyed. This emphasizes the necessity for having the fire system extended to the cowsheds, as at present they are over 300 yards from the nearest hydrant. Although the potato-disease was fairly prevalent in the district last year, we were very free, owing, I believe, to the liberal use of the sprayer. There was a good supply of potatoes for the patients during most of the year, even when they were selling in the market at £11 and £12 a ton. The cowsheds require renovating, and a new cooling-house and dairy is required to comply with the Dairy Industry Act. A new well is also urgently required at the cowsheds, as the present is inadequate and has almost failed us during the drought, showing that it is only drawing water from near the surface, which cannot be considered proper for the cleansing of dairy utensils. Owing to a suggestion by Mr. Day, the Stipendiary Magistrate, that if I made a bowlinggreen for the patients he would guarantee that some of the bowling clubs would supply bowls, I had a green laid down, and we were able to open it in the middle of January of this year, 1907. I take this opportunity of tendering thanks to Mr. Day and the various clubs in Christchurch, Ashburton, and Oamaru for their generous donation of bowls. The green is a great acquisition, and with it and cricket the men are able to pass the summer evenings very pleasantly. I propose laying down a croquet-green for the female patients, so that they too may go out in the summer evenings. _ , There has been the usual entertainments, such as dances and concerts, in the recreation-hall, and parties of patients have been enabled to go into town to the theatre and cinematograph entertainments owing to the kindness of the proprietors. The caterers for public amusement seem to be well imbued with the spirit of the proverb, " Be kind to the feckless, for they are God's peculiar care." . _ , . I also have to thank the Minister in charge at the Exhibition for granting passes to the Exhibition for the patients, and also the proprietors of the various side shows there for being so generous as to pass all our people into their entertainments. Over a hundred and fifty patients were thus enabled to visit the Exhibition in small parties. We also had thirty-three patients from Seacliff as guests for three days, and the same concessions were granted to them. Religious services have been conducted throughout the year by the Anglican and Roman Catholic bodies, and my suggestion that the Free Churches should also be represented has been taken up, and arrangements are at present being made. The laundry machinery is on the ground and ready to be installed, but a larger engine is urgently required to drive the extra machinery, and this will entail the erection of a new engineroom and workshops. I should like to see the home for the nurses put in hand as soon as possible, so that the majority may be removed from the inevitable noises and disturbance of the wards whilst they are off duty, and also at night. I delivered the second course of lectures to the nurses and attendants, and I must thank them for the interest they showed in them ; but I regret, that, owing to the many changes in the female staff, there will probably be only about five or six who will qualify to sit for examination at the end of the third year. The principal reason for the change seems to be the prosperity of the colony and the rise of the marriage-rate. I am pleased to say that the attendants seem satisfied, and consequently there have been very few changes on the male side. # For the greater part of the year I lost the services of Dr. Gribben, who was Acting-Superin-tendent at Porirua in Dr. Hassell's absence. Dr. Wadmore was an efficient substitute, and to him, Dr. Gribben, who has now returned, and all the members of the staff, I have to tender my sincere thanks for their loyalty and co-operation. I have, &c, W. Baxter Gow, M.D., The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Wellington. Medical Superintendent.

SEACLIFF MENTAL HOSPITAL. s _ • Seacliff, 16th July, 1907. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual statistics of the institution, and submit the following report for the year 1906. _ At the beginning of the year there were 736 patients, and at the end 754 patients, of whom 8 males and 2 females were absent, on trial. The total number of patients tinder treatment during