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During the greater part of the year, from the Ist April to the 31st October, 1 was absent on leave kindly granted me by the Department. Dr. Gribben, who had been transferred from Sunnyside early in January, acted as my substitute. When I returned to duty I found everything in good order, and there was ample evidence of the excellent manner in which Dr. Gribben had carried out the administration of the various departments of the institution. Dr. Jeffreys, who had been assistant to Dr. Gribben while I was away, continued on with me when 1 returned. Judging by my subsequent experience of the capable way in which Dr. Jeffreys discharged his duties, 1 am sure the very favourable report of him which I received from Dr. Gribben was fully justified. The various officers of the staff have carried out their duties conscientiously and well. The attendants and nurses have also earned my appreciation of their services. The usual evening entertainments for the patients have been held regularly, and the sports oval has frequently been in use for cricket and football matches, which were greatly appreciated. Divine service has been held on Sundays as often as arrangements could be made. As many Roman Catholics as were capable have attended services at their church in the village. The Protestants have been administered to at the institution by the two clergymen of the district-—the English Church and the Primitive Methodist—the latter taking the majority of our services. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Wellington. Gray Hassell.

WELLINGTON MENTAL HOSPITAL. Sir, — Mental Hospital, Wellington, 13th June, 1907. I have the honour to submit the following statistics in connection with the Mount View Mental Hospital for the year 1906. At the beginning of the year there were 238 patients resident in the Hospital, and 7 remained out on trial. During the year our accommodation has always been fully taxed. For varying periods, by arrangement with the Stipendiary Magistrate, the Hospital has been considered closed for new patients, and those intended for Mount View have been sent to Porirua. The somewhat unusually large number of 104 were admitted, of which 69 came under treatment for the first time, 22 were readmissions, and 13 were " borderland " cases which were not finally certified as insane, and therefore not detained after a careful consideration of their mental condition had been taken. The Magistrate sends such cases for safe keeping, pending medical examination. In addition to these 13, 45 patients were discharged, including 32 (47 per cent.) of those admitted for the first time. Sixteen patients died. The average number under treatment during the year was 245. Among those admitted an inherited tendency towards mental instability was obtainable in over 20 per cent. The more direct "stresses" were for the most part the usual ones of alcohol and irregular habits of life during adolescence on the part of the men, and for the women epilepsy and the various epochal changes to which they are subject. The year past has been marked by a continuance of the good health that our community enjoyed in 1905. An epidemic of influenza visited us in the winter, but left no permanent ill effects. The employment and recreation of the patients has been carried on as in previous years. Towards the end of the year some of the new laundry machinery arrived, and was installed. It has proved a great boon to us, but we anxiously await the remainder. The fire risk has been again uppermost on our minds through the breakdown in the Wainuiomata supply. An additional resource against fire should shortly be at hand when the patent fireextinguishers recently in use at the Christchurch Exhibition arrive. Furthermore, the construction of another reservoir must be considered. The drought and scarcity of water this summer was sorely felt in the vegetable-garden. By means of patient labour, together with the good offices of Dr. Makgill and Inspector Schauer, of the Public Health Department, a system of subsoil drainage, which insures as little water as possible being wasted in this locality, has been carried out. I wish to heartily thank both Dr. Makgill and Inspector Schauer for the help they gave in this matter. In October Miss Sullivan's health broke down, and she was obliged to resign her position as Matron, after sixteen years of faithful service to the Department. Miss L. K. Sims, a registered and certificated nurse from the Wellington Hospital, was selected to succeed Miss Sullivan—an appointment that augurs well for the future. Other changes in the staff, as regards those of longer residence than a year, have been infrequent. In June Dr. E. S. Brett was transferred here from Seacliff to act as assistant and relieving officer. I am grateful for the help he has given me in my work, and the staff are indebted to him for lectures which should add an intelligent interest to their work. To Dr. Brett and the officers and members of the staff I extend my hearty thanks for their valuable co-operation in carrying out the work of the institution. In conclusion, I will take this opportunity to place on record the deep regret and feeling of personal loss that was universally expressed throughout the Hospital on the untimely death of the late Inspector-General. I have, &c, Arthur Crosby, The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Wellington. Medical Superintendent.