17

H.—7

The following is a return of patients usefully employed :— Males. Females. Total. In garden ... ... ... ... ... 12 ... 12 On farm ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 ... 41 In wards ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 14 29 In workshops ... ... ... ... ... 2 ... 2 In laundry ... ... ... ... 14 14 In kitchen ... ... ... ... 9 9 In dining-hall ... ... ... ... 2 2 Needlework ... ... ... ... ... 1 6 6 71 44 115 Unemployed ... ... ... ... ... 16 23 39 Total ... 87 67 154 The nursing staff consists of 17 members (attendants, 10; nurses, 7), of whom 5 (3 and 2) have been in the service for five years and upwards, and 9 (5 and 4) for three years and upwards. Two attendants, who were candidates for registration as mental nurses, were given a viva voce examination by Dr. Mack ay and myself. • The following is the ratio of nursing staff to patients :— Day attendants ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 9 Night attendants ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 87 Day nurses ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 7 Night nurses .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 67 I am extremely pleased to find Dr. Mackay well and active, and apparently none the worse after his serious illness. On the Ist November last fire was seen to be running up beneath the barge board of one of the kitchen gables. The hospital brigade had it extinguished within two minutes of the alarm, and within the same time the section of the staff whose duty lay with the patients had them safely bestowed. A letter of commendation was sent at the time; but I desire to place on record here my appreciation of the completely satisfactory work of the staff on that occasion. It seems that sparks issuing from a chimney, which had been swept only two days before, settled on newly painted woodwork, and were fanned into flame by a high wind. Precautions were immediately taken against the recurrence of so unlooked-for a mishap. The books and registers were examined, and found up to date and neatly kept. Porimua Mental Hospital. 10th March, 1908. I visited this Mental Hospital on the 3rd, 4th, 9th, and to-day. Miss Maclean paid a visit of inspection on the 30th September. The period reviewed in this report will be that between these inspections. The statistics relating to the state and distribution of the population were made up yesterday. Since Miss Maclean's visit the Official Visitors have made ten inspections. With the co-operation of Dr. Hassell and his assistant, Dr. Barron, I conducted the viva voce part of tlie Examination for the Registration of Mental Nurses. One of the twenty-three candidates was absent in Australia on holiday, and will be examined on his return. As candidates must have served three years, and the examination is optional, the number presenting themselves is a tribute to the good sense of the staff. The full nursing staff comprises 30 nurses and 32 attendants, of whom 10 and 37"5 per cent, respectively have been in the service for upwards of five years. Their proportion to the patients, omitting allowance for holidays, is as follows : — Day attendants ... ... ... ... ... ... Ito 1127 Night attendants ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 109 Day nurses ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 1022 Night nurses ... ... ... ... ... •■• 1 to 92 I understand that the staff is contented and working well. The chief structural works completed or well advanced during the past year are : The erection of a Deisel oil-engine to run the all-night electric lighting. The accumulators had worn out, and after due consideration it was decided not to renew them. The fire and water service have been extended to the farm buildings. A temporary reservoir has been made to feed the main one, and has proved an incalculable boon during the past very dry season.. Before permanent works are carried out in this direction I would strongly advise the purchase of 2 acres, more or less, of the neighbouring property as a very desirable and almost, necessary part of the undertaking. I went over the locality with Dr. Hassell and Mr. Anderson, and believe that by placing the reservoir on this land rather than higher up on our own property the saving in pipes alone would pay for the purchase, while the contour of the ground would allow of its easy and econmoical adaptation for a comparatively large reservoir. A needful addition, in good taste, has been made to the Medical Superintendent's residence. It was planned by himself, and carried out at small cost by the artisan staff and workers. An addition under similar conditions is being made to the Clerk's residence. This is practically completed. Alterations to the drying-presses in the laundry are now in hand, and some protective measures encasing the machinery are about to be taken.

3—H. 7.