H.— 22

30

Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1908. Receipts. £ s. d. i Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government — Dr. balance at beginning of year 287 15 3 Subsidy on donations ... 512 3 8 Rations ... ... ... 915 18 6 Through District Board ... 875 0 0 Wines, spirits, ale, and porter .. 33 13 9 Local bodies ... ... 875 0 0 Surgery and dispensary ... 276 5 5 Subscriptions and donations ... 361 12 11 Fuel and light ... ... 174 15 3 Bequest ... ... ... 326 17 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 212 5 11 Patients'payments ... ... 1,099 8 6 Furniture and earthenware ... 81 19 9 Contributions for special purposes, Salaries and wages ... . . 1,332 7 0 including annual tickets ... 67 0 0 Funerals ... ... ... 25 4 0 Sundry ... ' ... ... 11 15 1 Repairs ... ... ... 236 15 9 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... .... 82 10 9 Interest ... ... ... 30 3 9 Insurance ... ... ... 518 Cartage, freight, &c. ... ... 12 3 6 Sundries ... ... ... 6 14 1 Chimneys, garden, &c. ... 4 12 6 Refund to old-age pensioners ... 170 6 4 Total ... ...£4,128 17 2 Total. ... ...£3,888 13 2 Visited sth September and 16th December, 1907.—There were fifty-three patients in hospital, many of whom were chronic cases. The old part of this Hospital, mostly used for old-age pensioners and chronic cases, is very dilapidated and difficult to keep in order, but, under the circumstances, it was as clean as could be expected. The more modern part of the institution —begun in 1899 —was in excellent order. A room intended for convalescent patients was in use as a ward for female patients. The cell for delirium tremens cases is not well ventilated. Opening at the main corridor are the anaesthetic room and theatre, with walls of Keen's cement. The floors are of cement. The theatre is rather spoilt by two very large sinks and basins, supplied with hot and cold water, not sterilised. There is a good operating-table, which has been lent until a new one is imported. There was not a good steriliser for instruments and dressings. Along the corridor is a corresponding ward for surgical cases. Each ward has a kitchen attached, and a private room for special cases. One of these is at present used as the Matron's bedroom, pending the building of the administrative block and nurses' quarters. The kitchen and offices for the new hospital are finished, and will be a great improvement on the old ones. There are proper larders for meat and milk, a place for coals, and the boiler for hot-water supply is in this part. The laundry is fair; there is a good drying-room, with a stove for supplying the hot-water pipes. The laundress seemed a capable woman. The present nurses' quarters are scattered —some are accommodated in a little cottage formerly occupied by the Medical Superintendent; and there are cubicles in the old hospital. Here also are the maids' cubicles ; these will be utilised by the old-age pensioners when the new quarters are ready. I told the Medical Superintendent to keep the latter, as well as chronic cases, away from the new buildings as much as possible. This is a very well-managed institution.

18. WAIRAU HOSPITAL (BLENHEIM). Governing body: Wairau Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Stipendiary medical staff: Dr. Bennett and Dr. Nairn (anaesthetist). Nursing staff: Matron, Miss Fulton; 3 registered nurses and 7 probationers. Domestic staff: 1 cook, 1 housemaid, 2 laundresses, 1 porter, 1 gardener. Number of beds available for males, 31; for females, 13: total, 44. Number of patients under treatment during year: In-patients—male 185, female 88—total 273 ; out-patients, nil. In-patients: Average days' stay, 28; average daily cost per head, 7s. (cost after deducting patients' payments, ss. sfd.). Percentage of cost of administration on maintenance expenditure, 27*7. Localities from which patients came: Marlborough, 247; Nelson, 2; Wellington, 1; West Coast, 1 ; Christchurch, 1. Nationality of patients: New Zealand, 146; England, 44. Religion: Church of England, 145; Presbyterian, 30; Wesleyan, 10; Roman Catholic, 57; Salvation Army, 1 ; Mormon, 2; Church of Christ, 2; Baptist, 1 ; Freethinker, 2; Plymouth Brethren, 2.