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depreciating —they are being made constantly more and more sound, sanitary, and serviceable by the steady replacement of work, inadequate in the first instance, by suitable permanent structures and provisions. ' Thousands of pounds have had to be spent in ventilation and drainage-works, sanitary appliances, &c, and hundreds of pounds are spent every year in providing galvanized-iron ceilings as the original plaster falls from the laths. Similar expenditure has had to bo incurred in connection with bathrooms and closets throughout the main building, the wooden floors having rotted away and been replaced with concrete. Regular religious services have been held by the various denominations throughout the year. The thanks of the authorities are due to the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company and to the Evening Star Company for newspapers and journals supplied free. To Dr. Tizard and to the other officers and members of the staff 1 wish to express thanks for hearty co-operation in carrying out the work at Seacliff; similar thanks are due to Dr. Donald and the staffs at Waitati and the Camp. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Wellington. F. Trubt King

PORIRUA MENTAL HOSPITAL. Sm Mental Hospital, Porirua, 6th June, 1910. I have the honour to submit the following report on this Mental Hospital for the year 1909. The total number of patients under care was 861, and the average number resident 653 (350 males and 303 females). Leaving out of account the transfers between this and other mental hospitals, of whom 26 came from Wellington in October last to replace a similar number sent from here to Nelson Mental Hospital, it will be observed that the admissions amounted to 176, of whom 35 were readmissions. Eighty-four patients were discharged recovered, a ratio of 477 per cent, to the number admitted; while 40 died, making a death-rate of a little over 6 per cent. (6T2) of the average number resident. As compared with the previous year the above figures show an increase of 40 patients in the average number resident, and an increase of about 20 per cent, in the number admitted. . This, however, may be partly accounted for by the restriction of the admissions to the sister institution at Mount View in anticipation of its being closed. In reviewing our statistics and comparing one year with another, it has been impossible in the past to come to any definite conclusions, owing to the fact that the districts served by us and the Mental Hospital at Mount View have had no definite dividing-line. I anticipate a large increase in the admissions in the immediate future—at any rate, until the.new Mental Hospital in the North is established and ready to receive patients. With the disappearance of Mount View Mental Hospital the district which the Porirua institution will serve will comprise the whole of the North Island excepting the Auckland Province, as well as Marlborough in the South. I view the position, with some anxiety. The wards here are already full, notwithstanding the recent additions to our accommodation, which unfortunately will be fully occupied by the patients from Mount View when, the last of them come from there. Our position will then be that we shall have upwards of forty patients more than we have convenient accommodation for, and I fear that the position will be considerably accentuated before the end of the year 1910.' The general physical health of the patients has been satisfactory, and no serious accident has occurred excepting in. the case of a female patient who escaped in June and was found drowned about three weeks afterwards. The circumstances of that unfortunate occurrence were supplied to you at the time. The policy of work for all who can be induced to follow some useful occupation has been consistently followed. This has resulted in a very satisfactory production from our farm, gardens, &c, as the returns forwarded to you will show.' But the value of the work done appears to me of less'importance than the physical and mental health which the patients gain by the labour involved. No important change has taken place in. the staff. I am fortunate in having, the assistance of capable and experienced senior officers. Dr. Scannell was Acting Assistant Medical Officer for the greater part of the year, and towards its end Dr. Jeffreys returned to duty here from the Christchurch Mental Hospital. I am. pleased to say that the Church of England vicar of this parish has undertaken to conduct services at the Hospital on two Sundays each month, thereby relieving the Primitive Methodist clergyman who for several years has acted as sole honorary chaplain. l haye ' &c -' The Inspector-General, Mental Hospitals, Wellington. Gray Hassell.

WELLINGTON MENTAL HOSPITAL. a • Mental Hospital, Wellington, sth May, 1910. I have the honour to submit the last report on the Mount View Mental Hospital, containing the statistics for 1909 and those for the first four months of 1910. At the beginning of 1909 the Government announced its intention of doing away with this Mental Hospital, and of building a new one on a site selected in the country. The wisdom of