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H.—3l

Monthly reports are sent by the nurse to the Hospital Board, and copies sent to the Department. These show a large amount of work among the adults and children —especially as concerns the latter in regard to diet and general treatment. There are many tubercular cases and some chronic cases of eczema and various accidents. There was also one enteric case and some pneumonia. In November the nurse took advantage of a large tangi being held to meet a large number of the Natives together, and received a most hearty welcome. In February Nurse Beetham was sent to report on the state of the pas in the Waitotara district, several cases of enteric having been reported from there. Her report showed the need iot interference by the Sanitary Inspector. The two nurses were kept busy in February, spending some time with a typhoid patient, who recovered. Miss Beetham reports : " At present the people are showing a keen interest in this nursing scheme. Many who were formerly opposed to it have now expressed approval of the nursing of their sick on pakeha principles, and have extended much gratitude for nursing assistance. Many of the people now send, wire, or write when assistance is required. The present stage is marked for the greatest hospitality and kindness received from the people. To stay in the kaingas and nurse the sick, thereby demonstrating instructions, is a wonderful help towards the progress of this work. Not only is the instruction beneficial, but by so doing the people clearly realize that the nurses have their welfare truly at heart and are deeply interested in the work and the people." Cook Hospital District. —There being an outbreak of typhoid in this district, Miss Bagley was sent in November, 1911, to visit the pas round Gisborne and establish a Native nursing centre. She found that Te Karaka was the best place for a centre, and, as it was impossible to do much good work without having some place to which the Natives could come, she rented and furnished a small cottage for the nurse to live in. There was a large number of enteric cases, most of which were sent in to the Gisborne Hospital. Some of these were at Muriwai, and it was necessary for the nurse to be there a good deal. In January Miss Jean Cormack, trained at the Dunedin Hospital, and also in midwifery at the. Medical School, Dunedin, was appointed and sent to take charge of this district. Miss Bagley had previously been introduced to the Natives by some of the chief rangatiras and by Dr. Wi Repa, and was thus able to introduce her successor in a suitable manner. In March Nurse Cormack reported that she had been kept very busy at Muriwai, Waihirere, Te Karaka, and other pas, and nursed one patient with typhoid who was too ill to be moved to hospital. She has been very well received by the people and assisted in every way, is lent horses when she requires them, and has no difficulty in getting about. She has the assistance of Dr. Wi Repa and the Sanitary Inspector under the Hospital Board, and is more comfortably situated than some of the other nurses. Waiapu District. —At Tuparoa a nursing-station was established in 1910 by the Native Department, and Nurse McElligott was sent to work there during an outbreak of typhoid among the Natives. A camp isolation hospital was established, and the cases were so numerous that it was kept open for over a year. Nurse Heni Whangapirita, trained in the Wellington Hospital and in the St. Helens Hospital (now married), assisted Nurse McElligott, and very excellent and devoted work was done until the sickness subsided. Although Nurse McElligott did not entirely fulfil the qualifications required by the Health Department, yet, when the work was transferred to that Department, her excellent work was recognized, and she was appointed one of the Department's nurses. Te Araroa, another and an isolated part of the Waiapu District, is also to be a station for a nurse. The European residents and the Maoris of the district have established there a cottage admirably adapted for a residence for two nurses, with a room in which emergency cases can be taken. This district is much cut off from medical aid, but with a good nurse and a telephone to Waipiro—where Dr. Davis, the nearest doctor, resides —things would be much improved for the settlers. Miss Bagley was sent on to the district to report on its requirements and the possibilities for a nurse. Her report shows that a nurse is greatly needed, and will be warmly welcomed, and that this cottage would serve well as a centre. The people are willing and able to assist in keeping up the cottage, and in maintaining a probationer to heip the nurse, who will be sent by the Department. The Waiapu Hospital Board, Miss Bagley reports, is ready to-assume the responsibility of administering the cottage under a local committee. Mr. Henderson, one of the prime movers in the plan, has great influence with the Maoris. He and others have collected money enough to pay for a horse, trap, and saddle for the nurse, and have practically promised to collect the assistant's salary. A permanent nurse will shortly be appointed for the district, and, if possible, a Maori assistant. In the meantime Miss Bagley will carry on the work there, Miss Henderson living with and helping her. So much has been done by the residents of this isolated place that they deserve every help and encouragement. A nurse with midwifery certificate is essential. The women arrange to go to Gisborne, but frequently the weather is too bad for the boats to call, and they perforce must remain at home and do the best they can. Otaki District. —A nurse has been appointed for this district, and sent to work under the Wellington Hospital Board. Nurse Lewis was trained in general, and midwifery work at the Bristol Infirmary. There is not the great need in this district as in others, the hospital being , near and the Natives more civilized. Still, no doubt useful work can be done here —especially in educating the mothers. Many more nurses are wanted, but rather than jeopardize the success of the work by hasty appointments, nurses are carefully selected from time to time, and if possible the districts are organized by Miss Bagley, who has had considerable experience in dealing with the Natives.