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Wellington. —Two hundred and forty-four vessels were inspected. Canterbury. —Ninety-six vessels were inspected. One had a case of cerebro-spinal meningitis, which was removed to the hospital and died. Four had cases of tuberculosis. Four had cases of syphilis. One had a case of face lupus, and another a case of retrobulbar optic neuritis. These were reported to Customs, as were others in which such course was necessary. Otago. —Fifty-six vessels were inspected. Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act. Owing to extreme pressure of work under the Public Health Act since my rejoining the De partment it has been impossible for me to make as many inspections of institutions as 1 would wish. It has long been apparent to me that the present system of inspections requires alteration, and in my reorganization proposals I am advocating that more of this work be placed with District Health Officers. If the staff additions, both professional and clerical, can be arranged the proposals should be quite effective and efficient. 1 should like to pay a tribute to the work of Dr. Frengley in connection with the planning of additions and new buildings at institutions. Dr. Frengley makes a special study of these requirements, and is au fait with modern planning, ventilation, and sanitary requirements. He is thus able to render extremely useful service to Board's architects and to see that the Department is not committed to approving anything in hospital expenditure that is not absolutely sound. What I would like to ensure is more attention being paid to seeing that plans, as approved, are strictly carried out. It is not always possible to do this at present. A proposal has been laid before you to strengthen the hands of the Department in the supervision of hospital plans by the addition of an Architect to the staff, who will specialize in hospital and institutional work, and relieve Dr. Frengley of much detail in this respect. It is obvious from a glance at the amassed schedule of work that to attempt to centralize the preparation of plans and the supervision of building-work would necessitate the appointment of a very large staff. Only supervision of the work of the Boards should be attempted, at least for the present, and in this the service of an Architect will be of great value. Another officer invaluable to the Department in hospital work is Mr. J. H. Anderson, Consulting Engineer. Mr. Anderson is advanced in heating and lighting problems, and many of his reports on existing work, as well as suggestions on proposed work, are mines of valuable information and guidance. The following is a schedule of additions, alterations, and improvements to hospital establishments approved by the Department during the year : — New wing to Nurses' Home, Auckland Hospital, to provide accommodation for seventyfive additional nurses; estimated cost, £22,000. Additions to the laundry and to the Nurses' Home, Hawera Hospital; estimated cost, £840. New general ward at Masterton Hospital, and additions to Nurses' Home, Masterton Hospital; estimated cost, £5,530 and £7,400 respectively. New General Hospital at Nelson; estimated cost, £33,158. Maternity Hospital at Nelson; esimated cost, £8,842. Nurses' Home for isolation hospital, Otago; estimated cost, £4,500 Mortuary, disinfecting-room, storeroom, steeping-room, Otago; estimated cost, £500. Patients' undressing-room, bathroom, waiting-room, Otago; estimated cost, £350. Extension of existing laundry building for the accommodation of laundry machinery at the Gisborne Hospital; estimated cost, £500. Extension of Gisborne'Borough Council electric-lighting system from borough boundary to the hospital; estimated cost, £283. Morgue at the Christchurch Hospital for accommodation of twelve bodies, post-mortem room, disinfecting-room, yiewing-room, and waiting-room; estimated cost, £2,500. Asphalting of paths and drying-ground, and improvements to sewage system, Otamatea; estimated cost, £270. Enlargement of water-main and installation of a service of fire-fighting appliances Masterton; estimated cost, £1,250. Extension of laundry accommodation by addition of a second floor, Christchurch; estimated cost, £1,150. Additional story to King Edward Pavilion, Dunedin, to provide additional accommodation for soldiers; estimated cost, £6,988. Erection of balconies at the Nurses' Home, Gisborne Hospital, and reinforcement of roofs of hospital verandas; estimated cost, £1,175. Erection of Cottage Hospital and Maternity Home for the Oxford district, North Canterbury, giving accommodation for five maternity cases, two female and two male casualties; estimated cost, £3,200. Alterations and additions to Whangarei Cottage Home, to be used as a maternity hospital; estimated cost, £700. At. Wairarapa : (o.) Erection of a ward for twenty-one patients; (b) two two-bed wards; (c) workshop; (d) billiard-room and sitting-room; (c) rooms necessary to the above; estimated cost, £11,000. Erection of a brick and concrete building to contain all the kitchen offices andsleepingaccommodation for the female, domestic, and male staff of the Napier Hospital; estimated cost, £9,830.