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The auxiliary building —renamed Oakleigh Hall —is now a parole villa, and its 150 male patients are looked after by nurses. The result has once more demonstrated the high desirability of employing nurses wherever possible, retaining attendants almost solely for attending to the patients in relation to their outdoor occupation and activities. The kitchen in this part of the institution has been entirely remodelled and brought to the necessary state of efficiency. The new male-patient hospital has been completed, and will be under the charge of a trained sister. Extensive repainting of the interiors in light pleasing shades has been carried out in various parts of the institution, and this work will be completed during the ensuing year. Lectures in anatomy, physiology, and nursing have been delivered to the staff by the Medical Officers and Matron, and several nurses and attendants have qualified by examination for State registration. Our thanks are due to numerous friends for interest and assistance rendered during the year. We have had numerous concert parties in the institution, and the local bowling clubs have kindly arranged home-and-home matches. We wish to gratefully acknowledge the most useful gift of a billiard-table from our Official Visitor, Mr. John Alexander, and also a gramophone and. record-case from Mrs. Alexander. Mr. Blomfield (Deputy Inspector) and Mr. Alexander have shown a most sympathetic and practical interest in the institution, and on numerous occasions have been of the greatest assistance to me. I am fortunate in my staff, both male and female, and have to thank all my officers for their unfailing loyalty throughout the year. TOKANUI MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Maopherson reports : — With respect to Tokanui Mental Hospital, I have to report that on the 31st December, 1924, there were on the register of the instituiton 270 inmates, made up of 164 male and 106 female patients. During the year 1925 13 males and 11 females were admitted, and 44 males were transferred to Tokanui ; 5 males and 6 females were discharged or transferred, and 6 males and 6 females died ; thus leaving on the 31st December, 1925, 315 patients on the register- -viz., 210 males and 105 females. The year was uneventful; the bodily health of the inmates was good. Five deaths were due to senile decay. As far as was possible, recreation and distraction were provided for the inmates by means of dances, concerts, and community singing, and my thanks are due to Mr. Battson and the musical people of Te Awamutu for their kind assistance in the matter of providing such amusement. Religious services have been conducted thrice monthly by Anglican, Presbyterian, and Methodist clergymen. On the farm, operations have been restricted to the necessary cultivation and the task of keeping down the growth of fern and noxious weeds. In this respect we have been sadly hampered by the scarcity of workers. The condition of the country in the vicinity of No. 2 camp has been vastly improved by the workers resident there, and a similar establishment, somewhere near No. 1 camp, on the lower side of the estate, could deal effectively with that part of it which cannot be worked from the central institution. The new female reception block is nearing completion, and will accommodate twenty-three patients, and should be ready for occupation early in the new year. The installation of our new water-supply from the Te Awamutu main seems to " hang fire." The concrete pipes seem to be incapable of withstanding the high pressure, thus causing excessive leakages. Dr. Gribben returned from leave towards the end of the year, and was shortly afterwards transferred to Seacliff. My thanks are due to the Official Visitor, Mr. Brabyn, for the interest he has taken in all things pertaining to the patients' welfare, also to the entire staff for their harmonious and hearty co-operation in the necessary activities of the institution throughout the year. PORIRUA MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Tizard reports :— I have the honour to forward my report on the Porirua Mental Hospital for the year 1925, to which I was appointed Superintendent in May. At the beginning of 1925 there were 1,194 patients in the Hospital. At the end of the year the number was 1,261 —viz., 684 males and 577 females —inclusive of 23 males and 35 females absent on probation, and 2 males on escape, thus showing an increase of 67. The total number under care during the year was 1,479 (809 males and 670 females), the average number weekly resident being 1,169 (648 males and 521 females). Voluntary boarders are not included in these figures, of whom there were 79 (35 males and 44 females) under treatment during the year : of this number 7 were committed as ordinary patients (5 males and 2 females) and 30 were discharged. Of those admitted on urgency request there were 9 (2 males and 7 females). Of 125 patients discharged, 85 were discharged recovered, 20 not improved, and 20 transferred to other mental hospitals. The deaths during the year were 93 (52 males and 41 females), senility, circulatory disease, general paralysis, and phthisis being the chief causal factors. During the year two villas have been opened for the accommodation of female patients, thus enabling us to improve our classification. These villas are now occupied by a quiet type of chronic patient in one, and congenitally defective children in the other, thus enabling us to withdraw these

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