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The .building programme included additions in the shape of seven single rooms and a bathroom to D Ward, together with a general overhaul of the ward, including improvement in ventilation facilities, a new verandah, and general painting of the building. The new Admission Cottage is approaching completion, whilst work at the seaside sanitorium at Puketeraki has advanced to the stage where the roof is being put on. Additional lavatory accommodation has been provided on the male side. The sleeping-accommodation at Waitati has been increased by cutting off part of the large dav-room of No. 2 Ward and using it as a domitory, and by fitting up a small temporary building adjacent to this ward for a similar purpose. At Waitati also electric light has been installed, and this has proved a great boon, in addition to ensuring greater safety, especially in the old wooden buildings. To revert again to Seacliff, new concrete tanks have increased the water-storage for domestic and emergency purposes. There have also been the usual repairs to buildings, which have occupied attention. On the farm also there has been considerable activity in the matter of new buildings, and renovations and repairs. New buildings include a detached boiling-down house at the slaughterhouse, where an addition was also made in the shape of a well-ventilated room in which to hang mutton. An ample water-supply has also been installed. An implement-shed, which was badly needed, was erected, whilst other new buildings included a brooder-house, a poultry house and runs, a hack-stable and farm-stores at the main byres. In addition extensive repairs were made at the main and Simla byres, and similar operations are to be carried out in connection with the piggeries amd the draughthorse stable. A painting party is at work, and it is hoped that by the end of the summer all necessary outside painting on the estate will have been completed. So far as farming operations are concerned, the season in early spring was somewhat adverse, but it has improved and at the moment promises to be an average one. The unfavourable spring weather was more noticeable in its effect on the crops at Cherry Farm, but these have improved in a remarkable manner as a result of the better weather recently experienced. The introduction of the practice of co-operation, whereby the wants of one Mental Hospital are supplied, when possible, by another institution in the Department, is a line of policy which should be productive of excellent results. Work at the fishing-station has been carried on, but it has now become necessary to go further off the coast for supplies of fish. Regular religious services have been held by the clergy of the different denominations. The amusement of the patients has received attention, and in addition to the ordinary seasonal games a successful picnic and sports meeting was held. There have been regular dances and picture entertainments, whilst a large number of patients visited the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition held at Dunedin. We have also had visits from the Pipe and Tramway Bands and the Commercial Travellers' Male Choir, all of which were much appreciated. The thanks of the Department is also due to the manager of the Otago Witness, for free copies of the Christmas Number. Mr. Gallaway (District Inspector), Mr. Slater (Official Visitor), and Mr. Gumming (Patients' Friend), have paid regular visits to the institution. In conclusion, I wish to tender my thanks to members of the staff for their co-operation in carrying out the work of the year. STATISTICAL. The patients on the register at the end of the year numbered 5,467 (m. 3,044, f. 2,423), or 210 (m. 123, f. 87) more than at the beginning ; and the daily average under treatment during the year was 5,213 (m. 2,926, f. 2,287), or 180 (m. 96, f. 84) more than in the previous year, while the total under care was 6,204. Patients belonging to the Native race numbered 72 (m. 40, f. 32) at the end of the year. The admissions numbered 947 (m. 508, f. 439), or 72 (m. 63, f. 9) more than in the previous year. Of these, 165 had been previously under care, making the proportion of readmissions 14-06 per cent., and 782 patients (including 15 Maoris) were admitted for the first time. The ratio to population of all admissions (exclusive of Maoris) was 6-88 (m. 7-25, f. 6-50) to 10,000, and of first admissions 5-67 (m. 6-05, f. 5-27), so that 1,452 persons in the general population contributed one patient, and 1,764 contributed a patient admitted for the first time. The discharges (excluding transfers) numbered 383, or 42 less than in 1925. 102 (or 4 less) harmless unrecovered persons were returned to the care of friends, and 281 (m. 136, f. 145) recovered —38 less than last year, representing a percentage of 29-67 (m. 26-18, f. 30-75) on the total admitted. AVith voluntary boarders added the percentage rises to 35-87. Altogether, 44-98 per cent, of the inmates admitted were able to leave institutional care. Of a total of 6,204 patients under care, 354 (m. 207, f. 147) died, or 6-77 per cent, on the average number resident. An inquest is held in the case of every death, whatever the cause. The causes are detailed in Table XII, and the following is the percentage of causes mainly contributing : Senile decay, 25-61 ; disease of the brain and nervous system group, 31-17 ; heart-disease, 14-81 ; tuberculosis, 8-02. In Table XIII the principal causes assigned for the mental breakdown in the admissions are stated ; but as a matter of fact they are merely approximations, and these, with the small numbers with which we have to deal, show such divergencies from year to year that the proportion assigned to any one cause in any one year cannot be assumed to be our average incidence. Causation is always

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