H.—7.

Porirua (£1,349). Considerable renovations and completion of electrical change-over to 230 voltage. Nelson and Stoke (£3,339). Alterations to lavatories " El Nido," and general renovations. Completion of reservoir and pipe-line from Poorman's Valley. Hokitika (£8,381). Contract let for No. 2 villa for forty-eight women, and erection proceeding satisfactorily. General renovation's and painting. Christchurch (£4,650). New scullery in main dining-hall completed. Villa B completed and occupied. Extensive renovations at Christchurch and Hornby. SeacliJJ (£4,001). Restoration of workshop store destroyed by fire. Renovations and alterations to old kitchen block —almost complete. New veranda on female side, Seacliff. Extensive general renovations. English Mental Treatment Aot, 1930. In view of past controversy as to the propriety of lessening the legal formalities attendant upon admission to mental hospitals, it is of interest to note that England, in the recently passed Mental Treatment Act, has not only adopted certain provisions already made in New Zealand law, but has gone beyond them in setting aside restrictions which, once necessary in the patients' interests, had become a hindrance to treatment. (1) In this Act provision has been made for the admission of voluntary boarders to public mental hospitals in the manner carried out in New Zealand since 1911. (2) Provision has also been made for the admission without certification of persons who are suffering from mental illness of a temporary nature, but who are for the time being incapable of expressing themselves as willing or unwilling to receive such treatment. All that is necessary is an application by a relative accompanied by two medical certificates, and on these documents the patient may be detained for six months. The procedure is very similar to that legalized in our own Mental Defectives Amendment Act, 1928, but whereas we still require a magisterial order to be issued after the patient's admission, the English Act entirely dispenses with this requirement. Obituary. It is with regret that I record the death in August last of Dr. Jeffreys, Medical Superintendent of Nelson Mental Hospital. Dr. Jeffreys had spent twenty-five years in the service of the Department, and at the time of his death was the senior Medical Superintendent. Possessed of a cheerful, kindly, optimistic disposition, Dr. Jeffreys was very popular with patients and staff, and he will be greatly missed. Appreciation. The unprecedented financial stringency which New Zealand is at present experiencing has necessarily called for economies in the conduct of the institutions, and it reflects great credit upon the medical and clerical staffs concerned that these economies have been carried out without loss of efficiency. I desire to express my indebtedness to my colleague, Dr. Russell, the Medical Superintendents, and the other officers of the service for their unfailing loyalty and help at all times. To Mr. Holder, Chief Clerk of the Department, and the Head Office staff, my thanks are due for work done particularly well during the present difficult times. I have, &c., Theo. G. Gray.

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