H—7.

Valedictory. The Department suffered a great loss in the retirement on superannuation at the end of the year of Mr. G. C. Holder, Chief Clerk of the Department, and Mr. A. T. Wells, Receiver. Both these officers had served the Department well and faithfully for over forty years, and each in his own branch has left a record of conscientious and highly meritorious service. They left the Department with the sincere good wishes of all their fellow-officers. Appreciation. I have to express my indebtedness to Dr. Russell, Deputy Director-General, the medical superintendents, and the other officers of the service for their loyalty and co-operation at all times. I cannot speak too highly of my head office staff, who have carried out the work harmoniously and efficiently in spite of unusual difficulties encountered during the past year, and I tender to them my sincere thanks. I have, &c., Theo. G. Gray.

MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENTS' REPORTS.

AUCKLAND MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Buchanan reports : — I have the honour to present my annual report for the year ended 31st December, 1934. The total number of cases under care during the year was 1,601, with a weekly average of 1,211. The admissions numbered 255 (128 males, 127 females). Of this number, 199 were admitted for the first time. Under section 8 of the Mental Defectives Amendment Act, 127 patients were admitted. Ninety-two voluntary boarders were admitted during the year, making a total of 200 under care, and of these 73 were discharged. At the end of the year 152 patients were on probation, 118 on full parole, and 216 on limited parole. The general health of the patients continued to be good. Deaths totalled 99 (55 males, 44 females). During the year a new house was built for the accommodation of the Senior Medical Officer who is now in occupation. An additional boiler is now being installed in the engine-room. This wil'f relieve the increased work that has been demanded of the two permanent boilers in operating the new hot-water system. This system has proved very satisfactory. A new and separate clerks' office has- been established in the main building. This was deemed a necessity owing to the gradually increasing work due to the expansion of the hospital and the additional labour involved in the administration of Kingseat Mental Hospital. The large dayroom in Female 6 has now been converted into a sick dormitory for the accommodation of old and feeble patients, of whom we have a great number. Nursing under the new conditions is much better for the patients and easier for the staff. The appearance of the roads around the Main building has been improved by remaking, tarsealing, and finishing off with red gravel. A steady painting programme has been carried out, and attention has been paid to necessary maintenance-work. The Lodge continues to be of the greatest service. Under the conditions there the patients seem to become better adapted to take up their home life again. The result is that there are fewer readmissions, and those that in the course of events are bound to have recurrences of their malady stay a longer time well in the. outside world. Additions have been made to our list of criminal lunatics. The majority of them are difficult to manage with our ordinary facilities. They are impatient of restraint and feel hardly done by in not being granted the same privileges as other patients may get. Many are capable of conspiracy, and in doing so cause great uneasiness to those in charge. The establishment of a criminal asylum would ease the position greatly and at the same time allow these men to partake of organized work under adequate supervision. This cannot be done under our present circumstances. The Psychiatric Clinic at the hospital continues to fulfil a useful function, and I submit the following summary of the work : — *«-«■*• <S"SX> «*'■ (1) Number of separate persons seen .. . . . . M. 272 42 314 F. 55 33 88 327 75 402 (2) Number of— (а) First visits . . . . . . . . • • • • 258 56 314 (б) Subsequent calls .. .. . • •• 751 525 1,276 1,009 581 1,590

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