H. —1.

with Mr. Fowlie, the Head Attendant, has given of her best to promote the welfare of the patients and to bring the hospital up to its present standard of efficiency. We wish her a speedy restoration to health. Mr. MacFarlane, who has taken a keen interest in the hospital since its commencement, and has given valuable assistance in the planning and lay-out of Kingseat, has retired from the Public Works Department. I would like to thank him for his many helpful and practical suggestions. There is a shortage of housing accommodation for married staff, and as our single members are called up for military service the housing shortage has become more acute, making the replacement of staff difficult. The patients have been fully occupied with constructional work on the farm, around the villas, and the Nurses' Home, in gardening, in the laundry, and in the sewing-room. The weekly occupational classes conducted by Mrs. Waugh for the women, and the Rev. Jasper Calder during the winter for the men, have been well attended. The patients look forward to these, and there has been a marked improvement in the mental conditions and conduct of those attending. The weekly clinic is held at the Auckland Public Hospital, where 132 new cases were treated, while there were 445 attendances. New cases were referred by the Pensions, 93 ; medical practitioners, 22 ; hospital, 10 ; Army, 3 ; spontaneous 3 ; other mental hospitals, 1.

TOKANUI MENTAL HOSPITAL. Db. Tothill reports The total number of cases under care during the year ended 31st December, 1940, was 851, including 38 voluntary boarders. Admissions numbered 160, of whom 96 were committed patients, 21 voluntary boarders, and 43 transferred from other institutions. The discharges were 38 patients under certificate, 16 voluntary boarders, and 8 transferred. Deaths totalled 30, senile decay and heart-disease being the principal causes. At the end of the year 738 patients, including 59 on probation and 16 voluntary boarders, remained on the registers. Continued progress has been made in effecting improvements throughout the hospital. A new male villa was completed and occupied. Modern sanitary and washing facilities have been installed in Wards E. 3, A, and C, and a veranda built on to the male staff quarters. Extensive interior and exterior painting has been carried out. The internal roading is being improved, and repairs to the electrical system are in progress. The switchboard of our local telephone was burnt out and has been replaced. This system is not very efficient, and an automatic exchange. would give better service. Erection of a new laundry is under consideration. With the increase of patients this has become an urgent necessity. A modern bakehouse and butcher's shop are also badly needed. Occupational therapy has been actively pursued. Practically aIJ able-bodied male patients are engaged in work on the farm, in the gardens, and wards. Shortage of female staff has limited our efforts on the female side, and I would welcome the appointment of a trained occupation officer to place this work on a sound basis. The slaughterhouse, boiling-down works, and skin-room are in operation. The power-spraying plant for the orchard has been of great benefit. The carpenter's shop was provided with a circular band-saw, and the plumber with guillotine shears. Difficulty in procuring nurses has necessitated the working of overtime. Thirteen of our male staff are on active military service. Our best wishes go out to them, and we wish them a safe and speedy return. Dr. Couston is overseas with the New Zealand Medical Corps, and his place has been filled by Dr. Calvert. Mr. Howie, our Head Attendant, was promoted to Porirua, and Miss Mcßae to Matron, B Class, at Seacliff. They had both given much valuable service to this hospital. Several members of our staff and most of their wives are actively engaged in Red Cross work, and a very successful sports carnival was held in the hospital grounds in aid of the Patriotic Fund.

PORIRUA MENTAL HOSPITAL. Db. Hart reports :— The total number of cases under care during the year was 2,051 ; of these, 1,820 were the subjects of a reception order, 224 were voluntary boarders, and 7 were remanded for observation. Admissions numbered 442—under certification 313, as voluntary boarders 122, and on remand 7. During the year 233 persons (129 committed patients and 104 boarders) were discharged. Deaths numbered 121, and 120 transfers were made to other mental hospitals. The usual psychiatric work has been continued outside the hospital, such as the supervision of the psychiatric wards at the Wellington Public Hospital and the out-patients' clinic at the Wellington and Palmerston North Hospitals. The number of separate cases dealt with in this work was 415, of which 238 were in-patients at the Wellington Public Hospital, 104 at the Wellington Hospital Outpatients' Clinic, and 73 at the Palmerston North Hospital Clinic. A series of cases was treated by cardiazol during the year and the result indicates that convulsive therapy is of very real benefit in certain cases of mental disorder. Specialized occupational work, such as weaving, spinning, basket-work, and various handcrafts, has been extended during the year. Apart from the simpler type of work undertaken in the wards, the old artisans' block has been reconstructed as a centre for female patients, whilst the old engineers' block, as portions become available, is being used as a centre for male patients. As well as the therapeutic benefits obtained, much of the work is of economic value, and the occupational therapy account is financially healthy. New bakery and butcher-shop block were brought into use during the year, and the cool-storage facilities of the latter has provided a very desirable amenity. The installation of the new sewage system is incomplete, and although the new boiler-house engineering block has been completed some time, war factors have delayed the installation of hot water

5