4

H.—7a,

AKEOWTOWN. This hospital I inspected on the 11th October, 1883. There were only two beds occupied at the time, the patients both being males. The buildings remain as described in my former report. No laundry or wash-house, and no mortuary, exists. The washing is done in the detached fever-ward, which fortunately has not been required for its special use. Before being inhabited by patients a porch, with an outer door, ought to be erected here. A stable is necessary for the use of the Medical Officer when visiting the hospital, which is situated a distance of one mile from the town. The Wardsman or Steward is quite competent to execute such works as these, and might be employed thus with advantage while his patients are so few. The condition of the wards, rooms, and kitchen was such as to reflect the greatest credit upon the management. The hospital is a model of good order, comfort, and cleanliness. I was given to understand that as many as ten in-patients had been under treatment at one time, but this was a very exceptional number. I regretted to find that Dr. "Webb, who has done good work here, had resigned his appointment.

ASHBUETON. The hospital is this day occupied by twelve patients of the male sex and one female. They may all be considered fairly suitable cases for hospital treatment, and they appear to be kindly and judiciously cared for. I conversed with each one separately, and found general satisfaction prevalent :in fact no single complaint was made. The internal arrangement of the building are as set forth in my last report; but a number of small improvements, and additions to the furniture, have been made. The large male ward, the entrance-hall and staircase, and some of the smaller rooms have been coloured and whitewashed by the Master, Mr. Madden, who also painted some of the internal woodwork. The cost of the necessary materials was about £1 10s. The box-lockers and commodes have been neatly stained and varnished in the same way, and, with the assistance of the Matron, his wife, he has picked and remade a number of the hair-mattresses, with much advantage in the matter of comfort. Six new iron bedsteads, of neat pattern, with paillasses and mattresses (four of them filled with hair), have been added to the furniture. A harmonium has also been purchased by subscription, and is employed with good effect at religious services held in the large ward. A floor-cloth has been laid in the hall, and a carpet in the Master's and Matron's room. The establishment I found throughout in very creditable order, especially when the smallness of the working staff is taken into consideration: a servant girl, and a washerwoman occasionally engaged, render all the assistance which is available, and the work must at times be very heavy. There have been as many as fifteen patients resident at one time since my last visit, and the total number treated during the half-year amounted to sixty-six. Maintenance-money is collected wherever possible, over £20 being forthcoming under this heading for the present month. The charge made is £1 weekly, or £2 for private accommodation. One or two persons have paid the higher amount; but practically the private wards are often needed for, and occupied by, ordinary patients. It would be well if some of them could be converted into a second large ward. I was glad to find that a good nucleus of a library had been got together: in fact, books and papers were in general use by the patients. Eegarding the structure of the hospital, nothing has been done to remedy the permeation of wet through the walls on the western side. Experience of the matter tells me that great good would result from the application to the bricks of the " silicate solution " made by the Liverpool Silicate Paint Company, if this be obtainable in the colony. This material has also the advantage of not disfiguring the appearance of a building when used upon it. Under present conditions, dampness and mouldiness prevail, and these are by no means conducive to the welfare of the patients. The whole exterior woodwork requires painting. The kitchen-garden has, I regret to find, become disused for want of labour. That the advantages of the hospital are so extensively made use of is, to my mind, evidence of the popularity and skill of the Medical Officer, Dr. Trevor, and of the industry and ability of the Master and Matron. 23rd October, 1883.

AUCKLAND. I have devoted a portion of several days to a thorough inspection of this hospital and its belongingsSince my last visit radical changes have taken place, both as regards the staff and the managementThe result is that a vast improvement has taken place throughout the establishment. The wards are gradually becoming well furnished. The old paillasses have been burnt, and new ones provided. The whole of the hair-mattresses have been remade, or are in course of being renewed, by an upholsterer-patient, as suggested in my last report. This work is being very satisfactorily performed, assistance in picking the hair being obtained from the neighbouring refuge. New bedclothing, including excellent blankets of colonial manufacture, has been purchased; and the objectionable slate-coloured rugs have given place to neat white counterpanes. The pillows still demand, and will receive, attention. Linen-presses have been placed in the entrance-lobbies and in the wards. Well-designed tables serve for washstands, bookshelves, and receptacles for medicines and dressings. A good bed-table has been procured, and some capital light folding-screens provided. These are filled in with the material called " Turkey-red," which is both ornamental and admits of washing. I saw also two very convenient and comparatively inexpensive wheeled chairs, which are much appreciated by the convalescent patients. Cut flowers abound in the wards; and a commencement has been made in supplying pictures and ornamental objects. There are now a large number of suitable chairs, the uncomfortable camp-stools having been banished from the wards. It still remains, as opportunity presents itself, to supply a better kind of bedside locker. The bedsteads themselves are of an inconvenient construction for hospital use, and it would be well to get a