H.—7a

14

This hospital was again visited by me on the 14th May, 1884, when I found sixteen men and two women under treatment as in-patients. The wards were, as usual, bright and clean, and I had no fault to find. An excellent tubular bed, for water or air, has been recently procured. The season has been a healthy one, and no case of fever has been under treatment during the past year. - I found the books properly kept. The drugs are procured direct from London annually. This system of laying in a stock for the whole year in advance is found to work well, as might be expected where the whole of the prescribing is performed by the medical practitioner, who orders the drugs. Where the medical staff is numerous and changeable waste would be a sure result. 14th May, 1884.

NEW PLYMOUTH. I inspected this hospital to-day, and found that it was occupied by twelve patients—eleven males and one female. Several of these were sufferers from severe accidents, and all, without exception, had been very properly admitted into the hospital. The largest number resident on any one day since my last visit was fifteen, and some of these were accommodated in the old single rooms, formerly used'by the lunatics. It being now the practice to send to this establishment any sick members of the Armed Constabulary, the pressure upon the limited resources of the hospital has been increased, and an urgent demand exists for increased space in the wards. The building is so old, dilapidated, and ill arranged, that I should be unwilling to recommend any large alterations short of rebuilding it entirely. It will be possible, however, to make some inexpensive arrangements which will, for a time, meet the present difficulty. The plan proposed is to remove the Steward and Matron to the detached cottage now used by the female patients, and to convert the vacated portion of the hospital into a good ward. The cottage will need an addition of two rooms. The washhouse must be rebuilt. It is very small, and scarcely high enough to stand upright in, being also in the last stage of decay. As regards the condition of the establishment, I have little to add to the remarks which I made in my former report. The wards and other rooms are clean and orderly, but, as regards furniture, appliances, and ornamental objects, a long way behind those of the majority of the colonial hospitals. Some properly-made paillasses should be procured, and a few good hair-mattesses. Additional chairs would do away with the necessity of using the beds for seats; and some attempt should be made to procure pictures, ornaments, and books for the patients' use. Bedside tables and lockers are also wanted. All these things would form part of the furniture of the new hospital, when erected. I inquired of the patients as to their comfort, and obtained satisfactory replies. The books are well kept, and I was glad to find that the receipts this year from payment-patients will reach £200. There is now a large case in the surgery fitted with a great variety of surgical instruments, recently procured. The kitchen-garden is well stocked, and an additional portion of ground has been brought under cultivation. A portion of the water-supply is now derived from the town mains. 17th December, 1883.

OAMAEU. I have this day inspected the hospital, of which I have seen every portion. The alterations and additions which wore in progress at my last visit have now been completed, and the consequent dirt and discomfort then existing have come to an end. The new kitchen is good and commodious, but there is no scullery separate from it. This might very well have been arranged for, as the adjoining store-room is unnecessarily large. A large American kitchener is in use, but there is no highpressure boiler, and, consequently, no hot-water supply laid on to baths and sink. The old kitchen has been converted into a lying-in ward with one bed, but this has not at present been used. Near this room a temporary earth-closet has been erected for the use of female patients. The new dispensary, which serves also as an operating-room, is commodious and well lighted; it contains a new cabinet for surgical instruments. The old dispensary has not at present been put to any use. Seven patients, all males, at present occupy beds in the hospital. One of these is convalescent from scarlet fever, for which he has been treated in the detached building. The other cases call for no particular remark. The highest number of in-patients on any one day since my last visit was nine. Outpatients are few in number; one or two attend occasionally. I have pleasure in stating that a marked improvement has occurred in the condition of the hospital generally. The whole establishment has now an appearance of smartness and cleanliness. The bedding is good and very clean. Many feather-pillows are provided. The walls are painted in a sort of duck's-egg green colour, and have a cheerful appearance. The furniture is plain and substantial: chairs of old pattern with wooden seats might, with advantage, be gradually replaced by others of a more comfortable character. The closets are of the dry kind, and are supplied with ashes; they are well attended to, and perfectly free from smell. The fever-ward is at present undergoing disinfection, and is consequently in disorder. Only one patient has been under treatment, and yet the whole five rooms have been used and require cleaning : this would appear to me a somewhat unnecessary proceeding. A portable bath (so called) has been provided for this building, but it would require four men to carry it away to be emptied. No closet has yet been provided, but I learn that there is some intention of greeting one, and, if so, a bath-room might at the same time be arranged for; the portable bath could then be fixed and provided with water-supply and outlet. The washhouse has been fitted with a good washing-trough and wringer. There is a fine meadow at the back of the hospital, occupied by one cow; churning was being performed, the yield of butter for the week being 81b.: the milking and dairy-work is performed by the Matron. The staff has been reduced of late by the dismissal of the "Wardsman, and now consists of Steward, Matron, and cook. A washerwoman is employed occasionally. The condition of the hospital is at present very creditable to those con-