H.—o

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fall, and is not likely to be at her duties again for some time to come. Dr. Kenny, who is at present in charge of the hospital, appears to be very kind and attentive to his patients. His duties must just now be onerous, as he appears to have a large number of out-patients to treat, in addition to his other work. I find that the new apparatus for the supply of hot water to the establishment gives satisfaction. Additional rooms for the nursing-staff are badly required. It is not unreasonable to attribute the prevalent illness to the insanitary rooms which the nurses now occupy. One of these rooms has a large plunge-bath beneath the floor, and was .offensive (at the time of my visit) with the smell from adjoining urinals and earth-closets, which pervaded the whole of the back corridor. These offices were recently remodelled and much improved ; but they are badly placed, and it appears impossible, with the wind in a certain direction, to prevent bad odours from entering the corridor. At the earliest possible opportunity proper water-clo.sets should be provided, and connected with the town sewers. 30th September, 1885. This afternoon I have been occupied with my periodical inspection of the hospital. The patients resident number eighty—namely, sixty-one males and nineteen females. There are now a number of empty beds ; whereas a few weeks ago difficulty was experienced in providing the necessary accommodation for cases of urgency. To-day is one of the three days in each week devoted to outpatients, of whom I saw about twenty in attendance. This number is about the usual one. A large number of the convalescent and other patients were enjoying the beautiful day by sitting or walking in the grounds, which are kept in very good order. To those patients, as well as to those confined to their beds, I addressed various inquiries as to their comfort and treatment, obtaining in every case satisfactory replies. The fever hospital has been occupied until this afternoon by an erysipelas patient (male). A few days ago a female patient, judged to be suffering from infectious disease, was also there, and occupied of necessity the nurse's room, there being only one ward in this building. The nurse in charge had to sleep on the floor of the entrance-lobby. Here is another proof of the want of a small ward for females, which I have formerly recommended to be added to the building. The whole of the wards I found in excellent order and beautifully clean. If no new articles of furniture or ornament were noticeable, it was because there was no need for them, the wards being already very completely provided with such things. Cut flowers continue to be liberally supplied by lady visitors. The earth-closets entered from the back corridor were certainly not free from offensive smell, and they will continue a source of trouble and annoyance until replaced by proper water-closets. The construction of the main drain in the adjacent public road will shortly render this practicable. The bath-rooms are poorly fitted, and are used as receptacles for soiled linen. This is an objectionable practice, though perhaps unavoidable while the laundry is occupied as a refuge for old women; but I noticed a great want of tidiness, more particularly in those bath-rooms behind Nos. 1, 3, and 4 wards. Old shoes, boards, bottles, rags, and other articles should find a more appropriate home ; while a broken thermometer in one, and a " maximum and minimum " greenhouse thermometer in another, were useless for ascertaining the temperature of a bath. The kitchen-range appears to work in a very unsatisfactory manner. The ovens are so slow in their action as to spoil the appearance and tenderness of the meat, while the hot-water supply from the range-boiler is at present a complete failure. This defect ought to be within easy remedy. The general supply of hot water from the large boilers elsewhere continues very satisfactory. In the small kitchens attached to each ward the ranges have been replaced by "register stoves," with a gas arrangement above for heating or boiling water or other fluids. The result is very good. The consumption of alcoholic stimulants, though still very high this last month, is considerably less than was the case in the previous one. My opinion upon this matter is already so well known that I need say no more in this place upon the subject. A great many changes have occurred in the hospital resident staff since my last report. Miss Marsden, the Lady Superintendent, being unable to continue in office through the results of a severe fall, has been succeeded by Mrs. Hermansen as matron. Mr. Eountree is now the steward, and Mr. Good the dispenser. Dr. Hassall, as Eesident Medical Officer, will, in my opinion, do excellent service in promoting the efficiency and popularity of the institution. 3rd March, 1886. _^

WANGANUI. There are this day twenty patients occupying beds in the hospital, of whom seventeen are males and three females. The total number of beds is twenty-six, which includes those in the so-called fever wards. On more than one occasion there have been so many applicants for admission that arrangements have been made with a boarding-house to receive some of the convalescent or slighter cases, at a charge per head of £1 per week. As many as five patients have been thus simultaneously boarded out—an arrangement neither desirable nor economical. The increased number of patients requiring attention has necessitated the engagement of an additional nurse and also of a cook. I notice a number of patients hero who do not require hospital treatment. Old cases of paralysis and chronic ulcers of the leg might appropriately find a home in a refuge; but no such establishment exists upon this coast. There are a few minor improvements noticeable since my last visit to this hospital. The attics have been papered, and a cupboard enlarged so as to make a warder's bedroom. A new bath-room has been fitted up near the kitchen,'and a meat-safe provided. A number of iron bedsteads have also been purchased. The hospital is kept clean and in good order; but it is a building discreditable alike to the town and district which it serves. Any system of enlarging it —which I learn is not improbable—is strongly to be condemned, unless such enlargement be a large and modern ward, planned so as to constitute ■an integral part of a future entirely new establishment. The site is sufficiently large for such a purpose, and its position unobjectionable; but it might be found more profitable to sell it for building-sites, and to erect the hospital elsewhere, as previously suggested in my reports. 19th February, 1886.