H.—3.

Revenue and Expendituee. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 5,356 14 1 Rations ... .. ... 2,006 0 7 Local bodies ... ... 3,803 16 8 Wines, spirits, &c. ... ... 134 2 1 Voluntary contributions ... 538 2 5 Surgery and dispensary ... 678 19 2 Bequests ... ... ... 50 0 0 Fuel and light ... ... 576 7 0 Rents ... ... ... 1,320 17 5 Bedding and clothing ... ... 317 13 1 Patients'payments ... ... 727 14 9 Furniture and earthenware ... 72 9 10 Other sources ... .. 33 1 4 Washing ... ... ... 287 13 6 „ Salaries and wages ... 2,245 9 0 Water ... ... ... 121 17 0 Funerals ... ... ... 55 17 0 Repairs ... ... ... 108 3. 1 Printing, stationery, &c. ... 74 17 5 Insurance ... ... ... 18 2 6 Other expenses ... ... 584 18 5 _— 7,282 9 8 Buildings ... ... ... 199 5 0 Furniture, chief ward ... ... 738 8 6 Drainage ... ... ... 95 0 7 Loan repaid ... ... ... 2,489 1 4 Total ... £11,830 6 8 Total ... £10,804 5 1 I -— Inspection. Comparing this hospital with the other large hospitals of the colony, I find that its average cost per patient per day is 4s. 2fd., while in Auckland the average is 2s. Bfd., in Dunedin 2s. IOJd., and in Christchurch ss. 6-Jd. The individual average stay of patients is in Auckland 34-72, in Dunedin 42-2, in Christchurch 3743, and in Wellington 34-12. In Christchurch and Wellington the public feeling seems to demand a higher standard of comfort than in the other two large centres. The following figures will show how these hospitals compare in the consumption of milk and eggs, and the prices paid for these articles : —

Probably the cost per head in Dunedin will rise when the necessary staff is as completely organized as it is in the other hospitals ; but it is to be hoped that the good example of Auckland, in the matter of economy will be followed rather than that of Christchurch. There is a good deal of slackness in the matron's department, and a large staff of nurses requires much firmer government. The practice of admitting persons indiscriminately to visit the patients in Wellington Hospital is a serious abuse, which ought to be limited at once, and put under stringent rules. During one of my visits the crowds, especially in the children's ward, were beyond all reason, and had a very bad effect on the patients. Great credit is due to Dr. King for the effective way in which he remedied the drainage of the hospital. The honorary staff work with the utmost harmony, and leave nothing to be desired in the attention which they pay to their hospital duties.

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Hospitals. Milk and Eggs. Price paid. Daily Consumption. Yearly Consumption. Total. lUckland ... j Milk Eggs 6d. gallon 11 Jd. dozen ... 42 gallons 7 dozen 15,330 gallons... 2,555 dozen ... £ S. d 383 5 C 119 15 c 7,300 gallons... 2,920 dozen ... 503 0 'hristchureh ... j Milk Eggs 5d. gallon Is. Id. dozen ... 20 gallons 8 dozen 158 152 3 1 30 gallons 8-J-' dozen 310 5 )unedin ... j Milk Eggs 5d. gallon Is. dozen 10,950 gallons... 3,102 dozen ... 228 155 2 2 383 4 Wellington ... j Milk Eggs 9d. gallon Is. 2d. dozen ... 30 gallons 10 dozen 10,950 gallons... 3,650 dozen ... 410 12 212 18 623 10 li