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found guilty of vagrancy or begging. Each town or commune must find half the money required for this pension fund. The establishment of a Labour Bureau and a Department of Labour marks a new departure in simplifying and making more manageable the problem of poverty. I have always felt that the rapid fluctuations of our labour-market and the nomadic conditions of life thrust upon a large section of our labourers loudly demanded some definite organization to meet the frequently-recurring difficulties arising therefrom. By the systematic collection, sifting, and focussing of information regarding the demand for and supply of labour in the different districts of the colony, the Government ought to be able to draw a clear line of distinction between the honest and willing labourer in search of work and the classes for whom our public charities are really required. The State control over the means of transport might, under a rigorous scrutiny to prevent imposition, be legitimately used to bring the labourer to his work as cheaply as possible. And, finally, by means of State farms or labour colonies the unemployed could be made self-supporting, and tided over times of depression. In any case, it is imperative that our methods of dealing with the unemployed shall be governed by and rooted in the laws of supply and demand as far as possible; and that our charities shall not be abused either in the interests of labour or capital—of labour by making existence possible for the loafer who will not work ; of capital by subsidising the sundowner to await the intermittent needs of his employer, who is thus absolved from taking any human interest in his men.

AEEOWTOWN HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1891 ... ... ... 1 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 76 Total under treatment ... ... ... 77 Discharged ... ... ••■ •■• ... ... 68 Died ... ... ... ••• ••• ... ... 4 Eemaining on 31st March, 1892 .. ... ... ... 5 Sex. —60 males, 17 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Arrowtown and Arrow district, 35; Macetown, 17; Cardrona, 13; Pembroke, 1; Skipper's, 7; Arthur's Point, 1; Queenstown, 3. Country.— England, 15; Ireland, 9; Scotland, 12; New Zealand, 27; Victoria, 5; Queensland, 1; Tasmania, 2; Denmark, 2; Switzerland, 2; Germany, 1; China, 1. Beligion. — Church of England, 32; Boman Catholic, 13; Presbyterian, 27; Wesleyan, 1; Lutheran, 1; Salvation Army, 1; Confucian, 1; Freethought, 1. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 1,432; individual average days' stay, 18-60. Daily average cost per head, Bs. Id.; less patients' payments, 6s. lOd. Outdoor Patients, 3 ; attendances, 3. Eeventje and Expendituee. Bevemie. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 281 3 6 : Eations, and fuel and light ... 168 4 10 Local bodies ... ... ••• 179 9 9 j Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 10 6 8 Subscriptions and donations ... 95 2 8 j Surgery and dispensary ... ... 23 17 6 Patients'payments ... ... 87 19 0j Bedding and clothing ... ... 1117 6 Balance from last year ... ... 3 4 7 | Furniture, repairs, and earthenware 5 010 Salaries and wages ... ... 315 16 8 Funerals ... ... ... 3 0 0 Printing and advertising ... ... 176 Interest ... ... ... 1 14 0 Insurance ... ... ... 3 15 0 Other expenses ... ... ... 3184 Total ... ... £646 19 6 Total £576 8 10 This Hospital is well planned, suitably furnished, and well managed in all respects. The tendency in small hospitals to swell their list of patients by repeated admissions of the same patient, of which I noticed one or two instances here last year, has been stopped. It would be a great improvement if the drain from the back door were laid with earthenware pipes. The charge per week made on those who are able and willing to pay is £1 for subscribers, and for non-subscribers £1 10s.

ASHBUETON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1891 ... ... ... 15 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 153 Total under treatment ... ... ... 168 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 148 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 Eemaining on 31st March, 1892 ... ... ... ... 7 Sex. —138 males, 30 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Akaroa County. Nationality. —English, 56; Irish, 49; Scotch, 20; Colonials, 30; Australians, 5 ; foreigners, 8. Beligion. —Church of England, 73; Eoman Catholic, 44; Presbyterian, 35; Wesleyan, 7; Salvation Army, 3; Lutheran, 1; Unitarian, 1; Baptist, 3; New Connection, 1. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 4,509; individual average days' stay, 26-90. Daily average cost per head, ss. 3Jd.; less patients' payments, 4s. BJd.

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