H.—3.

Beligion.— Church of England, 290; Eoman Catholic, 146; Presbyterian, 332; Baptist, 22 ; Wesleyan, 37 ; Congregational, 5 ; Church of Christ, 15; Christian Brethren, 3 ; Freethinkers, 3; Confucian, 30 ; Jewish, 3 ; Independent, 3 ; Salvationist, 11; Quaker, 1; no religion, 11. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 29,822 ; individual average days' stay, 32-70. Dailyaverage cost per head, 4s. 5d.; less patients' payments, 3s. lOd. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 1,692 ; attendances, 7,956. Bevenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 4,590 2 8 Eations ... ... ... 1,585 16 6 Local bodies ... ... ... 2,975 8 8 Wines, spirits, ale, &c... ... 170 17 10 Subscriptions and donations ... 241 8 6 Surgery and dispensary ... 843 11 8 Sales ... ... ... 48 12 8 Fuel and light ... ... 530 4 2 Students'fees ... ... 24 3 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 77 2 0 Patients'payments ... ... 888 8 4 Furniture, earthenware, and stores 178 6 0 Other sources ... ... 27159 Salaries and wages ... ... 2,141 15 5 Water-supply ... ... 52 0 0 Funerals ... ... ... 36 0 0 Eepairs 240 10 8 Additions to buildings ... ... 689 17 2 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... 101 17 6 Interest ... ... ... 0 7 4 Insurance ... ... ... 3136 Bedsteads ... ... ... 212 10 0 Incidental expenses ... ... 394 2 1 Total ... ... £8,795 19 7 Total ... ... £7,286 110 The opening of the new nurses' home, an admirably - designed and commodious building, marks a new departure in the history of this institution. The whole of the nursing department has been completely reorganized under Miss Mawe, an experienced nurse imported from England. At the date of my last visit this change was just being arranged for, and the new matron had not arrived, but I expect to find at my next inspection that many improvements have been effected. The two great objections urged against this Hospital by the local reformers were the old-fashioned nursing system and the unsuitable character of the building. With, the completion of the new wards now in course of construction both these causes of complaint will have disappeared, and I hope to see this Hospital take its natural position at the head of the hospital system of the colony. Its position as the centre of our medical education system gives it an importance belonging to none of our other institutions. The system of local government established under our Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act does not seem to meet the requirements of the Dunedin Medical School; but surely it is not too much to hope that the interests concerned will somehow contrive to agree on some workable scheme for embodiment in the new Bill which must soon come before Parliament. The mere fact of the existence of the colonial Medical School in Dunedin must involve the gathering thither of interesting and difficult cases from all parts of the colony, and the local ratepayers will be blind indeed if they hesitate to make any sacrifices required to make this a thoroughly efficient institution. I observe the daily cost per head has risen to 4s. 5d., as compared with 3s. lOd. last year. This is accounted for by a rise of £56 for fuel and light and £606 under the head "Other expenses," of which the chief items were —bedsteads, £212 10s.; honorary medical staff, students' fees, £110 55.; refund of matron's passage, £40; architect's fees, £20; cleaning dust-bins, &c, £22 Os. 3d.; wages cleaning wards, relieving staff for holidays, &c, £88 15s. 6d.

DUNSTAN HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1891 ... ... ... 4 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 36 Total under treatment ... ... ... 40 Discharged ... ... m ~, >>> ~. 35 Died ... ... .„ ... ... ... ... 2 Eemaining on 3lst March, 1892 ... ... ... ... 3 Sex.— 3o males, 10 females. Localities from which Patients came—Clyde and district, 6; Tinker's and Matakantii, 7; Alexandra and district, 10; Baldhill Flat, 7 ; St. Bathan's, 3 ; Moa Flat, 1; Ida Valley, 3 ; Naseby, 1; Bannockburn, 1; Matukituki, 1. Country. —England, 9 ; Scotland, 1; Ireland, 9; China, 4; Prussia, 1; Greece, 1; New Zealand, 12 ; Australia, 2 ; America, 1. Beligion. —Church of England, 16; Eoman Catholic, 10; Presbyterian, 8; Confucian, 4; Baptist, 1; Greek Church, 1. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 1,376; individual average days' stay, 34-04. Daily average cost per head 9s. Bfd.; less patients' payments, 7s. llfd.

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