H.—22

16

Country. —England, 27 ; Ireland, 15 ; New Zealand, 27 ; Scotland, 10; New South Wales, 1; Victoria, 5 ; Germany, 1; Denmark, 1; Honolulu, 1; America, 1; Norway, 1; born at sea, 1. Religion. —Church of England, 38 ; Roman Catholic, 17; Presbyterian, 23; Wesleyan, 4; Salvation Army, 4 ; Lutheran, 3 ; Congregationalist, 1; Society of Friends, 1. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 3,001; individual average days' stay, 32-97. Daily average, cost per head, 7s, 9Jd.; less patients' payments, 7s. 1-Jd. Revenue and Expendituee. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 604 6 5 Rations ... ... ... 213 6 6 Local bodies ... ... ... 350 0 0 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 3 8 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 251 15 2 Surgery and dispensary ... 131 4 6 Patients'payments ... ... 96 14 11 Fuel and light ... ... 88 0 3 Other sources... ... ... 100 0 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 72 7 7 Furniture and earthenware ... 67 911 Washing and laundry ... ... 20 0 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 357 5 6 Water-supply... ... ... 28 6 10 Funerals ... ... ... 9 0 0 Repairs ... ... ... 22 11 2 Additions to buildings ... ... 20 7 5 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 38 1 3 Interest ... ... ... 28 0 0 Insurance ... ... ... 13 19 0 Commission ... ... ... 40 17 0 Other expenses ... ... 13 17 8 Total ... ...£1,402 16 6 Total ... ...£1,168 2 7 On the 2nd May, the date of my visit, I found this Hospital in the throes of a local medical war. Dr. Hoskin, who had served so faithfully for many years, had just resigned, and there was the usual tug-of-war as to who should succeed him, his son or another local practitioner. Things will have probably settled down before my next visit.

MERCURY BAY HOSPITAL.* Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 32 Total under treatment ... ... ... 32 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 23 Died 7 Remaining on 31st March, 1899... ... ... ... 2 Sex. —27 males, 5 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Coromandel County, 22; Thames County, 10. Nationality. —British, 28; Austrian, 2; Swedish, 1; Maori, 1. Religion. —Protestant, 27 ; Boman Catholic, 5. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 470; individual average days' stay, 14-68. Daily average cost per head, 19s. lOd.; less patients' payments, 17s. Bd. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 487; attendances, 732. Revenue and Expendituee. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 1,315 4 7 Rations ... ... ... 46 19 8 Subscriptions and donations ... 478 11 3 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... 2 9 0 Rents ... ... ... 15 0 0 Surgery and dispensary ... 93 19 10 Patients' payments ... ... 52 1 6 Fuel and light ... ... 713 0 Other sources ... ... 31 8 3 Bedding and clothing ... ... 57 5 3 Furniture and earthenware ... 65 1 10 Washing and laundry... ... 1727 Salaries and wages ... ... 741 15 0 Repairs ... ... ... 19 2 3 Additions ... ... ... 199 5 4 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... 23 0 1 Insurance ... ... ... 616 3 • Other expenses ... ... 102 2 3 Total ... ... £1,892 5 7 £1,382 12 4 This is a neat and convenient Cottage Hospital erected last year. It stands on the edge of a beautiful beach quite near the township. It contains two small wards and a single room with the necessary adjuncts, all well arranged, well lighted, and well ventilated. In addition to looking after the hospital, which he does very satisfactorily, Dr. Slater visits Tairua once a week. Mr. and Mrs. Parker, who were trained in Sunnyside, are in charge, and had everything in first-rate order. * Opened Ist July, 1898.