29

H.—22

It is always a pleasure to visit this Hospital. The medical work and the nursing deserve the highest commendation. The newer part of the building is very satisfactory. A new operationroom with a light in the roof is much wanted. When the new operation-room is being built, the old part of the building, which is shingled, should be roofed with iron, if it were only for insurance purposes. A new cottage, containing sleeping-quarters for the nurses, has been built near the gate, though I could not help thinking the large handsome windows facing the road were more like drawing-room than bed-room windows ; and certain defects which I pointed out in the new drainage scheme have since been remedied.

WAIROA HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1898 ... ... 1 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 42 Total under treatment ... ... ... 43 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 Died ... ... ... ... 1 Remaining on 31st March, 1899 ... ... ... 3 Sea;.—2B males, 15 females. Localities from ivhich Patients came. —Wairoa County and Waikaremoana co-operative roadworks. Nationality. —European, 29; aboriginal, 14. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 931; individual average days' stay, 21-65 Daily average cost per head, 9s. 4d. ; less patients' payments, Bs. Id. Revenue and Expendituee. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 186 17 0 Rations ... .. ... 98 17 4 Local bodies ... ... ... 176 0 6 Surgery and dispensary ... 79 15 11 Subscriptions and donations ... 9 0 6 Fuel and light ... ... 8 0 0 Patients'payments ... ... 58 6 4 Bedding and clothing ... ... 3 5 0 Other sources... ... ... 999 Washing and laundry .. ... 300 Balance from last year... ... 1605 Salaries and wages ... ... 190 0 0 Bepairs ... ... ... 10 3 6 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 1 11 0 Interest ~, ... ... 0 2 6 Insurance ... ... ... 2 12 0 j Other expenses ... ... 36 17 3 Total ... ... £455 14 6 Total, ... ... £434 4 6

WANGANUI HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1898 ... ... 28 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 339 Total under treatment ... ... ... 367 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 314 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Remaining on 31st March, 1899 ... ... ... 28 Sex. —245 males, 122 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Wanganui Borough, 172 ; Wanganui County, 50; Waitotara County, 33 ; Rangitikei County, 72 ; Marton Borough, 23 ; Palmerston North, 3; Wellington,-4 ; Foxton, 2 ; Pemberton, 1; Waverley, 3 ; New Plymouth, 3 ; Auckland, 1. Nationality. —English, 93; Scotch, 23; Irish, 45; Colonial, 190; American, 1; Danish, 2; Welsh, 3 ; German, 2; Norwegian, 1; Swiss, 1; Finn, 1; French, 3 ; Austrian, 2. Religion. —Church of England, 152 ; Roman Catholic, 99; Presbyterian, 66 ; Wesleyan, 26; Church of Christ, 7 ; Brethren, 2; Baptist, 8; Salvation Army, 6; Lutheran, 1. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 10,346 ; individual average days' stay, 28-19. Daily average cost per head, ss. 3fd.; less patients' payments, 4s. 7d. Outdoor Patients. —Individual eases, 117 ; attendances, 722.