H.—22

18

Eeceipts and Expenditure. Receipts. & s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government .. ... 81 3 9 Bations, and fuel and light ... 339 14 5 Subscriptions and donations ... 125 12 2 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 23 12 10 Eents ... ... ... 740 14 6 Surgery and dispensary ... 91 211 Patients'payments ... ... 195 6 6 Bedding and clothing ... ... 20 14 4 Other sources ... ... 1564 Furniture and earthenware ... 8139 Balance from last year... ... 222 7 4 Salaries and wages ... ... 550 3 4 Funerals ... ... ... 10 16 10 Eepairs and additions ... ... 29 15 8 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 12 10 3 Insurance ... ... ... 4 12 0 Other expenses ... ... 33 8 6 Total ... ...£1,380 10 7 Total ... ...£1,125 410 Visited 18th December. —Ten men and two women. Mr. Desmond has been obliged to resign owing to ill-health. Nursing conditions fairly satisfactory. This is the only Hospital that owns a maternity ward. About six single girls were confined there during last year.

OTAKI COTTAGE HOSPITAL. This is a well-designed Cottage Hospital, comfortably furnished, and very well managed. There is a very suitable modern operating-room. The nursing is good. Dr. Mason is a man who, I fear, will, from his ability and kindly manner, make the institution only too attractive. [For statistics, Otaki Hospital, see page 30.]

PALMERSTON NOBTH HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1899 ... ... ... 28 Admitted during year ... ... ... ... ... 243 Total under treatment ... ... ... 271 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 234 Died ... ... 14 Bemaining on 31st March, 1900 ... ... 23 Sex. —193 males, 78 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Palmerston North, 245 ; Masterton, 3; Wanganui, 2 ; Waipukurau, 3; Napier, 1; Timaru, 1; Sydney, 1; Wellington, 14; Auckland, 1. Nationality. —English, 62; Scotch, 23; Irish, 31; New Zealand, 122; Australian, 8; German, 4 ; Canadian, 1; Danish, 8 ; Swedish, 3; Norwegian, 3 ; American, 3 ; East Indian, 1; Finn, 1; Maltese, 1. Religion. —Church of England, 121; Boman Catholic, 49; Presbyterian, 39; Wesleyan, 21; Lutheran, 15; Salvation Army, 3; Methodist, 1; Dutch Beformed Church, 1; Baptist, 2; Jewish, 2 ; Plymouth Brethren, 13 ; Christadelphian, 1; no religion, 3. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 7,948; individual average days' stay, 2932. Daily average cost per head, 4s. 9Jd.; less patients' payments, 3s. Bd. Outdoor Patients. —No record. Beceipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 712 4 7 Bations ... ... ... 371 14 6 Local bodies ... ... ... 729 19 9 ] Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... ... 20 19 0 Subscriptions and donations ... 28 13 0 Surgery and dispensary ~. 141 14 3 Bequests ... 45 13 10 Fuel and light ... ~, 197 14 10 Patients' payments ... ... 441 17 9 Bedding and clothing ... ... 2153 Other sources... .. ... 30 4 9 Furniture and earthenware . . 29 1 3 Washing and laundry ... ... 39 3 6 ; Salaries and wages ... ... 827 5 4 ! Funerals ... ... .. 9 10 0 I Bepairs ... ... ... 30 1 5 ; Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 25 15 9 Interest ... ... ... 2 3 6 I Insurance ... ... ... 3123 Other expenses ... ... 153 11 6 Total ... ...£1,988 13 8 Total ... £1,901 2 4 Visited 30th January.—Seven men and nine women. Miss Dogherty was absent on sickleave. Hospital and grounds in excellent order. Cleanliness and comfort prevail. The townsfolk feel a just pride in the efficiency of their hospital.