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necessary power given to one man, who shall be responsible for the whole district. Local government in town matters should be conceded to the residents, and they should be encouraged to provide an ordinary hospital for the wants of the district. The corrosive effects of the sulphur are such that the buildings soon get dilapidated and unsightly. The discoloration inevitable in the conditions is put down to neglect and dirt, which is very unjust. New baths are required to meet modern requirements, and separate provision should be made for Sanatorium patients.

VAEIOUS CHAEITABLE INSTITUTIONS. Costley Home for Aged Poor, Auckland. —One hundred and twenty-five men and forty-nine women. Seventy-five of them old-age pensioners. This institution still continues to be excellently managed by Mr. and Mrs. Moss. The Chairman of the Board has promised a few more comforts for the old ladies in the infirmary ward, in the way of easy-chairs, &c. On the male side there is a night and a day wardsman to look after the sick and infirm, and on the other side Mrs. Moss has a nurse-assistant. Two imbecile men and two women were in seclusion. A chapel has been added, where all denominations can hold service. The piggeries are not cleanly kept, and the ground around them was rotten with refuse. The drainage finds its own way through a volcanic crevice. Ohiro Boad Home, Wellington, seventy to eighty inmates, has greatly improved during the past year. A new Chairman of the Benevolent Trust and a change of authorities at the Home gave scope for many reforms in the treatment of the old folk. The Ohiro Home being a " separate institution," neither the Charitable Aid Board nor the Government (those that find the money) had any power to check abuses, either in contracts for food and clothing or in regard to peace and comfort for the inmates. It is now a pleasure to visit the Home, and Mr. and Mrs. Purvis are kindly and capable officers. The trustees have also had the courage to reform the outdoor relief. Abuses have ever been found in connection with the contract system — i.e., giving recipients of relief an order on some tradesman, who contracts to supply the goods at a marvellously low rate. The Wellington trustees now, following the precedent in Christchurch and Timaru, have a store and supply the groceries to recipients, thus effecting a vely great saving in money, and at the same time insuring that the applicants get all necessaries in full measure and of good quality. The ratepayers of Wellington should feel grateful to the men who have effected these reforms in the face of unpleasant local opposition. Old Men's Home, Ashburton. —Sixty to seventy male inmates. Here, again, it is pleasant to watch the improvements in the general condition of things under the kindly care of Mr. and Mrs. Morissy. But the building is very old and unsuitable, and should be destroyed. Dunedin Benevolent Institution, Gaversham.— One hundred and eighty-six men and sixty-two women. Mr. and Mrs. Mcc have no paid assistance in the nursing of the sick and infirm; one old body looks after another still more feeble. In addition to his duties as master of the Home, Mr. Mcc is the poor-relief visitor, whose duty is to inquire into cases of applicants for outdoor relief. £5,715 was spent on outdoor relief in Dunedin last year. Dunedin is now the only large city that has not the assistance of a woman officer on its staff as visitor to the homes of those seeking assistance. The outdoor rations are given on the "contract" system—that is, by an order on a contracting grocer. The Dunedin Benevolent Institution being a " separate institution " under the Act of 1885, neither the Charitable Aid Board nor the Government (although supplying funds) have power to reform this matter. Jubilee Home, Christchurch, and Home for the Aged Needy, Wellington, are both excellently managed institutions, and show every consideration for the declining years of old colonists. Miss Higgins, of the Jubilee Home, spares no trouble to make her colony of aged folk comfortable and cheerful. Samaritan Home, Christchurch, is a " separate institution" that draws funds from the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board. There are three classes of inmates. On date of visit there were thirteen old women, mostly acquainted with the Magistrate's Court; eighteen old men, apparently the overflow from the four other refuges in Christchurch; and eleven unmarried mothers who had come for confinement in the case of their second or third, &c, unfathered child. The staff consists of a matron and her assistant, and a trained nurse and her assistant. It is a cheerless building, but everything is done for the well-being and comfort of the various classes of inmates. It would be more reasonable if dissolute old women were committed to the institution by the Stipendiary Magistrate, instead of their being voluntary residents during whatever period may suit their own convenience, at the expense of the local ratepayer, and the institution itself placed under the control of the Prisons Department. Maternity Home, Linivood, Christchurch, for unmarried mothers with their first child, is a really satisfactory institution. It is well and economically managed, and a veritable home for these unfortunate girls and their babies. Nor is the influence and help allowed to drop when they are again struggling to earn a living, having also a baby to maintain. Alexandra Home, Wellington, also for girls with their first baby. There is very little to commend here. The look of girls and babies tells its own tale. The whole place wants repainting and cleaning inside. Women's Refuge, Auckland, is a small home for similar cases. The building is quite unsuitable. There is also a female refuge in Dunedin. The main object of some of these institutions seems to be successful laundry-work and the money gained thereby, and not the kindly personal influence to be gained over the unfortunate girls, helping them to steer straight for the future. Wellington Convalescent Home is doing excellent work, with Mrs. Eitter as matron, and a very capable committee of ladies. There is nothing but praise for the management of this institution. D. MacGbegok, M.A., M.8., M.C., Inspector of Asylums and Hospitals.