H.—22

12

Visited 15th October.—Considerable improvement has been effected at this Hospital during the year. The new operating-room has been furnished with the latest fittings out of money raised locally. The Hospital has had a bequest of £2,000 from the late Mr. Melmore, but the Trustees have not yet decided how this is to be used. Detached accommodation is to be provided for the nurses, and a start has already been made. This year Hawera has been made a separate hospital district, having formerly been administered by the New Plymouth Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

HOKITIKA HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1902 ... ... ... 34 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 150 Total under treatment ... ... ... 184 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 121 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 Eemaining on 31st March, 1903 ... ... 33 Sex. —l3l males, 53 females. Locality from which Patients came. —Westland. Country. —England, 28; Scotland, 30 ; Ireland, 35 ; Germany, 10 ; Italy, 7 ; Colonies, 64; China, 2 ; Switzerland, 4 ; America, 4. Religion. —Church of England, 52; Presbyterian, 43; Roman Catholic, 80; Lutheran, 7 Confucian, 2. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 12,486 ; individual average days' stay, 67-85. Daily average cost per head, 4s. Ofd.; less patients' payments, 3s. 7d. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 186 ; attendances, 465. Receipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d From Government ... ... 927 0 2 Eations ... ... ... 795 0 0 Local bodies... ... ... 556 11 8 Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... 55 18 6 Subscriptions and donations ... 355 6 9 Surgery and dispensary ... 140 11 8 Eents ... ... ... 4 0 0 Fuel and light ... ... 136 13 4 Patients' payments ... ... 298 8 6 Bedding and clothing ... ... 56 16 7 Other sources ... ... 21 16 4 Furniture and earthenware ... 66 10 4 Balance from last year ... 389 14 2 Salaries and wages ... ... 820 11 1 Funerals ... ... ... 27 0 0 Eepairs ... ... ... 52 17 6 Additions ... ... ... 20 12 9 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... 58 6 0 Insurance ... ... ... 28 210 Commission ... ... ... 15 4 6 Other expenses ... ... 268 8 2 Total ... ... £2,532 17 7 Total ... ... £2,542 13 3 Visited 14th November. —No change worthy of note has taken place here since my last report. To illustrate how the West Coast hospitals are hampered with chronic cases, the female ward, containing nine beds, had seven beds occupied by chronics. New drains are being laid running into the gully at the back. This will be a great advantage. There does not seem to be such a run of surgical cases this year as formerly.

INVEECAEGILL HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1902 ... ... ... 37 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 436 Total under treatment ... ... ... 473 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 394 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 Eemaining on 31st March, 1903 ... ... 37 Sex.- —331 males, 142 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Southland County, Wallace County, Lake County, Fiord County, Stewart Island County. Country. —England, 73 ; Scotland, 73 ; Ireland, 55 ; New Zealand, 223 ; Germany, 3 ; Victoria, 12 ; China, 5 ; Denmark, 1 ; New South Wales, 3 ; America, 4 ; Jersey, 1 ; Portugal, 1 ; South Australia, 2; Sweden, 1 ; East India, 2; West Indies, 1 ; Orkney Islands, 2; France, 1 ; Tasmania, 5 ; Cape Colony, 1; Finland, 1 ; Holland, 1; born at sea, 1. Religion. —Church of England, 146 ; Roman Catholic, 91; Presbyterian, 186 ; Wesleyan, 14 ; Salvationist, 8; Confucian, 5 ; Methodist, 4; no religion, 2; Protestant, 7; Agnostic, 1; Baptist, 1; Church of Christ, 3; Christadelphian, 2; Plymouth Brethren, 3.