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Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1908. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. ' £ s. dProm Government ... ... 2,262 10 0 Rations ... ... .. 1,254 0 9 From Government (subsidy on Wines, spirits, ale, and porter ... 8 14 0 subscriptions) ... ... 848 5 6 Surgery and dispensary ... 390 19 10 Local bodies ... ... 2,262 10 0* Fuel and light ... ... 402 15 8 Subscriptions and donations ... 684 5 5 Bedding and clothing ... ... 218 16 3 Bequests ... ... ... 100 18 9 Furniture and earthenware ... 414 12 6 Rents ... ... ... 310 Salaries and wages ... ... 1,693 13 2 Patients' payments ... ... 761 1 7 Water-supply ... ... 52 2 0 Gaol attendance ... ... 50 0 0 Funerals ... ... ... 25 0 0 Attendance at Old Men's Home 65 0 0 Repairs ... ... ... 160 2 9 Rebate ... ... ... 0 18 4 New buildings ... ... 2,428 1 0 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... 32 17 4 Insurance ... ... ... 29 911 Commission ... ... ... 0 10 0 Removal of ashes, sanitary ... 33 0 6 Extras ... 36 7 7 Total ... ... £7,038 10 7 Total ." £7,181 3 3 Visited 13th June, 1907, and 27th February, 1908. —There were forty-two cases in hospital— thirty-four men and eight women. The men's ward, containing sixteen beds, was occupied by fifteen patients, medical and surgical. As there is another ward of the same size upstairs it seemed a pity not to divide the medical and surgical cases.. The upstairs ward is used for convalescents, and as all the patients there are up and able to go downstairs to the men's dining-room it minimises the work considerably. There is a small ward with three beds downstairs worked in conjunction with the other wards. A bad feature in this small ward is a sink in one corner which is most unnecessary. The bathrooms and lavatories of these wards are fairly new and well fitted. A great inconvenience is that the nurses must carry the bed-pans to one place to empty them, then across the yard again to the washing-sink. The women's ward is smaller, containing eight beds, which are occupied with medical and surgical cases. The bathrooms here are not so modern, but are in excellent order. lam glad to hear that there is every probability of a new theatre being erected —it is badly needed. The outpatient department, with x-ray room attached, is very satisfactory, as are, indeed, all the offices connected with the institution. The Nurses' Home, opened a few months ago, is most comfortable, and is planned for the greatest convenience in working. Each nurse has her own room. There are good bathrooms and a pleasant sitting-room. The dining-room is ample, and tastefully furnished. The Matron's quarters are in the Home. t

9. PALMERSTON NORTH HOSPITAL. Governing body : Palmerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Stipendiary medical staff : Drs. Martin and Wilson, and Dr. Maclntyre, anaesthetist. Nursing staff: Matron, Miss McLaggan; 5 registered nurses and 10 probationers. Domestic staff: 1 cook, 2 wardsmaids, 2 laundresses, 1 porter, 2 gardeners. Number of beds available for males,'24; for females, 25: total, 49 (and 18 beds in fever hospital). * Number of patients under treatment during year : In-patients —male 332, female 205—total 537 : out-patients, nil. In-patients: Average days' stay, 26; average daily cost per head, 6s. (cost after deducting patients' payments, 4s. 6d.). Percentage of cost of administration on maintenance expenditure, 35'4. Localities from which patients came: Palmerston North, 457; Wanganui, 23; Wellington, 25; Hawera, 2; New Plymouth, 1; Stratford, 1; Auckland, 1; Napier, 12; Dannevirke, 6; Masterton, 1; Nelson, 2; Oamaru, 1; Christchurch, 3; Dunedin, 1; Reefton, 1. Nationality of patients: New-Zealanders, 312; English, 99; Scotch, 31; Irish, 26; Australian, 36; Canadian, 2; Danish, 7; Norwegian, 5; Swedish, 4; German, 4; Finn, 1; Swiss, 3; Spanish, 1; Assyrian, 3; Chinese, 3. : Religion: Church of England, 232; Presbyterian, 103; Wesleyan, 47; Methodist, 11; Congregationalist, 7; Lutheran, 14; Brethren, 12; Baptist, 6; Salvation Army, 4; Roman Catholic, 94; no religion, 2; various, 5. t ,