H.—3l

The farm under the Agricultural Department has done very well during the year, and the supply of milk and mutton has been ample and of good quality. The egg-supply, too, has been satisfactory. A contract has been let for clearing seven and a half acres of peat swamp to the west side of the main road, and this is to be planted in blue-gums and flax in order to keep the ground free from noxious weeds. With regard to the grounds and gardens, considerable improvements have been carried out during the year. New flower-beds have been laid out in the gardens near the main entrance, and a rose-garden planted on the old tennis-court has made a fine display all the summer. Engineering. —The work of this department has been carried on satisfactority. The engine-house and machinery have been kept in good order, and a proper supply of water and lighting power maintained. SECTION 4.—PUKEORA SANATORIUM, WAIPUKURAU. Dr. G. Maclean, Medical Superintendent; Dr. G. M. Scott, Assistant Medical Superintendent; Miss M. Thurston, C.8.E., Matron. The work of the Sanatorium in all departments has proceeded very satisfactorily throughout the year. The number of patients treated is on a par with last year's figure, and the results of treatment, as disclosed by the figures, may be deemed very satisfactory. The usual hospital classification relating to the condition on discharge can hardly be applied to pulmonary tuberculosis, but the sixty cases marked " recovered " are those cases of arrested disease who were put to moderately severe exercise tolerance tests before discharge, and the results are about the average obtained with Sanatorium methods. The class of case referred to us for treatment has not been as good on the average as last year ; in fact, it has proved a rare and pleasing experience during the year to receive a truly early case of pulmonary tuberculosis, and it would appear that many cases are still being kept under observation until there is an unmistakable open lesion with positive sputum. The average period of treatment per individual patient has increased to between six and seven months. When the cases treated are all of stages two and three of the disease this period can hardly be lessened if any lasting benefit is to accrue from such treatment. There have been forty readmissions during the year, thirty-five of these being ex-service patients, for whom re-entry is, of course, much more easily arranged than for the civilian patients. Examining-work for the Pensions Department shown steady increase during the last three years, comparison of figures showing the number of patients reporting daily for the past four years to be —-1922-23, 85 ; 1923-24, 99 ; 1924-25, 123 ; 1925-26, 121. In addition, this year some fifty-odd cases of belated claims for pensions have been fully investigated as to attributability of the condition to war service, and reported on for the Pensions Appeal Board. Temporary Women's Section. —It was found necessary in February of this year to make provision for temporary accommodation for women patients until such time as accommodation could be fully provided for at the Otaki Sanatorium. The new ward has proved a very useful block for the care of these patients, fifteen women having been admitted. Accommodation is available for nine more cases. This provision necessarily limits our accommodation for cot cases amongst the men, but the difficulty at present is being easily surmounted. Treatment. —This has followed the usual Sanatorium lines, the administration of tuberculin in its varied forms being used. Sodium morrhuate and nascent iodine have proved useful adjuncts in the treatment of selected cases. Sunlight therapy continues to be used as formerly with good results, a special sun-bathing enclosure proving very useful for such cases deemed suitable for the treatment. Additional medical work has been performed in an extensive survey of cases at the request of Dr. Hercus in regard to the Yon Pirquet test in tuberculosis. Staff. —I have to accord my high appreciation of the work of the staff under my direction, and to thank them for their loyal support throughout the year. The nursing service has been maintained at a very high level. The work of the nurses, never easy, is particularly exacting in the treatment of such a complaint, and their work has been mostly responsible for the good results of treatment throughout the year. The only staff change of note has been the appointment of Dr. G. M. Scott as Assistant Medical Officer to replace Dr. N. R. Mackay, who resigned on the 28th February last. Buildings. —The completion of the new kitchen block is eagerly awaited, the work having been delayed in awaiting the arrangement of the engineering services, now being taken in hand. Much maintenance repair work has been carried out satisfactorily by our own staff during the year. Alterations to the residence of the Assistant Medical Officer have also been satisfactorily completed. Rewiring. —The Public Works Department's contract for the rewiring of the Sanatorium for the distribution of the Mangahao current is almost completed. X-ray.—The new plant is at present in process of installation, and will provide a much-needed additional service to the institution. Dispensary. —The dispensary of the institution is still responsible for the supply of drugs to the twenty dental clinics in the Wellington District and for the thirty-two Native schools. In regard to institutional supplies, there has been a considerable saving in the matter of drugs for the year. Vocational Instruction. —The lessening of our activities in this department did not warrant the retention of the services of the vocational instructress in basket and leatherwork. The handling of supplies and the supervision of this work has been placed in the hands of the remaining vocational instructor in carpentry. This department supplied much material for the Department's exhibit at the Dunedin Exhibition, and various articles in leather and suede work, and also basket and raffia work, as well as fancy needlework, were forwarded to the Exhibition as arranged. All these articles were the work of patients while under treatment. In addition a model shack (valued at £40), as used at the Sanatorium, was constructed by the vocational carpentry instructor, and made an acceptable addition to the exhibit.

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