H.—3l

the appointment of Miss A. L. Lundon as Matron, Miss E. M. Taylor, late of Apia Hospital, Samoa, filled the breach very acceptably. Miss Lundon, whom we gladly welcome to Pukeora, joined the staff as Matron on the 4th April, 1927. New Buildings. —The completion of the new kitchen block in brick, with attendant storage accommodation, at a cost of £6,000 gives us the services of a completely up-to-date kitchen. Additional apparatus in the shape of an electric dish-washing and sterilizing machine and a steam hot cupboard in the servery makes the handling of meals much more easy for the staff, and means increased comfort to the patient. The installation of steam throughout the sanatorium was another work recently completed, making ample supplies of hot water and steam for sterilizing purposes available at any moment. The Public Works Department's contract for rewiring throughout the sanatorium for the distribution of Mangahao current was completed during the year. This work and the installation of new motors were performed at a cost of approximately £2,000. A stand-by plant for the pumping of water in case of fire is at present in course of installation. Mangahao power has proved much cheaper than that produced from our own plant. X-ray Department. —The new X-ray plant supplied by Messrs. Watson and Sons was installed soon after the beginning of the year. The cost of installation was again much reduced by making use of the labour of our own maintenance carpenter. The plant has given much excellent service throughout the year without any fault having occurred in its working. X ray is of decided help in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, both in diagnosis and prognosis, and this institution is unique in its possession of such an up-to-date equipment. Every patient is X-rayed on admission and on discharge, and the records kept. During the year 214 X-ray films have been taken, and twenty-nine treatments by X ray have been given in five cases of tuberculosis of the larynx, with satisfactory results in four of the cases. The provision of an adequate X-ray service is essential in procedures like artificial pneumothorax, a treatment commenced in 1885, and lately again come into prominence by reason of X ray now admitting of better control. Dispensary. —The total value of drugs issued during the year 1.926-27 is £259 Is. 6d., as compared with £272 10s. 7d. during the previous year —a very low figure based on the cost per occupied bed. This figure is also the lowest figure on record for the cost of drugs since the inception of the institution. Native-school orders to the value of £36 17s. have been dispensed in addition to supplies of local anassthetic, and mouth-washes for school dental clinics to the value of £85 ss. The area covered in the supply of dental clinics extends from Wanganui in the North to Marlborough in the South. In the sanatorium laboratory 641 sputum examinations have been made and 200 milk-tests carried out. Farm. —Our requirements from the farm have been met in all particulars, with the exception of the supply of cream, which was not available in the early part of the winter. Canteen.—ln September, 1926, a canteen was opened for the sale of tobacco, confectionery, stationery, and toilet requisites to patients and staff. The sum of £30 was advanced as a loan from the Patients' Recreation Fund to provide the initial capital. This loan has been refunded, and the canteen profits are now being placed to the credit of the Patients' Recreation Fund. The canteen is in charge of a member of the staff, and has proved after seven months' trial to be, in addition to a source of revenue for patients' recreation purposes, a boon to all residents at Pukeora. Patients' Recreation Fund. —The balance now in hand stands at £39 14s. 9d., two donations having been made —one, of 10s., made annually by Mrs. Thomas, of Carterton, and another, of £2 165., the proceeds of a collection taken up on Anzac Day at Makotuku, Hawke's Bay. Red Cross Society. —We have received, as in former years, a considerable quantity of gifts from the various branches of the society in this district. Weekly visits by the various committees have continued, and the keenest interest is maintained by members of the society in the welfare of our patients. Financial help from the central executive of the Red Cross Society has again made possible the continuance of moving-picture programmes three times a week at this institution. During the year a new wireless receiving-set was presented to the institution by the Hastings Branch of the Red Cross Society, thanks being due largely to Mrs. T. H. Lowry for her interest and activity in procuring the set, which is of the " Elstree " pattern, valued at £100, and supplied by Messrs. Hartle, Gray, and Co., Auckland. The new set, which replaced the old one in use since 1924, is of a powerful type, supplying no less than five loud-speakers, placed in various situations throughout the institution. It has already proved a very great boon to the patients, and our thanks are due to these ladies for their timely gift. The institution was honoured by a visit at the end of the parliamentary session last year from the Hon. the Minister of Health, accompanied by Dr. Watt. The Minister inspected the institution and gave timely advice to the patients, and at the close of his inspection made kindly reference to the good work being attempted in the institution. At the close of another year's work I have to again record my thanks and appreciation of the loyalty and co-operation of all members of the staff in what has been accomplished.

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