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Oamaru.—The drainage-work in the Borough of Oamaru is now approaching completion. Gore. —The Borough of Gore still enjoys a dual system, half the houses being connected to the sewer and equipped with water-closets, and the remainder being served by a nightsoil-collection service. With the recently augmented water-supply there now appears no good reason for continuing the nightsoil service. The Council has been advised to dispense with it, and to compel every householder where possible, to install a water-closet. Refuse and Nightsoil Removal. The various nightsoil- and rubbish-removal services throughout the district have been carried out satisfactorily. General. Hairdressers' Shops. —These have been inspected and a considerable improvement in equipment and methods noted, particularly in the case of the less progressive individuals. Exact compliance with all the regulations relating thereto is not yet general. By-laws. —The counties of Waitaki, Waihemo, Waikouaiti, Maniototo, Vincent, Lake, Tuapeka, Clutha, Bruce, and Taieri have recently brought out a set of combined by-laws. This should simplify the administration of the Health Act in the districts concerned. Hotels. —The annual inspection of hotels has been carried out throughout the district. Considerable improvements have been made in the sanitary arrangements of a number of country hotels by the installation of water-closets and septic tanks. Public Baths. —A very fine tepid swimming-bath has been built in Invercargill, and was in operation during the recent summer. The water is filtered through a quartz filter continuously. At first there was considerable discoloration of the water owing to the growth of algae, and some public concern was caused thereby. However, the filtering of the water as it leaves the town mains, combined with frequent renewals, has overcome this difficulty. A bacteriological examination of the water of the bath shows it to be of a reasonably high standard of cleanliness. Crematorium. —The Dunedin City Council has erected a crematorium at Anderson's Bay, and several cremations have been carried out. Cemeteries. —The inspection of cemeteries has received attention during the year. In the country districts it was found that poor and incomplete records had been kept in the past. Matters are now upon a more satisfactory basis, and there should be less difficulty in the future. Chiropractors, &c. —The premises of chiropractors, masseurs, skin specialists, &c., have been inspected regularly throughout the year. Whilst there is nothing of outstanding note to report, there is evidence on every hand of gradual improvement in all that pertains to health work in the district. The people as a whole appear to take a more intelligent interest in health matters than was the case a few years ago, and it seems evident that the educational campaign which has been carried out by the Department through the press and by its officers is bearing fruit. PART IX. SPECIAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND SANATORIA: EXTRACTS FROM ANNUAL REPORTS OF MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENTS. SECTION I.—QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, HANMER. Dr. P. Chisholm, Medical Superintendent; I)r. Mollek ; Miss E. Hodges, A.R.R.C., Matron. I beg to place before you the annual report of the Queen Mary Hospital, and a report on the other activities of the Department of Health in Hanmer Springs. General. —The work of the institution has proceeded along the usual lines. The number of patients under treatment has shown a steady increase during the year. The establishment of the new hospital for women added considerably both to the medical work and to the general administration. There has been, naturally, a keen desire to place this new section on a sound basis. The gradual extension of the institution in the direction of increasing numbers under treatment has created serious difficulties in subsidiary services. The extension has not been uniform, and there have been consequent difficulties, especially in the accommodation for the nurses, in the massage department, and in the laundry. However, alterations and improvements in all these sections have been approved, and it is confidently hoped on completion of these further alterations and improvements that the working of the Institution will become easier. Male Hospital. —A very considerable amount of work has been done in connection with the maintenance of the main block. The building has been painted and renovated. A new floor was laid down in the dining-room, which has proved to be a great improvement both from the point of view of the appearance of the dining-room and in the working of this section. One lavatory block was reconstructed, and it is a very great convenience to the patients. Many patients seeking admission to the male hospital unfortunately tend towards a borderland psychosis. There appears to be a considerable amount of misunderstanding as to the function of this Hospital, and the type of patients treated. There appears to be a general impression that this hospital admits and deals with early psychosis. It cannot be too strongly stressed that this type of patient is not admitted, and

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