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Templeton. —We have a full-time instructor, who teaches the boys upholstery and carpentry and the making of canvas covers for stock. Seacliff. —Miss Miller conducts classes twice a week, and the work includes macrame-twine work, cane-work, suede-work, and pewter-work. It is proposed to include weaving in the near future, and I hope at no distant date that we may provide special accommodation for this work. Several of the ladies mentioned are giving their services free of all cost to the Department, and I desire to record my sincere appreciation of the valuable help they are giving to the patients and to the Department. Honours. Amongst the Coronation honours, two of our matrons, Miss Miriam Mayze, of Auckland, and Miss McLaren, of Seacliff, were decorated with the M.8.E., and this recognition of the Department and of two officers who have given long and faithful service gave considerable pleasure and satisfaction to us all. Promotions. Dr. Malcolm Brown was appointed Medical Superintendent at Seacliff, to succeed the late Dr. Hayes. Dr. Brown has served the Department well for ten years, and his promotion has been well earned. Drs. Hay, Macky, Lewis, and BelJringer have all been promoted to the newly created positions of Deputy Medical Superintendents. The Late Dr. H. D. Hayes. It is with the deepest regret that I have to record the death, on 31st October, 1937, of Dr. Henry Douglas Hayes, Medical Superintendent of Seacliff Mental Hospital. Dr. Hayes joined our Department in 1928, bringing with him from his former colleagues in the London County and Maudsley Hospitals a very high reputation for his personal and professional qualifications, and during his ten years of service with us he enhanced that reputation with all his colleagues, who came to regard him with respect and affection. Hayes was the soul of honour —a .man whose work was inspired by an unswerving loyalty to the highest and worthiest ideals of his profession. His untimely death was a great loss to the Department and a source of sincere sorrow to those of us who were privileged to enjoy his friendship. Appreciation. In conclusion, it is a pleasure to acknowledge the loyalty and support which I can always count upon receiving from, my colleagues, Dr. John Russell and all the Medical Superintendents. I have an excellent staff at Head Office, and to Mr. Sinclair, Chief Clerk, and all the other officers I give my thanks" for good work well done throughout the year.

AUCKLAND MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Buchanan reports : — I have the honour to present my annual report for the year ended 31st December, 1937. The total number of cases under care during the year was 1,582, with a weekly average of 1,179. The admissions numbered 302 (138 males, 164 females). Of this number, 245 were admitted for the first time. Under section Bof the Mental Defectives Amendment Act, 200 patients were admitted. Seventy-seven voluntary boarders were admitted during the year, making a total of 186 under care, and, of these, 92 were discharged. At the end of the year 173 patients were on probation, 135 on full parole, and 196 on limited parole. Deaths totalled 100 (54 males, 46 females). In general the health of the patients has been good throughout the past year. Fortunately, there has not been a recrudescence of a dysentry epidemic as in last year, though sporadic cases still arise. Routine maintenance has been kept up well, and several new works have been carried out. the most important of which are — (1) Completion of new cool store in the main kitchen. (2) Additions to the Nurses' Home to provide quarters for the increase in staff necessitated by the new hours of working. These include substantial extensions to the existing day- and dining-rooms, the building of a room for the charge nurses, improvements to the kitchen, and accommodation for the Sister in charge of the Home. (3) Glassing-in of the veranda attached to Ward F. 6. This provides a sun-porch and weather protection for the old ladies who dwell there. (4) Erection of a new poultry-house. (5) Building a new dutch barn in place of the one which was destroyed by fire. We, like all other hospitals, have suffered from under-staffing of the female personnel. It is difficult to get to the root of this trouble and to remedy the situation. The result has been that overtime has, of necessity, been worked by many members of the staff. It is a matter of congratulation that we have a loyal team who have gamely accepted the extra responsibility entailed and faced the unfortunate position in an uncomplaining manner.

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