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The usual recreations for patients and staff have been provided for during the year. Patients' sports meetings, bowls, tennis, golf, concerts, fortnightly dances, weekly cinema, and picnics to the beach have been organized and enjoyed by various patient groups. lam grateful to Mr. Hooker for continued effort in arranging for the supply of certain magazines and weeklies for the library and reading-room. I have to thank numerous societies and charitable organizations and individuals too numerous to mention who have throughout the year provided various comforts, reading-matter, and donated money towards the patients' recreation. We are also grateful to various people who have given concerts at the hospital from time to time during the year. I regret to have to record the death of the Rev. Mr. Harding, which occurred during the year. Mr. Harding for many years associated himself with the work of the hospital, and was indefatigable in assisting in the arranging of concerts and entertainments for patients. He will be greatly missed by patients and staff. The shortage of medical staff existing in 1937 became more acute last year, and more especially during the latter few months of the year. In this respect I particularly wish to thank my deputy, Dr. R. G. T. Lewis, on whose shoulders fell the greater part of the burden occasioned by the absence of Assistant Medical Officers. As with other mental hospitals, we experienced during the year a difficulty in getting probationer nurses, and this shortage was in part overcome by the female nursing staff working overtime. I should like to express my appreciation to the female nursing staff, who maintained hospital efficiency under these somewhat trying conditions. In conclusion, I wish to thank the staff as a whole for their loyal co-operation in the work of the year.

NELSON MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Williams reports : — I have the honour to present my annual report for the year ending 31st December, 1938. The total number of cases under care during this period was 923, of whom 896 were held under a reception order, 25 were voluntary boarders, and 2 were sent to us on remand for observation. The admissions totalled 74, of whom 12 were voluntary boarders and 62 were certified. Of the latter, 18 were admitted under the provisions of section 8 of the 1928 Amendment to the Act. The discharges, 38 in number, included 11 voluntary boarders. There were 56 deaths during the year, amongst whom were several feeble children, whose poor resistive power could not withstand the whooping-cough, which occurred as an epidemic. As is frequent when whooping-cough is prevalent, there were other epidemics, of minor disorders chiefly. Most notable was measles, and more than 300 of oar patients were affected, some having as many as three attacks. A large proportion of the staff was affected also. The principal item in the building programme has been the erecting of a Nurses' Home at Ngawhatu. This should be completed and ready for occupation about the middle of 1939. The road up Yorks Valley was tar-sealed as far as Villa 3. New piggeries were built at Ngawhatu, but await some additions before they will be ready for occupation. Staff cottages were renovated ; extensions were made to water-supply ; painting of and repairs to butcher's shop were done ; and the developmental work in Yorks Valley continued, though, as noted previously, paucity of good labour has resulted in this progressing rather slowly. At Nelson fire-breaks were put through the pine plantation ; the adjoining hill was cleared, and some thousands of trees planted there. Additions were made to the sewage systems, and the farm buildings, stores block, and artisans' workshop were renovated where required and are being repainted. A good deal of inside painting has been done by the working-party also. Authority has been received for the repainting of Villa No. 1, but scarcity of suitable labour has made it not possible to do this work yet. Similarly, we have been unable to obtain adequate workmen for the fencing of Stoke Farm above Poorman's Valley, although we have the materials on hand. Tenders have been called for the erection of three new male villas. These will be most welcome, and will result in better classification and treatment of patients. A modern admission block with sick-bay and theatre facilities and independently situated is really very desirable and necessary. Miss Soutter, Kitchen Supervisor, has been here for some little time and has offered useful suggestions. She is much in favour of the system in vogue of cooking in the individual villa. Fire drill has been carried out regularly, and appliances inspected by the Public Works Department, and their recommendations adopted. The local fire brigade has visited in order to gain familiarity with the lay-out. The patients have been well catered for in the matter of amusements and recreation, and in this respect my thanks are due to many individuals, business firms, and societies in Nelson for their continued support and for donations of moneys and goods. Miss Cooksey and party have been particularly good in providing outings for the children ; the Sunshine Fund organized by Mrs. Scantlebury for provision also of picnics for the children has been very successful, and the results were much appreciated. To the Official Visitor, to the visiting Ministers of religion, to my colleague Dr. Crawshaw, and to the staff generally, for assistance and co-operation I wish also to express my thanks.

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