H.—7.

The occupational therapy building has been completed and will be occupied very soon ; the extension of this class of treatment is likely to prove of great value. The results have been very gratifying. The new poultry-houses are now in use. The latest form of equipment has been installed, and the prospects of making this branch of farm-work a success are very good. Several experienced poultrymen have inspected the plant and have unanimously considered the layout an excellent one The farm generally has had a good year. Patients' recreation has been carried out on the usual lines. I have to thank the concert parties who have come to Sunnyside and to Templeton. The concerts and picture programmes have proved of great enjoyment to the patients. Miss Jackson and the staff of the winter gardens provided the Christmas tree and a party for the children, and I have to thank them for their efforts. The numbers attending the clinic at the Christchurch Hospital have increased considerably, and many new cases have come of their own accord apart from the cases sent by general practitioners. I have visited Timaru Hospital monthly ; there the clinic is also functioning well. Mr. H. D. Acland, K.C., and the Official Visitors (Mrs. Williams, Mr. Hanna, and the Rev. Mr. R. Martin) have paid regular visits to the hospital. They are keenly interested in the patients and the work of the institution. We were fortunate to get the services of Dr. Cameron during the latter part of the year, and it is very pleasing to know that Drs. Heath and O'Reilly have been appointed to the Sunnvside staff. I have to record my thanks to Dr. Bellringer for his valued assistance during a most trying year. I regret exceedingly that the services of Mr. Thomas have been lost to the Department. This most efficient Chief Clerk has retired after almost forty years of service. I have to thank him and his office staff, the Matrons, Head Attendants, and the staff as a whole for their assistance.

SEACLIFF MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Brown reports :— I have the honour to present my report for the year ending 31st December, 1938. On the Ist January, 1938, there were 1,133 patients on the register. During the year 142 patients were admitted, 75 were discharged, and 10 were transferred to other institutions. The total number of patients under care during the year was 1,275. During the year 80 voluntary boarders were under care, and 40 still remain. There were 74 deaths, the chief causes being senile decay and cardio-vascular disease. At the end of the year there were 1,071 patients and 37 boarders resident. There has been a decrease in the total population, but the overcrowding has only been relieved to that extent so that the male side is overcrowded to the extent of 82 and the female side to 67. 1 would, again emphasize the need for new admission units. The general maintenance of the hospital has involved much work. Various bathrooms and lavatories have been repaired and remodelled, and much painting, both external and internal, has been done. A new bathroom has been built in F. 1 Ward at Waitati, and a kitchen for that ward will soon be completed. A sick bay with a surgery is almost finished in F. 4 Ward at Seacliff. The conversion of the old boiler-house into a unit for occupational therapy is well in hand. The water mains from Double Hill continue to give trouble from time to time due to the slipping ground, and many repairs have been effected on them. The gardens and the grounds have been well looked after, and the farm has had a satisfactory year. Miss Miller, of the Red Cross Society, has continued her teaching of handicrafts to the patients with satisfactory results. The building which is being converted to an occupational centre will be ready for use shortly, and it will allow this form of treatment to be extended to patients who cannot receive it under existing conditions. The members of the Dunedin Branch of the Womens' National Council continued to visit and to teach sewing and fancy work to the female patients. My thanks are due to these ladies for their kindly interest. Included in the occupational block will be a fully-equipped hairdressing-room, and this, with the appointment of a full-time hairdresser, will provide a service which should be greatly appreciated, especially by the female patients. Further alterations to the main kitchen, including a hot-plate, have helped to improve the service of meals to the wards. In the early hours of the morning of 20th July the wooden dining-room of F. 1 Ward was destroyed by fire. When the outbreak was discovered the wooden building was beyond saving, and the attendants and artisans did excellent work in controlling the blaze and preventing its spread to the adjacent buildings. The nurses evacuated the patients from F. I Ward with a total absence of fuss or panic, and the conduct of the whole staff was most praiseworthy.

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