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I should like to express my thanks to the Official Visitor, Mrs. Moore, for her unceasing interest in the patients and the hospital. On behalf of our patients I wish to thank our many benefactors for gifts of money, clothing, books, &c., for bringing sports teams to our hospital, and for the excellent hospitality they have given when they have invited our patients to visit them. I should also like to thank the clergy who visit our patients and conduct services. To my medical colleagues, Doctors Crawshaw and Mulinder, I express my gratitude for their co-operation and help since I took over this hospital. In conclusion, I wish' to thank the whole staff for their good work during' the year.

TOKANUI HOSPITAL Dr. Hunter reports : I have the honour to submit my annual report for the year ended 31st December, 1947. The total number of cases under care during the year has been 939, with a weekly average of 772. The admissions were 129 (70 men, 59 women). Of these, 110 (61 men, 49 women) were admitted for the first time, an increase of 5 over those of last year. Discharges numbered 60 (20 men, 40 women), while there were 50 (20 men, 30 women) on probation. The number of transfers numbered 9(4 men, 5 women). Voluntary boarders treated were 67. (33 men, 34 women). Of these, 31 (16 men, 15 women), were first admissions, and discharges numbered 35 (14 men, 21 women). The general health of the hospital has been good, deaths totalling 67 (38 men, 29 women), most of these occurring in our elderly patients group. This year more early involutional melancholic types were admitted and, with electro convulsive therapy, improved rapidly and their hospitalization period was shortened. At the end of August, Matron Semple retired from the hospital after many years of sterling service in promoting the welfare of the patients and hospital generally. The staff shortage continues to be serious ; both the nursing and the attendant staffs are approximately half of the authorized establishment. There does not appear to be any immediate prospect of improvement, as few girls seem to be interested in this type of nursing. When the proposed staff houses are built, the attendant staffing position should improve, as housing accommodation is the main item in which applicants are interested when applying for positions on our staff at the present time. Occupational therapy is proving its worth in promoting the recovery of our patients, but is handicapped by the lack of sufficiently trained occupational therapists, and efforts are being made to overcome this difficulty. The two occupational therapy buildings are under construction, and will be ready for occupation within a few months. The hairdressing-salon for the use of the women patients is nearing completion and should improve considerably the outlook of the women patients, and, along with the use of individual suitable dress material which is available now, will encourage them to take; an interest in their personal appearance and so help their recovery. The fire-fighting service has been improved by the use of an up-to-date fire engine with the necessary equipment. Staff are being instructed in the proper use of the equipment and are becoming efficient. The manual-type telephone system installed when the hospital was opened has outlived its usefulness, and plans are being made to replace it with an up-to-date automatictelephone system.

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