Thirteenth Annual Report of the Committee of Management.

In submitting their annual report for the year ended 31st December, 1884, your Committee have the pleasure of stating to the subscribers that the beneficent work of the institution has been satisfactorily performed, and that the funds at the disposal of the Committee have been so carefully used that its financial position has been very materially improved.

The balance in hand is now L81 10s 4d, as against L65 9s 2d last year, and L150 has been added to the sum lodged on fixed deposit in the Bank. The total revenue received during the year amounts to the sum of L1137 13s 4d; this amount, added to the balance in hand of L65 9s 2d, represents the sum of L1203 2s 6d to be accounted for. The total expenditure for the year amounts to L971 12s 2d (including L110 3s 5d spent on buildings and improvements of grounds), L150 has been placed on fixed deposit, and the balance of L81 10s 4d makes up L1203 2s 6d—the sum to be accounted for.

From the statement of assets and liabilities, it appears that a sum of L2101 4s 10d is now to the credit of the funds of the institution, made up as follows—Balance in bank, L81 10s 4d; money lent on mortgage, L1350; money on fixed deposit, L'650; and Government subsidy due L29 14s 6d; against which there are liabilities about L50—making a net credit balance of L2051 4s 10d.

Your Committee feel justified in congratulating the subscribers on the financial position of the institution, and they have also the satisfaction of stating that the page 14 various officers of the Hospital have discharged their respective duties efficiently.

The thanks of the subscribers are due to the Hon. H. J. Miller, M.L.C., and to S. E. Shrimski, Esq., M.H.R., for their liberal donations of 50 guineas and L25 respectively to the funds of the institution; and to T. Duncan, Esq., M.H.R., for having lent a milch cow for some months, while the cows belonging to the institution were not yielding milk. The Honorary Medical Officers are also entitled to the sincere thanks of the subscribers for their able and kind assistance given to the Medical Superintendent during the year.

On the 1st January, 1884, there were in the Hospital six patients; since then there were admitted 108 patients to the 31st December last, making a total number of 114 as against 88 for the year ended 31st December, 1863. Out-patients to the number of 69 have been treated during the year.

Of the patients within the hospital there were discharged, cured or relieved, 98; there died, 8; and there remained in the hospital on 31st December last, 8. The average number of patients was 9½; the average duration of stay of each patient was 30½ days; and the average total cost of each patient was L7 12s 5d, or per day, 5s—a reduction in cost of 1s 6d per day from last year.

The nationalities of the patients were as follow:—England, 36; Scotland, 25; Ireland, 36; Australasia, 9; Continent of Europe, 5; America, 1; New Zealand, 2. The last residences of the patients were—Oamaru, 61; Waiareka, Windsor, and Ngapara, 10; Upper Waitaki (including Duntroon and Livingstone), 19; Hampden and Otepopo, 3; Popakaio and Awamoko, 5; Kakanui and Maheno, 9; sundry places, 7.

During the year your Committee have held twelve ordinary meetings and one special meeting. The attendance of the members was as follow:—S. E. Shrimski, 6; J. Mainland, 12; H. Aitken, 9; G. Dalgleish, 6; A. S. page 15 Otterson, 7; J. W. Humphrey, 6; A. J. S. Headland, 6; J. L. Allan, 7; F. Robertson, 11; W. W. Dawson, 6; W. Milne, 6; D. Miller, 4; N. Fleming, 8.

The institution was visited during the year by the Hon. Robert Stout, the Premier, and was recently inspected by the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. P. A. Buckley, both of whom expressed themselves as highly gratified with the condition and conduct of the hospital, and the latter signified his intention of qualifying himself to be a Life Governor by the donation of L10 10s to its funds.

The attention of your Committee has been drawn to the necessity for a new bath-room and a high-pressure boiler, and they now recommend the subject to their successors as being one that should be attended to without further delay. When these wants are supplied, the institution should be in a most satisfactory position for carrying on its work with efficiency and ease.

Your Committee, in retiring from the honorable and responsible position of managers, desire to express a hope that those gentlemen whom you may now elect to fill their places will be actuated by the same earnest desire to make the institution useful, popular, and creditable to the district.