WORKING AND KEEPING IN REPAIR

THE PANMURE PUNT AND BOAT.
TILL 31ST DECEMBER, 1863.

ACCEPTED TENDER—SAM:L. NEWTON.

(Schedule of Tenders received.)

£ s. d.
Thos. Robinson ........ 6 19 6 per month.
Saml. Newton ........ 6 4 0 "

Mr. Newton having given notice that he would resign his Contract on 31st January, fresh Tenders were invited, resulting in the receipt of—

£ s. d.
Charles Hare, jun.’s Tender at 127 8 0 per an.
John McKearney’s " 115 10 0 "
John McNamara’s " 109 10 0 "
Robert Robertson’s " 108 0 0 "
Thos. Robinson’s " 108 0 0 "
Jas. Kilkenny’s " 100 7 6 "
Saml. Newton’s " 96 0 0 "
Thos. Naughton’s " 88 4 0 "

Mr. Thos. Robinson’s Tender has been accepted.

The following Regulations for the working of the above Ferry, and the Fares chargeable, are published for general information:—

1. There shall be two men constantly in attendance for the purpose of working the punt or boat, except from ½-past 8 till 9 a.m., and from ½-past 12 till 1 o’clock p.m.

2. The punt or boat to cross the river without charge, as often as required, from 6 o’clock in the morning until sundown from the 15th day of September till the 15th day of March inclusive; and from the 16th day of March till the 14th day of September inclusive, from daylight till sundown, except between the hours stated in Regulation No. 1.

3. From sundown until 10 o’clock at night, and from daylight until 6 o’clock in the morning, a charge of one shilling shall be paid, for each horse, or single horse and vehicle, and 6d. for each foot passenger.

4. From 10 o’clock, p.m., to daylight throughout the year, the charge for each horse, or single horse and vehicle, shall be 2s. 6d., and for each foot passenger, 1s.

5. Passengers arriving at the Ferry before sunset to be taken over free, even in the event of the Ferry Boat being on the opposite side at the time they arrive.

6. Ministers of Religion with their horse or vehicle to be taken over at any hour free of charge. (But this clause shall not exempt any person or persons in their company from paying the usual fare.)

7. Should the punt or boat be halfway across the river when any person or persons arrive at the Ferry, the punt or boat is required to proceed on her way with the utmost despatch, and to return without delay to convey the waiting passenger or passengers.

FERRY BETWEEN ONEHUNGA AND MANGAREI,

TILL 31ST DECEMBER, 1863.

Accepted Tender:
John Robinson ........ £50.

Non-accepted Tender:
Thos. Roach ........ £119.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 4th February, 1863.

THE following Report and Returns, furnished by the Provincial Surgeon, are published for general information.

R. GRAHAM,
Superintendent.

ANNUAL MEDICAL REPORT OF THE AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL, LUNATIC ASYLUM, AND PRISONS, FOR 1862.

PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL.

The number of patients admitted into the Auckland Provincial Hospital in 1862, exceeds that in 1861 by 23, and amounts to 286, of whom 272 were Europeans, consisting of 227 males and 45 females; and 14 were Maories, composed of 12 males and 2 females. Of the 64 remaining last Return, 33 have been discharged, 9 have died, and 12 remain; all of whom, whether from blindness, paralysis, epilepsy, or old age, must be regarded as permanent inmates of the Institution. The total number of deaths during the year is 32, of whom 26 were males and 6 females, being about 9½ per cent. of the total treated; and of this mortality it will be seen on perusing the following remarks, that a large proportion took place within a few days (in some cases a few hours only) after admission: showing that such patients were sent into hospital merely to die. The daily average number of patients amounted to 57, and the average period of each in the hospital extended to 46 days. Of the number remaining at the end of the year, 25 may be regarded as incurable, either in consequence of disease or general debility, and as being more suitable inmates of a house of industry than of a hospital.

FEVERS

The number of fever cases admitted during the year, amounts only to 10, less than one-third of the number admitted the previous year. Four of them proved fatal:—

1st G. H. P., mate, aged 22 years, admitted May 4th, almost in an expiring state, proved by his dying the next day.

2nd, Hipirini, a native lad from the Roman Catholic College at the North Shore, admitted July 30th, and died 4 days afterwards.

3rd, A. M., a seaman, aged 30 years, admitted August 1st, and died August 5th.

4th, L. D., a female, aged 21 years, admitted December 27th, and died on the 30th ult.

There cannot be a doubt that all of these patients were injured by removal from their