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Colonial Secretary\'s Office,
Wellington, 17th February, 1853.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR has been pleased to direct the publication of the following Report and Returns for general information.

By His Excellency\'s Command,
ALFRED DOMETT,
Colonial Secretary.

Whanganui, 8th February, 1853.

SIR,—In forwarding for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the accompanying Returns of Diseases treated in the Native Hospital at Whanganui, during the year 1852, I have but little to add to what has been already communicated in my several Reports since the opening of the Institution.

In order to explain the comparatively large number of Europeans treated as out patients, I beg to state that, in consequence of there being no private medical practitioner in the town beside myself, I could not refuse relief without having my motives liable to misconstruction, but until medical men are more numerous, if applications of this kind continue, it will be just to apply to them the rule by which the admissions into the Hospital are governed, viz ; a payment according to the means of the applicant.

The preponderance of disease in the Aboriginal over the immigrant population is still remarkable ; that it will diminish in proportion as the personal comforts of the class increase, is very evident, and that diseases hitherto unknown in these Islands, but which prevail in other countries, will be imported with the increase of foreign population there can be no doubt. I have in a former paper remarked on the first appearance of several maladies new to the District, and the passed year has witnessed the advent of the first case of small pox, but judging from the mild character of diseases in this country and the powerful effect of climate, there is no reason to apprehend that attention to those ordinary sanatory regulations, which are necessary for the comfort of society and are already provided by various acts of the colonial legislature, will be insufficient to sustain for Whanganui that character of salubrity, which, in common with the whole of New Zealand, it has hitherto, so well deserved.

In investigating the agencies likely to affect the increase of the Aboriginal race, I have found it impossible to arrive at any other conclusion, at least, so far as the population of this District is concerned, than that the numerous deaths in infancy and early youth, fully account for any retrogression, and from extensive inquiries made in other parts of the Colony, by a gentleman of distinguished position and self devoted to the native cause, it would appear that, the same observations are more generally applicable than has been hitherto supposed. Here we may perceive the benefit likely to follow the arrangements now in progress by the Government for the establishment of Native Schools ; by transplanting at an early age a portion of the rising generation, the general waste may, to a great extent be repaired.

As connected with public hygiene, I must remark that, at no period since the first formation of this Settlement, has a better feeling existed between the two races ; peaceable and contented, the Natives equally with the Europeans, are stedfastly employing themselves in developing the resources of the District, and on every side may be observed evidences of industry and prosperity ; the constant influx of Europeans must at no distant date cause the Settlement to stand prominently forward as one of the most flourishing in the Colony.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
GEORGE REES,
Colonial Surgeon,
Whanganui.

The Hon. Colonial Secretary.