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ment during the half-year has been 9725, proportioned as follows:—

Comparisons have been made between the cost of the Greymouth and Hokitika Hospitals; but when the large sum paid by your Committee in excess of that at Greymouth for salaries and coals is considered, the difference is easily explained, and dwindles into insignificance. Formerly, at Greymouth, they had no Dispenser, whilst here, from the peculiar situation and circumstances of the Institution, we are obliged to have besides, a boatman, carpenter, and secretary, as well as the entire services of the Surgeon Superintendent. These items in salaries alone make up £786 per annum in excess of the Greymouth Institution, and in themselves would account for the higher average here, which at the most is only 1s. 7½d. per patient per week more.

Your Committee having completed their enquiries into the case of R. Curnow—referred to in their last report—are pleased to state that they have received satisfactory explanations and evidence from the captain and shipowners denying the charges made by Thomas David, the attendant who accompanied Curnow, and showing that he had no just cause for complaint whatever: in proof of which David was compelled to accept a less sum than was originally intended for his services, and for which reduced amount the captain received from him a discharge in full of all demands, and returned the balance (£5) to the Committee.

The present Hospital Buildings are in a very dilapidated condition, and an immediate expenditure of from £300 to £400 is necessary for the roofing and piling of the whole establishment. These works have been some time delayed in hopes that the County would carry into effect the long-talked-of project of removing the Hospital to this side of the river, and can now only be left over provided the removal will take place speedily.

The Committee express their strong hope that the County will endorse and approve of the site next the Gaol, where, if built in proximity to the other County Establishments, considerable saving could be effected. The Committee press this site strongly on the consideration of the County Council, and as a heavy expense is urgently needed across the river, it is to be hoped no further delay will occur in carrying the scheme out, or at all events, that the question will be so far settled that the Committee will know how to act.

Changes are about to be proposed in the County Council which will considerably lessen the amounts to be voted to the Institution as subsidy, as well as leaving the Surgeon’s Salary and the Female Ward to be provided for by your Committee in the same way as the Male Ward, viz., Government paying two thirds. The Committee take the opportunity of stating that these alterations are in direct opposition to the understanding on which they took over the management of the Institution, and will result in making the Hospital a much heavier tax upon the charity of the County than it can bear. The Committee take credit to themselves for having reduced the cost of the Institution to the Government by a very large annual amount, and yet a proposal is now mooted to reduce the votes by about £750 to £1000 a-year. The proposition is only yet mentioned, but the Committee trust the County Government will well consider the matter before throwing this increased responsibility on them.

The elaborate and valuable report of the Surgeon-Superintendent is also laid before you with this:—it contains much interesting matter, both to the residents on the Coast, and to the faculty in particular. The Committee desire to express their best thanks to Dr. Maunsell for his skill and care of the patients under his charge.

During the past half-year your Committee felt it necessary to make considerable changes in the internal working of the Institution; those have been effected satisfactorily, and the Institution is now working well, efficiently and economically.

Propositions have been approved of by your Committee to enlarge their number, by the appointment of one Member from each of, and to represent, the Country Districts. The County Chairman having promised to give effect to the proposal, it only now waits his action.

Several vacancies having occurred in your