THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1881. THE WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2214, 31 March 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1881. THE WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

The startling disclosures made during the hearing of the ahove enquiry have called general attention to the proceedings of the Commission. Without in any way wishing to prejudge the case, it cannot be denied that the evidence givon by some of the witnesses is of such a nature as to make it hard to see how the Commission can avoid coming to a conclusion most adverse to the present manner of conducting tho Asylum. Indeed, as far as can be seen, the weight of evidence against Mr. WhiteL»w is overwhelming. Numbers of apparently disinterested persons have sworn to scenes of brutality which it is hard to believe could have occurred in our very midst. But leaving tho Commission to come to a decision on the credibility of this mass of evidence, we may well take a glance at Dr. Skae's curious views on the duties of his own position. Dr. Skae is a gentleman who was brought out from England before the present Government eamo into power, with the view of supervising our general system of

treating lunatics. Seeing that ho was a specialist, it may well be imagined that his authority would bo extensive, and that his views would obtain tho greatest attention from the powers that be. More especially would one fancy that the various asylums would pay the greatest deference to any remarks that might drop from him, or any hints as to the treatment of particular patients. It may be true enough that ho has no special authority over one asylum more than over another; that his power over tho Wellington institution is no greater than he possesses over those at Hokitika and Dunedin; but, nevertheless, tho very reason of his official existence vanishes entirely if his only function is the forwarding to head-quarters of an occasional report. If the latter view of his position wore the correct one, a cheaper and quite as efficient a plan would be to obtain a flying inspection from some Australian Inspector, as occasion might require. Indeed, it would be a better plan, for, as tho caso stands, the public are lured into a false security by tho very fact that a specialist holds an appointment so potent for good, if properly filled. Dr. Skae's own view, as given in his evidence, shows that his idea is that his functions are confined to reporting and making entries and suggestions. Take an instance. One patient was kept in a strait-waistcoat for seven months, almost without any intermission. Dr. Skae admits that he did not approve of this—as, indeed, how could he, seeing that in England the use of strait-waist-coats is abolished—and yet, although he remonstrated on tho subject with White-1 law, he goes no further, because, forsooth, ho considers that his powers did > not enable him to insist. He did not ! even censure tho superintendent, nor does ho consider it absolutely incumbent to make a note of the circumstance in his note-book. All that is necessary is to remark on the subject in his annual report. Such a very shadowy official is hardly worth importing from the old country. His modesty is either too great, or his energy too small, to satisfy tho New Zealand public. On this point there will bo littlo doubt as to tho conclusion that tho Commission will arrive at. The enquiry was concluded as far as taking evidence was concerned on Saturday, and the Commissioners will now view the premises of the Asylum. Tho time for sending in their report has been extended, we believe, to the 19 th of next month.

MR. SHBIMSKI'S DISCOVERY.

Mr. Shrimski is a shining light among the Greyitos. His perfervid oratory warms their hearts and fires their imaginations in a manner which might surprise anybody who did not recognise the peculiar gifts that are required to make a first-class Greyite orator. The trne secret of stump oratory was well defined by a learned professor in the art. " When I have anything to say, I say it; when I have nothing, I jaw and saw the air." Perhaps Mr. Shrimski has slightly improved on this gentleman's teaching, for, when he is hard up for oratorical pabulum, he " discovers." His latest feat in this line was given to his breathless constituency a few days past at Oamaru. The " North Otago Times's " report of his speech contains the following : —" Mr Shrimski denied that the Grey Government had squandered the £5,000,000 loan. It was in the hands of the Treasurer all along, and was what was enabling the present Ministry to carry on the government of the colony." This indeed is a secret worth knowing, and we must envy the good people of Oamaru the delightful thrill that must have passed through them when they were told that, after all, the bulk of the loan was safe and sound in the coffers of the Treasury. In the moment of exultation it may not have occurred to his audience to ask the speaker how he found all this out. Was it through a deep study of the accounts as developed by Sir G. Grey? But we all know that Sir G. Grey, when Treasurer, had not the remotest conception of the state of the finances under his charge. Or has Mr. Shrimski secretly gained admission into the Treasury cellars and found there five million golden sovoreigns|stored in strong boxes ? Or has he dogged Major Atkinson, and discovered that he is in the constant habit of making periodical visits to this mine of wealth, with a view of carrying on the Government of the country ? But Mr. Shrimski, like the skilful orator he is, took good care not to go into particulars. He worked up his audience to a fever point of expectation, and left them there. And they unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Mr. Shrimski. Of course they did. They would have been more than mortal if they had not. One might just as well have expected that the Spainards would have passed a vote of want of confidence in Columbus, as that the inhabitants of Oamaru should have passed a vote of a similar nature on their gifted member, who, in spite of all obstacles, had discovered what had really become of the five million loan. SLEEPY HOLLOW. Stories innumerable have been told of the apathy of the good people of Nelson. It appears to pervade all classes, and the official is as little exempt from the prevailing malady as the unofficial world. In proof of this the following instance may be given. For nearly two years past the following note has been appended to the Registrar-General's monthly vital statistics :—' In the case of Nelson the population is given according to the estimate for January, 1879, as tho local authorities have not yet supplied the information necessary to enable the estimate to bo corrected." Hero wo find gentlemen who do not appear to take the slightest interest in tho records of their own well or ill-being, or in the state in which they stand in relation to the romaindor of the colony. Tho population might apparently be decimated and the officials would not bestir themselves. It almost appears as if the inhabitants did not care much whether they wore alive or dead. Wo have all hoard of tho philosopher who had reached such a state of indifferontism that he argued that it was of no practical difference whether a man wore in the flesh or out of it. On being asked why, if the two states were tho same, he did not kill hiinsolf, he answered, " Because, if I did, I should bo in much the same state as I was before." This extremely philosophical individual should evidently \ have takon up his quarters at Nelson. He would have found much congenial i company in that lotus-oating province.

Abbival op Bishop Redwood. His Lordship the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, will, it is expected, reach this city to-morrow. Hie reception will take place in the Catholic church in the evening.