THE COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1367, 16 December 1872, Page 2

THE COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM.

(from, our special reporter) Some two years ago no little oWoqtiy, and at the same time some amonhi of disgrace was cast on the County authorities in consequence of the manner in which the unfortunate i insane were treated by the County. A portion of them were retained in a little den on the Hospital reseYye at Hokitika, and the balance were consigned to the common gaol, 'where they mingled wife the' prisoners accused or convicted of offences of all kinds, and where they were subjected to all the indignities of which the worst criminal minds are capable. As a matter of course, humanity revolted at the mannerin which those, already so fearfully afflicted, were treated, and the Press/or at lefcst a portion of it, teemed with details of the treatment. The excuses under the. Hoos regime were that there was no help font, that either the lunatics must wander about unprotected, or that the gaol must be their refuge. The so-called Lunatic Asylum at the South Spit was confessedly incapable of meeting all requirements, and therefore, the apology, if such is the proper term, was at least admitted, if not accepted. A favorable change, however, came over the County Council, who, after some time, voted sufficient money to erect suitable accommodation, and it is to this now that I would direct special attention. During some 6f?the years' m question the lunatics were transported to Christchurch by coach and lodged in Sunnyeide, where they unquestionably met with all the attention that their 'sad condition demanded. At the same time, the amount of their maintenance baa been a serious item, year by year, m the ... County Council account, and it is now found that, under the altered circumstances, a reduction in cost of some Lls per annum per head "can be effected under the new arrangements that the new asylum hargiven rise to. As has already been stated at the period complained of, criminals and lunatics were indiscriminately mixed together, messed together, slept together, and all were dealt with alike. A change, a merciful and proper change has taken place during the last two years, and whatever the faults of omission or commission of Mr Lahman during his term of office, may have been, he can at least congratulate himself on having materially assisted in reformation in a matter that was raoßt urgently required. Instead, as "of "yore, lunatics being compelled, .to enter the gaol, they now enter the asylum without passing through at least more than the precincts of that establishment, and the clank of fetters or the click of locks no longer offends their already heated brains. j The Hokitika, or rather, the County Gaol and Lnnatic Asylum are situated, I may say, on' about the prettiest site within miles of Hokitika. They are on a high terrace overlooking the roadstead, over which a splendid breeze blows almost i always, and the soil in addition is of the richest description. Whether this was o$ was not the reason why the cemetery site was. chosen adjacent to .the gaol on the same terrace is not clear, but the. fact exists. The asylum, however, is the matter under immediate notice, .and: as the treatment of its inmates and its general conduct are subjects that cannot be other than of the deepest interest to aUwell-wiaherß of htuoanity, no excuse fo cannot fail to afford satisfaction to the general public. '^ : - - On entering what may bs fairly denominated the grounds, , is .firat of all a large garden of three acres in extent, on which a large number of inmates, some twenty, were employed on the occasion of my visit. All were working with the utmost diligence, and beyond two attendants in plain clothes th^ere wajmot the slightest evidence of restraint or con-; trol. In the same paddock, if I may; so term, it, have been erected a tailor's shop and a smith's forge, and the smith in question, also an inmate of the asylum, was briskly engaged in fitting up. thg necessary apparatus for conducting opera* tions.' The tailor was. a little indisposed on the day of my visit, but generally is most assiduous in doing his business. Passing on to the, interior enclosure is found the building, surrounded by another garden in which both vegetables and flowers can be found in addition to several graveL walks and ia termed the recreation ground. In this,- those of the male patients who were not well enough to be engaged in the outside garden were strolling about or lying on benches conveniently placed in different parts. Amongst other noticeable features in this part were several willow trees, growing luxuriantly, from slips presented, by the late Governor of the Colony, Sir George Grey, several years, ago; - ; whole of this part is surrounded by a | high palisade, but the portion of it facing seawards is so constructed that it does not in the least degree interfere with the view of the roadstead, and on the terrace are several steps or slopes cut so as to prevent .any of the patients j who niay fall down from, hurting themselijea. :{n, the side of the building appropriated to the male patients is the mess-room, which is ajso the recreation room, and is 28 x 38ft in size. Attached, or connected with it, are two sleeping rooms, one 27 x 12ft, with six beds, and the second 40 by 21ft, with sixteen beds, all in the most aleanly and tidy condition. In addition, to these there are eight cells, for those who are not sufficiently well to sleep in the larger rooms. As yet there is no padded room, owing it is said, to want of funds on the part of the ■ County Government. The kitchen ia elaborately fitted up with a cooking range calculated to provide rations for 120 persons, and all the work is done by the patients. In the female department there is a day room 30 x 21, one sleeping room 18 x 14, with six beds and five single rooms. The day room is comfortably furnished, and on the tables were flowers, books, papers, and periodicals of various kinds. The whole presented a most cheerful appearance, and, as on the other side, is clean and comfortable in the highest degree as well excellently lighted and ventilated. As on the male side, the patients were amusing themselves on, the exercise ground; one unf>rtunate singing at the top of h^ef voica, whilst other* were employed in various ways, many sewing, or engaged lv other 1 feminine occupations. The treatment employed is of the non-restr^inf kind, strait waistcoats, and other unhappy things, of the same nature being unknown.' In lieu of this amusement is the order of the day and the public of Hokitika have very well te. uonde"d tlio exertions of the County' §ur.

geon, Dr Dermott, and" Mr and Mrs Gnbben, the master and matron of tbe Asylnm. Every week there is a concert held, and & week or two ago the Amateur Dramatic Society kindly gave their services, when a large number of person* attended, and paid for admission in aid of the institution. The same society have intimated +heir intention of giving a monthly performance in aid of the same object. At the weekly gatherings two of the attendants and one patient play, the former on the cornopean and clarionet, and the latter on the saxhorn, and the entertainment winds up with a dance, in which patients :>! both sexes join, the only restraint being - that, excepting whUst dancing, the sexes occupy different sides of the room. . Each of these performances is open to friends of patients and respectable visitors who choose to apply for admission. The effect of the reunions is spoken most highly of by the medical officer, and the master, who was for twelve years engaged at the Yarra Bend Asylnm, in the care of the insane. It may be added, that these concerts commence at seven o'clock every Wednesday evening, and close at 10.30. The Hokitika Volunteer Band have also most kindly volunteered their services, and not only play at the weekly meetings, but also for an hour or two in the gardens for the amusement of the patients. In addition to these stated enjoyments there are quoits, bowls, draughts and backgammon boards, and cards, and the interest taken in these games on the part of the inmates is said to be immense. A change of scene is also provided for those who are fitted or fit to enjoy it, the whole of them being taken out every Saturday afternoon for a long country walk in the suburbs of the town in charge of the necessary attendants. The whole staff consists of Dr Dermott, medical officer in charge, Mr For continuation of News, see 4th page.

and Mrs Gribben, and three male atte<idanto and one female. There are now in tbe asylum 34 males and 13 female patients, and the average cost, for the hat six months has been 19s 7&d per head per week. Amongst some of the trfliing novelties in use at the institution are dinner or other knives. These are simply blunt pieces of steel with perfectly, round edges, shaped like ordinary cutlery, but only having about one inch on the inside sharpened so as to allow meat to be cut with facility, but rendering them, perfectly innocuous for. suicidal o& other dangerous purposes. The chief cause of the condition of the patients is said to be intemperance, though the excitement and uncertainty of digging life are held to be largely accountable for the results. There are tto paying inmates, and all are maintained at tike cost of the County, and amongst them «re pretty well all trades, including one formerly well-known and specially respected Dunedin notelkeeper. Their general health is excellent, indeed it would be wonderful were it otherwise, for the situation of the asylum is one of the best on the West Coast. The delusions of some are singular, and, as in many cases of partial insanity, those imbued with them are perfectly rational on all other points. One of the men is convinced that he ia the Prince of Wales and rightful j heir to the Crown of England, and he takes care to impress on his confreres the fact that they are his future subjects ; one believes that he is Lord High Admiral of England, and another that the whole of the American' navy belongs to him, whilst a fourth thinks himself ihe Deity, and the fifth that he is the son of God, and in only to work when commanded. None of the wont are, however, dangerous, and the constant occupation and amusement to which they have re- ■■■ oonrse have done wonders in their cure. The whole of the males are furnished with some employment suitable to their various states, and all the females do sewing or other house work, with the exception of one, who is not only helplessly insane, but also blind, and is treated with all the consideration that a such a combination of afflictions demand. Whatever faults the County Government were formerly chargeable with in former days, lean now, as an eye-witness, testify that they have been completely removed, and a better conducted or more carefully watched over institution of the kind does not, in my humble opinion, exist in the Colony. This must be most satisfactory to those who have friends or relatives amongst the patients. I think from what I have briefly stated all vill admit that no means are neglected by those in charge to restore to the world and to reason the unhappy beings who need such care. The alteration from the past is in the highest degree creditable and satisfactory, and the beneficial results will, without doubt, be proved in time to come.