Home for inebriates.

Manawatu Herald, 2 August 1902, Page 3

Home for inebriates.

■; ’ ’ , *v ~ T .. >■ - l - In his first report concerning the Home for Inebriates, established at the Orokonui Estate. Waitati, about & yea? ago. Dr F. Truby King, the Superintendent* states that the two blocks, erected about twenty-five years ago as a college, is used as the home for male patients. A few hundred yards away is a smaller eightroomed house, formerly a masters residence, and now the home for women patients. The additions to this bouse, ere nearly completed, and the build-' ing will then have accommodation for ten patients, The main building, in which the men are domiciled had to be re-fitted and renovated at a cost of /fioo. It is now as good as if new, and gives accommodation for thirty patients. As this building now stands says Dr King, it could not have been erected for jfaopo, and, inclusive of 857 acres of freehold land, it has cost the Government only £1450— namely, /650 for the purchase of the college buildings and estate, and £BOO for additions, alterations and repairs. It might naturally be assumed, he continues that the land, which has cost less than nothing, would possess a i negative rather than a positive value, hat this is far from being the case. The 'flat land is rich, many of the slopes will crop well, and the steeper hills will carry a considerable number of stock when cleared, fenced and freed from rabbits. There is an ample ' stock of firewood to serve all purposes for many years. The native bush, which has fortunately been preserved in one portion of the estate, has not been entered by cattle, is certainly the most beautiful now remaining on the east coast of the province north of Gatlins River. The road to this to run for about a mile through the centre of • tlfofoatate, is now under construction, ■ and will bo completed within the year. sfp ■ iTb® complete tarnishing of the build-

ings will cost about £llOO. A water supply which is more than ample is one of greatest advantages of the property. For a total expenditure of less than £7OO there will be secured an average delivery of several hundred thousand gallons of water per day, with a head of over 150 ft. There are seven patients in the home —six men and one woman. The first of the patients entered the horn* only two months ago. '