OUR TARANAKI LETTER.
(from OCR CORRESPONDENT.) April 19. A gentleman well known to Mr. O. P. Hursthpuse called on me the "other day. He had read the extract from the letter of the Taranaki correspondent of the Otago Daily Times referring to the abovenamed gentleman, and his sympathies were aroused. He first became acquainted with the unfortunate gentleman many, years ago, and had always been on intimate terms with him during his residence in Now Plymouth. My friend had made up his mind to try and see Mr. Hursthouse, and asked had I any objection to go with him, for the walk, if nothing more. We went. Arrived at the asylum, the object of our visit was explained to the warder (Mr. Hill), and after a little conversation we were asked to follow him to that part of the establishment where lunatic patients were kept. Not being personally acquainted, I did not much care to interview the gentleman. I had only once casually seen him ; but being invited, and assured that Mr. Hursthouse would feel pleasure in a little chat, I joined the party, and wo were taken to the apartment, where, also, were seven or eight patients. On entering the room, my friend was at once recognised and welcomed. I followed, and confess to being startled at first sight of the object of our visit, and felt that the correspondent to the Otayo Daily Times deserved thanks for calling attention to the condition of a gentleman who, by personal example and pen, had done so much for the colony. The most pitiable object possible to conceive, in contrast to.what he liad once been, presented itself. Reclining on a seat broad and long enough to serve for sleeping on, and at the end of a moderately-sized room, the upper portion of his body clothed in what at first sight had the appearance of a tattered Maori mat, twisted up and hanging from his neck like two thick ropes, sat the gentleman we had come to see. Closer inspection showed the covering to be blankets and woollen clothes torn to shreds, and knotted and twisted in an indescribable manner. The lower portion of his body from the hips was completely bare. Nothing but rags on or about him. Physically, he looked strong and healthy, heavy in flesh and vigorous in motion. As I entered the room ho sat up, and on being introduced, cordially shook hands. Although a stranger, I was heartily welcomed and offered a seat on the hoard beside Mr. Hursthouse, as also a portion of fruit brought by my friend, and which was generously shared amongst the company. I at once felt at ease, and lost the soared feeling-which at first came over me, and readily answered the numerous queries as to
length of residence in province, ■ opinions regarding it, and prospects in regard to my occupation (which' had been mentioned' on my being introduced), and other matters. Mr. Hursthouse is as much the courteous gentleman now as ever —fluent and entertaining in conversation—in spite of the grotesqueness of his appearance. His hands are continually on the move, tearing • and pulling to pieces the rags which serve for clothing. He reads a little, and has writing materials always handy, and is humored as far as possible. After a general conversation, in which sound sense wit and flights of fancy were incongrously blended, and an explanation of the circumstances which led to his present confinement, Mr. Hursthouse made mention of the Otago Times paragraph, and spoke of it at length and in feeling terms. He did not look upon the writer as any friend to him in desiring his removal from present quarters, and would refuse to accept even liberty except on conditions which were stated by him. When preparing to leave, Mr. Hill said to Mr. Hursthouse that as we were unexpected visitors, and one at least was an old friend, he would like him to tell us of any complaints he had to make as to treatment. With much feeling, force, and frankness, as well by manner as words, Mr. Hursthouse expressed himself in the highest terms of praise at the uniform kindness and consideration shown by Mr. Hill. On the question being put point blank, would he not prefer to be removed to some other place with greater conveniences ? Mr. Hursthouse said emphatically that he would not be removed, and that it was only the brotherly affection and kindness shown by Mr. Hill that made his present confinement tolerable. He would die before he would he taken either to Wellington or England, and would only willingly leave the asylum as a free man. He was as comfortable as it was possible to be under the circumstances, and was tended with more than brotherly kindness, and so far as means went, his every want supplied. Here he had kind friends [names being mentioned] who visited him and sent him fruit, and were in other ways mindful of him ; and he was attached to the place and to them, and if forcibly removed he should fret and pine till he died, if no other means presented of ending his existence.
With the limited accommodation, it was surprising to see the cordiality and good feeling which appeared to exist between the warder, attendants, and patients. In the case of Mr. Hursthouse, the rich command of words of which he is master appeared inadequate to express in full the gratitude he felt towards Mr. Hill, and it is questionable if Mr. Hursthourse could be better suited in a guardian. But the accommodation is miserable. The apartments are clean, sweet, and tidy. The recreation ground is nothing more than a small grassed and sloping yard, with high walls all round, which would be growled at even as a drying ground by the best tempered of wives. And yet, day after day, week after week, the year round, the unfortunate inmates are cooped within these narrow limits. Only the top portion of the yard affords comfortable walking ground. The patients and guardians march backwards and forwards in the space available, like sailors on a quarter-deck or wild beast in a den. There is not even space to afford the pleasure which it would give some of the patients to do a gqod hard day’s work. They are well fed, but there is not the requisite means for exercise. In the case of Mr. Hursthouse, it is pitiful that for the service he has
done the State there should not be secured to him in his misfortune some better asylum. The province is going to build a new asylum; but what will it amount to, and in what sort of a fashion will it be likely to be done ? Taranaki is a small province—small ideas rule it. Certainly, plans have been applied for at Wellington, but business has prevented the application being attended to. Now, it is rumored that plans are going to he called for in town. What folly. There are good institutions in both Canterbury and Otago, why not seek advice there ? At the best, the limited funds which can be devoted to such a purpose will be insufficient to effect any great improvement in the general result. Eor the total outlay, it is questionable if better results could he shown by any other province in regard to economy in management of hospital and asylum than in Taranaki. The two are combined. One warder serves both establishments. The assistants also attend hospital patients. Convalescent hospital patients sometimes do service as watchers over lunatics. But however vigilant officers may have been proved, and however economical working expenses may have been in any particular place, it is no reason why pettifogging little kingdoms (provinces) should be allowed to continue to set up establishments which they are unable properly to manage or provide for. It would be far better that asylums should be established in suitable localities on the cooperative principle, if no better plan can be devised, each province holding shares and paying according to its needs. In some such way the lunatic service of the colony would be efficiently and economically carried on. The attention called to this particular case may help on to some scheme which will be better than that in vogue in small provinces, and lead to efficiency combined with economy.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4398, 24 April 1875, Page 3
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1,392OUR TARANAKI LETTER. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4398, 24 April 1875, Page 3
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