THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5070, 23 June 1877, Page 3

THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

His Worship the Major lias Icmdly handet to MS the,'following correspondence for put. lication

“Wellington, 12th .Tune, 1577. «g IBj >jy attention has been devoted to the condition of a poor man named Gooder, in Abel Smith-street, recently discharged from the Inmatic Asylum a complete cripple. He states that he was thrown violently oyer by a keeper named Hardy, when he sustained the injuries from which he now suffers. “ X am aware that the evidence of a person in the position of Gooder must bo taken with much reservation, but the fact remains that le went into the Asylum perfectly sound in limb and that he has left it a permanent cripple. The matter seems to me to bo of sufficient importance to demand a strict impiiry, and it is with this object in view that I now address you. If it is not part of your duty to institute such an inquiry I will feel obliged oy your either handing on this letter to the proper quarter or informing me how I should proceed in the matter.—l have, &c.,

“ William Hutchison. “ Dr. Skae, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, Wellington.”

«• Wellington, 11th June, 1877. “Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt o£ your letter of the 12th instant, regarding the alleged ill-treatment of John Gooder by Attendant Hardy at the Mount View Asylum, and beg to you that the matter will be strictly inquired into.—X have, &c.,

“ Fred. N - . A. Skae, “Inspector Lunatic Asylums. « His Worship the Mayor, Wellington/’

“ Wellington, June 21, 1877. 11 SlB, —I have the honor to inform you that X have made inquiries into the case of John Gooder, which you reported to me iu your letter of the 12th iust., and that there ia no doubt that his present condition is the result -eft. a fall which he received whilst iu the Asylum * hut that Dr. France, who examined into the matted* the time, was unable to as. certain whether or Jot it was true that Attendant Hardy had caused him to fall by pushing him over. I think that likely it was true, Jand that Hardy should in the circum* stances have been dismissed at the time. I have given instructions for his dismissal now.—X have, &c.,

“Bred. N. A. Skae,

“ Inspector Lunatic Asylums. u His Worship the 'Mayor of Wellington.”

“ Wellington, June 22, 187711 Sib, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of|[your letters of the 11th and 21st inat., in reference to the case of Gooder, and beg to thank you for the kindly promptitude with which you instituted the necessary inquiry into the same. X brought the case under your notice purely iu the interests of an unfortunate class who are unable to make any effort in their own behalf.

“ I shall publish the correspondence between us, as X believe the fact that a gentleman who is so ready to make inquiry into cases of this character .will, to a certain extent at least, be useful in allaying the widespread feeling which prevails that the Lunatic Asylum has not hitherto been so well or humanely conducted as it most unquestionably ought to be. —I have, &c.,

“ "William Hctciiisom. “ Dr. Skae, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums.”