OPENING OF THE NEW WING OF THE LUNATIC AUXILIARY ASYLUM.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 50, 17 May 1884, Page 6

OPENING OF THE NEW WING OF THE LUNATIC AUXILIARY ASYLUM.

(From the " Auckland Star, "May 10.) The new wing of the auxiliary of this Asylum, some half -a-mile beyond the original building, and ploasantly situated on an eminence in tho oentre of a farm, was opened yesterday by His Excellency the Governor in the presence of a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen. A beautifully- wrought archway was formed of flowers and evergreens, and on the arrival of His Excellency at three o'clock the Asylum band, under the superintendence of the founder (Mr White), played the National Anthem. The afternoon was remarkably fine, and the sunshine diffused an air of cheerfulnoss over tho whole scene. Immediately on his arrival, His Excellency was conducted through the various departments ot the building by Major Eccles, A.D.C., Dr. Young (Medical Superintendent), Mr T. Macflarlane (Inspector), and Messrs K. C. Bavstow and A. K. Taylor (visiting officials. ) We noticed among those present His Worship the Mayor and Mrs Waddel, Dr. Hooper, Inspector Thomson, Rev. Mr Haselden (Chaplain), Mr G. Aickin, Mr E. A. Mackechnie, and the Hon. H. Chamber - lin, M.L.C., Mrs Chamberlin, Mr and Mrs Hudson Williamson, and most of the respectable families of the district. Having duly inspected the building, Mr Thomas Macffarlane delivered an address to His Excellency in a form of an historic sketch of the Asylum, and, touching the present building, Mr Macffarlane said : — "At first the farm where we now are did not belong to the Asylum, and the patients had very little space in which to exercise themselves. This led to the purchase of this farm, and subsequently to the erection of the present building, with the view of lessening the crowding of the patients in the main building. This building is only capable of accommodating sixty patients, and it is intended to remove to it all the quiet patients, who are capable of working on the farm, and assisting m producing, milk and butter, pork and vegetables, and potatoes, for use in the Asylum. But even after the 60 men are removed to this building, there will be SO patients there— more than ought to be— and to provide for these and future requirements, it will be necessary to add another wing to the main building capable of containing, at least, another 100 patients ; and this addition should be commenced at once, as the crowding is steadily increasing. It has been promised, but there is no indication of the work being commenced ; and if your Excellency will exercise your influence over the Ministry so as to get this most necessary work started at ouce, you will confer one of the greatest blessings that can be conferred on sull'ering humanity." The speaker informed His Excellency that Messrs Barstow and Taylor \\ ere the visiting officers, and that the institution was properly managed and the patients carefully attended by Dr. Young, the Medical Superintendent. His Excellency, in reply, said he was very glad that this additional improvement had been made. He could not but observe last year when he visited the Lunatic Asylum that the building was very greatly overcrowded ; and what has been stated by Mr Macffarlane in regard to the overcrowded house, which he never heard stated officially before, is exactly what occurred to him when he paid that visit. He was therefore exceedingly glad to find that this building has relieved the overcrowding there to the extent of CO patients ; and he was glad to find the building so wellplanned. He did not thinK anything could possibly be taken exception to in the design, and it reflects great credit on those who piopo.-ed it, Mr Young, the surgeon, and on the designer, Mr Burrows, the architect whs carried out the design. He had visited many lunatic asylums in the course of his life, and he hud not seen any building better planned and laid out. Great strides had been made in the design and construction of such buildings during hi»> time, and he remembered as a subaltern vi-itin<»; the miliinry lunatic asylum at Chatham, and to j.>iv«; an idea of the diflorencc; of the asylums, of that time and the asylums ot the proentdav would be possible. Unhappily theie are, and alwa\^ will be, a great numbei of lunatics to bo provided for. He would be glud if asylum*, were notrequired —glad to seethe difficulties of which Mr Macffarlane had complained removed by there being no lunatics. It is a necessary expenditure, that on lunatic asylums, and he feared that wap only a utopian view of the case Mr Macflarlane asked him to use his influence to obtain the new wing referred to, in order that the overcrowding in the main building might be relieved. He would be very glad to gee it constructed, but was rather disposed to think that the present time being one of economy, itwas a bad one in which to propose additional expenditure to the Government. He well knew when it was his lot to determine what works should be constructed in the United Kingdom and at the different military stations in the colonies, how he used to have a pen filled with red ink, and how it used to be his duty to go on scoring as he went along, knocking out items because the expenditure was too great ; and now he was afraid that red ink pen would be applied in the present instance, and you would have to postpone the request for what you desired to a more propitious occasion. At the same time, he recognised the i ecesMfcy for increased iccommodation, and was happy to ?ce this building, capable of accommodating 00 patients, completed, and constructed so admirably, and laid out on so efficient a plan. (Cheers. ) On the motion of Mr R. C. Barstow, a hearty vote ot thanks was accorded to His Excellency for being present, and for tho kind interest which he had shown in the institution.