The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1269, 17 August 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain Una wed by influence and unbribed by gain.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1880,

The Annual Report of the Inspector of the New Zealand Lunatic Asylums (Dr Skae) has been laid on the table of the House, and is an interesting paper. We find that the number of insane persons in the colony, as registered at the end of the year, was 695 males and 361 females, in all 1056, and thus distributed among the various asylums of the colony ; — Dunedin, 303 ; Christchurch, 232 ; Auckland, 229 ; "Wellington, 136 ; Hokitika, 77 ; Nelson, 60; Napier, 19. The increase over the number registered for the previous year is 58 males, 43 females ; total, 101. It is here worthy of remark that in the first yearly report on the asylums, issued in the session of 1877, for the year ending 31st December, 1876, the average number of patients was thus given : Auckland, 163 ; New Plymouth, 4 ; Napier, 15; Wellington, 72 : Nelson, 46 ; Hokitika, 57 ; Ohristchurch, 191 ; and Dunedin, 235 : total, 783. Thus, in the present return an increase of patients is shown in every asylum in the colony with the exception of Hokitika and Napier. Compared with the numbers &% the end of the previous year there was a decrease at Christchurch of 2, at Napier* of 4, at New Plymouth of 3, and an increase at Dunedin of 50, at Auckland of 33, at Wellington of 19, at Hokitika of 7, at Nelson of 1, and a total increase of 101. The proportion of the insane to the estimated general population at the end of the year (Maoris being excluded), was lin every 445. This compares favorably with the proportions in older countries. For the year 1878 it was, in England, 1 in 360; in Scotland, 1 in 392 j in New South Wales, 1 in 362 ; in Victoria, lin 304. During the year just passed 240 males and 151 females were admitted, including 79 re-admissions; 219 were discharged (including 188 recovered) and 71 died; it being worthy of remark that none of these deaths were violent, although several suicidal patients were under treatment. The recovery rate was 47 per cent., a very favorable result compared with the rate in England, which only amounts to 39 per cent. The proportion of recoveries varied from 72 per cent, at Christchurch, down to 28 at Dunedin ; but a just comparison in this respect cannot be arrived at without taking into account the proportionate number of intensified and hopeless cases admitted at each institution. The death rate was only 7 per cent, as compared with the English average of 10 per cent. The following remarks made in Dr Skae's report of 1877 are still closely applicable to the present circumstances of the asylums :—": — " These statistical comparisons are favorable to New Zealand, but they yield no accurate information, and they indicate rather that the number of insane in asylums can be no reliable measure of the number of insane in a country, than that there is less insanity in New Zealand than in England or in the other colonies. Even if the real number of insane persons in the colony at any given date were known, that would not afford the means of making comparison between the extent to which insanity prevailed in it and in other countries. The nearest approach to an exact index of the comparative prevalence of insanity would be found in the annual admissions to asylums ; but 1 even this will be influenced very much by the circumstances of the country, and may be supposed, for example, to be very different in England and New Zealand. Besides this, many cases of mental aberration occur, which may or may not contribute to swell the list of asylum admissions, according to the views which may be entertained by the practitioners in attendance, as to what amount of aberration constitutes insanity ; thus, delerium tremens is regarded by many medical men in this country as insanity, and many cases of it are sent to asylums, in England, even by mistake." In his present report Dr. Skae remarks that intemperance in the use of alcohol figures very largely as a cause of mental derangement, it being assigned as the cause in 84 admissions. It is right to point out however, that this dreadful prominent cause of insanity was in many instances combined with others equally powerful, and was often itself an inherited malady or symptom of disease. In the report of the English commissioners for 1878, intemperance in drink appears as a cause, exciting or predisposing, in 21*3 per cent, of of the male, and 7*9 per cent, of the

female, and 14 per cent of the total admissions into the asylums for the year. In this colony the proportions were 27 per cent, of the male, 11 per cent, of the female, and 21 per cent, of the total admissions for the year. As regards individual districts, whatever may be the explanation of the fact, It seems to be a much more frequent cause of insanity in some than in others. Thus in Auckland (where, however, as at Christchurch, no cause was acertained in a large number of cases), it was the cause in 8 per cent, of the males, and in none of the females admitted ; whereas the percentage of cases among the male admissions, due to this cause, in Wellington was 24, in Christchurch 27, in Dunedin 32, in Nelson 40, and in Hokitika over 50." The expenditure on the management and maintenance of the insane for the year 1879 was £35,360 6s sd, or £93 Is lOd more than that of the previous year. But the amount received for the maintenance of patients and from the sale of asylum produce was £1294 more than in the previous year. The average cost of maintenance in the various asylums was £33 9s lOd, or deducting repayments, £29 10s sd. This compares favorably with the return for the year 1877, which shows an average of £49 7s 2d per patient, or deducting repayments, £46 Is sd. Dr Skae recommends the appointment of deputy or local inspectors for the efficient carrying out of the Lunatics Act, and further appointments of official visitors. Referring to deficiency in asylum accomodation, he shows that no less than 1056 patients have been perforce limited to accomodation only sufficient for 797, and, although efforts are being made to remedy this evil, yet such efforts are not sufficient, even though as the doctor puts it, the annual increase is not likely to be so great as within the last few years, now that prosperity is on the wane. He remarks, with regard to the Wellington Asylum :—": — " Although it also is a merely temporary building, occupying a site in many respects disadvantageous for an institution of the kind, yet there are many reasons for utilising it as long as possible ; but, as it is only too evident that it must after a time be abandoned, the earliest opportunity should be taken to get, at a reasonable price, a good piece of land, conveniently situated, as a site for a permanent asylum, even though building operations should not be commenced for several years. Meanwhile, its close proximity to the new hospital might be taken advantage of to carry out the views of eminent writers on insanity, who have deplored the unnatural line which has been drawn between insanity and other diseases, making it a speciality of which the medical profession in general is supposed to know or care nothing. I would propose to place it and the hospital under charge of the same resident surgeon, and invite the medical practitioners in town to give their voluntary attendance to it as well as the hospital. It seems certain that in the long run, the greatest good would result from the carrying out of such an arrangement." After referring to the improvements in progress at the Asylum, Dr. Skae says : — The female department has been long suffering from overcrowding, which has lately existed to such an extent in the ward occupied by the more excited patients as manifestly to effect their mental if not their bodily condition, fostering excitability and quarrelsomeness, and rendering it well-nigh impossible for the attendants to maintain order or to keep their own tempers. An extension of the female side also has therefore been seen to be absolutely necessary, and this is now being provided. . . . Next to the insufficiency of ward space, the most serious defects in the asylums have consisted in the absence of proper bath-rooms with hot water supply — a want which has been increasingly felt with the growing numbers, and the isolated position of the single rooms for the use of the excited and troublesome patients, who more than any others require to be within reach of easily maintained supervision. These defects are also now being overcome. . . . At my visits to the Asylum I have always found it in thoroughly good order, and felt reason to be well satisfied with the general management, which is both enterprising and careful. Except occasionally in the crowded female ward above referred to, the inmates were invariably found quiet and orderly, ond exhibited no trace of excitement. They are well fed and comfortably clothed. A large proportion of the men are actively employed. There are generally 45 men to be seen working on the grounds at levelling, road-making, and gardening ; and, besides these, some 9 or 10 are more or less occupied keeping the courts and back premises in order. A fair proportion of the women are also employed, but many of them have been very useless, even when sane, and can be got to do nothing. Most of the men get sufficient exercise, only a few being restricted to the airingyard. Hitherto the opposite has been the case with the women ; but this is about to be reuieded to a great extent, by setting apart for their use a well-situatedpieceofgroundadjoining the new wing. Neither restraint nor seclusion appears to be used more frequently than is rendered justifiable by the dangerous or strongly suicidal tendencies which are occasionally manifested by the

re^jnt and , acute ,cases. From the tablei^jfdfming an appendix to the report vre take the following items of interest : — Duration of disorder on admissions during the year — First attack and within three months, 230 patients. First attack above three months and within twelve months, 40 patients. Not first attack, and within twelve months on admission, 60 patients. First attack or not, but of more than twelve months on admission, 69 patients. The single males admitted during the year numbered 157 ; married males, 77 ; single females, 45 ; married females, 94 ; widowed males, 11 ; widowed females, 12; unknown, 3. Out of the 1056 patients admitted during the year 379 were born in England, 208 in Scotland, 288 in Ireland, 48 in New Zealand, 13 in Australia, 8 in China, 15 were Maoris, and the rest of various nationalities. Among the causes of insanity are given the following :—: — Hereditary predisposition, 40 ; intemperance, 72 ; emigration and congenital weakness, 12 ; domestic troubles, 10; religious excitement, 6 ; love disappointment, 4 ; remorse, 2 ; pecuniary losses, 4 ; poverty and want, 4 ; exposure and Overwork, 2 ; sunstroke, 5 ; organic disease of the brain, 10.

The friends of Mr E. R. Laing will be glad to learn that he is steadily recovering. Although he still suffers mentally, his general health has greatly improved. Tenders for carting timber from Ohaupo to Heather's Creek Bridge were received last week by the Tuhikaramea Highway Board as follows : — Hugh Graham, £17 17s lid; C. Gilkinaon, £18 16s 8d ; H. J. Turner, £31 10s 8d ; Hnll and Hughes, £16 Os 6d; L2l 3s; Smallman, £15 14s 6d; Hill, £9 19s (accepted). The work will be proceeded with at once.

A good story has reached us. On Saturday, a well-known agent {or an accident assurance company was dilating upon the benefits conferred on the world at large by the establishment of his society, and proceeded to relate how that two men were driving in a trap, one of whom was insured in the narrators office the other being uninsured. The trap was capsized, and the uninsured man had his leg broken and was laid up for six weeks, the insured man escaped scot free. "So you aee,"aaid the enterprising agent,"not only do you gain an allowance when disabled, but you are insured against the urobability of an accident " This was good enough,but a meek looking man who was listening ventured the remark: " Please, sir, how much do you pay for those interesting narratives, for I think I could run off a few dozen for you at a reasonable rate, in pamphlet form, don't you know.'] The agent offered to take that man's risk at a reduced figure. Colonel Lyon and family have taken up their residence in Mr Coates house, Hamilton East.

The roads at Huntly are receiving that attention which should have been given them before wet weather came on. We are sorry to say that nothing has been done to the road between Ngaruawahia and Taupari, which has a lot of surface water on it, and across which furze and briars, legacies of the Church Missionary Society, are spreading rapidly.

We understand that the Waikato Land Association's manager (Mr Henry Reynolds) -is preparing for a new homestead at Woodlands, clearing and ploughing fencing and planting operations are in full swing. The company will move on to Woodlands next autumn, when Mr Bruce-Suttor takes possession of the Eureka Station.

The footpath from Mr Cussens' gate to the end of the Council Chambers allotment is being formed by Mr Kingsley, contractor, and, despite the unfavorable state of the weather, the work is progressing expeditiously.

The subjects for debate on Friday evening next in the Hamilton DebatingClub are: — Adjourned debate on "The Detention of Maori Prisoners from the "West Coast ;" " Counties and Road Board System;" "Licensing System;" and "Publiv Hospital."

We are pleased to learn that the lately formed brass band at Alexandra is making fast progress towards efficiency, and hope to be able to appear ia public very shortly.

John Buchanan, merchant, Auckland, is calling the especial attention of business people to his " First direct shipment of this season teas" dally expected. Mr Buchanan was one of the first of the Auckland houses to send representatives for orders into this district, and for a considerable time was the only oae in this line. Mr Buchanans judgement and knowledge of the particular value and quality suitable to the requirements of the district, continues to put his house in the first, position which he intends to retain by notifying to his customers t at samples will be forwarded on arrival of the shipment, and they should therefore reserve their orders in tht mean tine.

The cutting at the Waikato side of the Waihou river is rendered almost impassable by the late heavy rains. It would be well if settlers would take lighter loads along this road during the winter months to prevent the bogging of drays and the consequent extra cost in repairing the roadway.

The Waikato Land Association. we are pleased to notice, are doing a large amount of work, clearing and ploughing, preparatory to spring sowing, on the left hand side of the road before arriving at the entrance gate to the Eureka station. We are also glad to observe that the road from Captain Eunciman's to the Company's gate, formed at the end of the autumn with a good crown, although not gravelled fe standing traffic very fairly. Verb. sap.

When election matters in the Newcastle District are settled, we trust the Board (whichever that may be) will direct their energies to improving the approach to JBlackwater creek, near Mr RothwelTs. At present it is simply a bog.

Mr and Mrs E. A. Hart have arrived in Hamilton and will give two entertainments this and to-morrow evenings in LoQuesne's Hall, Hamilton East. These popular artistes have had a very successful season in Auckland and the Thames, and the Press throughout Australia and New Zealand express high enconiums on their entertainments. Their first appearance will he this evening in " Diamond Cut Diamond," "My Wife's Relations," and " A Cure for a Jealous Wife," and the performance will be varied with popular and choice musical morceaux.

We beg to acknowledge with thanks the receipt from Mr Edward Parsons of the Beekeepers? Magazine for May.

Referring to the paragraph in Saturday's paper regarding the statement of " Cash at End of Mouth " " that the

Hamilton butchers are playing into each other's hands, and because sheep have ri&en are not keeping mutton," we are requested by Mr Honey, manager for the Messrs Martyn, to state that their establishment has not been without mutton for the last six months. We confess that the statement of "Cash at End of Month" appeared to us highly improbable.

Support Local Industries.— Me^r^, Ridler and Dalton, Kiwi Mills, are producing the best of flour from Waikato grown wheat. For prices, see advertisement in first column, page two. — [AtovT.]

We received the following remarkable telegram from Te Awamutu yesterday afternoon :—": — " The Kelly Gang juat arrived — unknown what proceedings our local constable will take. "

It was currently reported in Hamilton on Sunday that the body of the unfortunate young man Barker had been found some few miles below Ngaruawahia. Upon making enquiries late last night we learn that such is not the case, notwithstanding that the police are doing their utmost to find the remains. Barker did not have his heavy top coat on as previously stated at the time of the accident, as it has since been found in the house where he was residing. The whole affair seems a mystery, as deceased was an excellent swimmer and perfectly sober at the time of leaving the township for home.

The following officers were installed at the meeting of the Hope of Hamilton Lodge, No. 40, 1.0. G.T., on Saturday last, by Bro. T. C. Hammond, W.L.D.:— Bro. Murless, W.I.G. (third term) ; Bro. Browning, W.O.G. (second term) ; Bro. J. Davis, W.M. j Bro. H. Webber, W.D.M.; Bro. Nichols, W.F.S.; Bro. W. Palmer, W.T. (third term): Bro. J. Proctor, W.S. (second term) ; Bro. G. Vourlas, W.A.S. ; Bro. R. Hill, W.V.T. ; Bro. C. Tippin, W.C. (second term) ; Sister Palmer, jun., W.L.H.S. ; Sister Smith, sen., W.R.H.S. ; Bro. R. Harris, W.C.T. The W.C.T. being reelected, Sister Palmer, sen., was installed P. W. C. T. The Lodge now numbers over 40 members and is steadily increasing. Mr Booth, the contractor for the erection of the hall, has signed the agreement to have it finished five weeks after the timber, etc., is on the ground ; when it is proposed to open two nights weekly, from 7 to half-past 9 o'clock, as a readingroom, chess and draughts, for the information and amusement of the members.

The members of the Comus Dramatic Club repeated "£100,000" in the Oddfellows' Hall on Saturday evening. There was a large and appreciative audience, and the performance passed off very successfully. The orchestra was formed by the musical members of the Club, and did very efficient service. The Hamilton Light Infantry Band played some spirited airs in front of the hall in a very creditable manner.

A meeting of cricketers was held at the Duke of Cambridge Hotel on Friday last, when it was decided to accept Messrs Thompson and Graham's tender for laying down a good wicket in the market reserve. It was also resolved that the portion laid down should be enclosed with a wire fence. A committee consisting of Messrs Mackintosh, Cotton and Rhodes was appointed to see the work earned out according to agreement. The very enthusiastic manner in which cricket is being taken up and the large attendance at the several meetings augurs well for a spirited and successful season.

A painful case of tetanus, or lockjaw has occurred at Cambridge West. A young man naraed Montgomery in cutting some wood with an adze about a week ago struck the tool against his foot, inflicting a wound on one of his great toes. He procured some liniment from the chemist, but yesterday morning strong symptoms of tetanus set in, understanding that he must have severed some of tVie muscles, Dr. Waddingtou was ssnt for, but gave little hape.

Several members of the Chess and Debating Club, met last night frr chess playing in one of the upstairs offices in the Waikato Times Building, which has been placed at the disposal of the Club by the proprietor of the Waikato Tijtes. The committee had provided fire and the necessary tables, and a very pleasant houi was spent.

Messrs. Hunter and Nolan will dispose of sonic choice well-bred yearlings at the Ohanpo cattle sale on Thursday nevt. It is the intention of the Ngaruawahia Town District Board to strike a rate of 9d in the £ on the 31s August. Mt Kennedy Hill will sell by Auction, at his mart on Saturday next, a choice collection of plants, shrubs, &c. The partnership hitherto existing between Mr George Thomas Hogg and Barnctt Henry Kecsing, carrying on business as general storekeeper;., at Ngaruawahra, has been dissohed. Mr B. H. Keesing will continue to carry on the business in future. Mr J. S. Buckland will submit for public competition a choice lot of rattle, horses, &.c, at the Oh.iupo Li\e Stock Sale, on Tuesday, the 2 j.th instant. Tenders are imited for erecting a fi\e-roomed house at Te Awamutii. Plans, &c, can be seen at Mr Sloane's Store, Te Awamutij. In onr advertising columns Mr J. M. Gellling, Town Clerk, notifies that all rates for the year commencing Ist April, 1880, for thc'Mlorotigh of Hamilton arc now due, and must be p.iid forthwith. The annual election of three Councillors for the Borough of Hamilton, to fill vacancies caused by the effiuxion of time, will take place on Thursday, 9th September, at the Council Chambers. Mr J. T. Camp announces that he is open to dispose ot his stationery, tobacco, and fancy goods business, at Cambridge. Mr Thomas Kirk, Registrar of Elections of the districts of Waikato and AVaipa, through our advertising columns calls for tenders up to the 28th insr. for printing the Electoral Rollb for the above places. The new Pure Cash System now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly pro\e a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery millinary, and clothing at such prices for cash as gi\cs thebujer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operati\e society, without the risk ot being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick itnd Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the public ha\c hitherto shown them, and are detirmmed to give the pure cash system a fair trial ; whether they gain # or lBsc the first year. Country buyers on remitting cash with order will he supplied with gr>ods at co-operathc prices ; just the same as though they made a personal selection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned out at our own factory, will be marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. &C. having realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is new and cheaply bought. An inspection is invited. — Garlick and Cranwbll, City Hall Furnishing Arcade, Queenstreet, Auckland.