G.—No. 27

12

REPORTS ON THE

Br. Blayfair (addressing witness).] You have a very large experience upon this point. Would you have any objections to write down anything in addition to your evidence, and forward it to the Committee r —Witness : I shall have much pleasure in doing so. The examination then terminated.

No. 8. His Honor W. Eolleston to the Hon. W. G-isboenk. Superintendent's Office, bIE '~ a . . . . Christchurch, Canterbury, 4th July, 1872. t x- a i Ce wrl tl, nS m-T letter yesterday, forwarding to you Eeports with reference to the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum, I have received from the Inspector of the Asylum the Eeport which I enclose herewith, and which treats more fully of the subject of the curative treatment of habitual drunkards I have written to the Inspector thanking him for the care and trouble he has bestowed upon this and previous inspections. 1 I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 8. Mr. J. W. Hamilton to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sic, ~" T , ... Christchurch, 26th June, 1872. 1 have the honor to report that I inspected Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum on the Ist June instant My report respecting the details of the establishment and the ordinary routine work performed by me, would be exactly the same as given to you of the inspection made only three days previously (viz on the 29th May), and reported to you on the 11th instant (No. 12). I need not therefore repeat those details, although clause 53 of " The Lunatics Act, 1888," makes it imperative on the Inspector at each visit to see every part of the Asylum and every patient, to examine all the books, and to perform several other duties which are all specifically enumerated. All these I duly attended to on the Ist June, as well as on the 29th May. Although a second inspection, within three days of the first, could scarcely by any possibility have been expected by the Keeper, I am gratified to be able to state that I found everything going on with the same good order and regularity as usual: that I discovered nothing to find fault with and no vioient measures resorted to in the treatment of the patients. Discharges of Patients have been much more numerous since the Ist January than durino- any other period of five months, dating back from the foundation of the Asylum. The Keeper attributes this, in no inconsiderable measure to the beneficial effects of the last summer's sea-bathing at Sumner to which place the convalescents and docile patients were taken to spend the day as often as possible' Ihere seems to be little room for doubting that numerous expeditions to a distance from the Asylum have^ donemnch to improve the mental condition of those who were on their way towards recovery Ihe inquiries 1 have made tend to satisfy me that the unremitting attention paid by Mr. Seager to keep up as constant a round of amusements and light occupation as the establishment will afford lies at the bottom of the success which has attended the treatment of so many of his patients. It should be remarked that of the unusual number of discharges of the past five months, about one-half were of patients who had been a long time in the Asylum. As this frequency of sea-bathing has been a comparativefy new feature in the treatment, the Keeper may not unreasonably have formed his conclusion that it has contributed largely to the restoration of these discharged patients. I venture therefore to suggest to the Government, whether it may not be worth while to recommend to the Managers of other Asylums m the Colony a trial of frequent sea-bathing and out-door expeditions for the inmates during the fme-weather months. _ Amusements and Recreation.—On 24th May, the Queen's Birthday, the annual patients' ball was given. It went off quietly and successfully; there were not so many visitors joining in it as usual lhe annua,! attendants' ball was held on the day preceding; some of the old discharged patients joined in it on the invitation of the attendants. This fact testifies strongly and reliably to the appreciation which former inmates have of the kindness with which they were treated. Band.—A. band of instrumentalists are now practising with fair success, the performers being taken from among the convalescent patients and some of the attendants. The musical abilities of the Keeper Mr Edward Wm. Seager, and of his brother Mr. S. H. Seager (recently a member of Mr Bamby's well-known choir in London), are of great value to the Asylum. A party of Christy's Minstrels lias been got together from among the patients. Choir.—Mr. S. H. Seager has been teaching choral singing and music once a week to those patients who are capable of instruction. Full choral services are held now once a month. Organ.— The organ in the large recreation hall has been considerably enlarged by the addition of four new stops besides some 16-feet pedal pipes, the timber for which (of Oregon pine) was presented by the United States firm of Taylor 'and Co. Mr. 8. H. Seager, who superintended the DuUaing ot the new portions of the organ, has also contributed a new stop. This organ is now the largest to bo found in Canterbury, and is worth, roundly, some £800. The Government owe the possession of this valuable property almost entirely to the exertions of Mr. Edward Wm. Seager the Keeper, it ought to bo kept insured against fire. In the female recreation ward a piano is placed. There are frequently patients able to perform on it tairiy, so as to contribute to the amusement of the .others. General musical entertainments are frequently held in the large recreation hall in the evenings Crardemna.— Some few of the patients are able to help in the kitchen garden, where they make