H.—4,

2

a chapel into a dormitory, and orders were immediately issued to that effect. The alteration has since been made. I may observe that the walls being high in the chapel and the ventilation good, excellent accommodation has thereby been provided for 34 female patients, and a suitable room has also been laid out for the night nurse, to attend to the wants of the patients after their retirement for the night. It has answered the purpose intended admirably, so far, at least, as the comfort of these patients is concerned. The first room on the right hand on entering the Asylum front door serves now as a temporary chapel; what was formerly the females' large day-room, has also undergone a change, it having likewise been converted into a dormitory for 21 males. No doubt these alterations have lessened the distressing overcrowdedness I pointed out in last year's report; but there is no denying it, this has been effected at the sacrifice of the symmetry of the internal arrangements, and has also rendered the access to these apartments somewhat more awkward and difficult. I regret I have still to state that a proper classification of the patients, so indispensably necessary for their recovery, is still, from the want of space, impracticable. The urgent want of this I particularly pointed out in my last year's report; and when I mention that they have all to be huddled promiscuously together—that is to say, the noisy, the violent, the dangerous, and those approaching to convalescence, who particularly require quiet, and calm repose —it can easily be conceived what a damaging effect it must have on the latter, and how powerfully, in the nature of things, it must protract, where it does not totally prevent their recovery. In all properly laid-out Asylums, an hospital, I need scarcely say, is the very first thing provided for, beyond the clamour and noise of the turbulent. I also fully pointed out this in my last report; but up to this date, this is a want which yet remains to be supplied. Much of the sickness and the slow recovery of some of the patients is mainly attributable to the want of an hospital. In connection therewith, too, I may mention, that the health of the female patients particularly has suffered much from their having to take their meals in the refectory within a few feet of the single sleeping-rooms where the dying and those most diseased in body have to be kept. The offensive effluvia, notwithstanding the disinfectants applied, constantly emanating from these apartments, cannot fail to injure all within its reach, attendants as well as patients; in fact, it was owing to this that some of the attendants felt obliged to leave. The want of proper accommodation for patients who all their life long have been accustomed to the comforts and decencies of life has not yet been provided for. I beg again, therefore, to advert to this matter, which, in my opinion, is sufficiently set forth in my last report. In that report, I also showed what property was attached to the Asylum, and described the garden. With respect to the garden, then, I may mention that it has much improved in value, and has even now attained an importance which, in my opinion, would well warrant the erection of a gardener's cottage in it, in order the better to protect the fruit and vegetables that are now raised. Heretofore, from the garden's distance from the Asylum, it has been regularly plundered, year after year. The produce grown even now more than supplies the wants of the Asylum in everything excepting potatoes. The overplus could readily and profitably be disposed of in Auckland, and it would be yearly increasing in value. The head Grardener is an attendant, and receives pay as such ; and his assistant is a thoroughly recovered patient, and an exceedingly useful man. He has not received any compensation for his gratuitous services as yet, but is worthy of it. A very small cottage would be all that would be required, and the expense need not be much. There may be no impropriety in my extracting from my minute-book the following remarks, the date Gth December, 1875: —" Dr. Aickin informed me that the Keeper of Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum had visited our institution last week. The doctor told me that the only good thing that Mr. Seagar saw about it, was the plain but substantial good food the patients get, but that their dress was disgraceful and a discredit to the province ; in fact, that everything appertaining to the Provincial Lunatic Asylunt of Auckland was anything but what it should be, and that it was poorly and inadequately supported almost in every respect." There can be no denying this. I candidly admit it. In reality, it is nothing but a pauper Lunatic Asylum. To the credit of humanity, most countries liberally provide for Lunatic Asylums, and take a pride in having good ones. Ido not allude to mere brick and mortar nor to the external appearance of the building, which is all well enough and really handsome; would that we too here could justly assert our claim to our having a first-rate Lunatic Asylum. Perhaps the long-continued cry will yet be listened to. It is sincerely to be hoped that it will, for the sake of the poor creatures confined within its prisonlike walls. I beg to submit the following table showing the admissions, discharges, and deaths during the

±875 :— Remained in Asylum, 1st January, 1875 ... Aboriginals Males. 86 3 Females. 48 2 Totals, 134 5 Total 89 50 139 Admitted during the Year — New cases Aboriginals Re-admitted ... 47 3 13 16 2 10 63 5 23 Total 63 28 91 Total number under treatment during year Aboriginals 146 6 '74 4 220 10 ' Total 152 78 230