H.—6.

4

Deputy-Inspector at Auckland, and Major Lean at Christchurch, and Mr. Joseph Mackay at Nelson, where also Mr. Acton Adams, M.H.E., was appointed Official Visitor. It is highly desirable that similar appointments should be made at the other asylums. Deputy or Local Inspectors are almost indispensable for the carrying out of the Lunatics A"ct; but the amount of good which they may do cannot be measured merely by the provisions of the Act. The same remark applies to Official Visitors, and I think several should" be appointed to each asylum. Such institutions can hardly be subject to too much inspection, either in the interests of the lunatics, or of the public, or of the officers in charge, to whom, if they are properly performing their duties, it is particularly welcome. Asylum Accommodation. The amount of asylum accommodation which existed at the end of the year at the several districts, and its deficiency, are shown in the following tabular statement: —

Prom this it will be seen that there were, in all, 259 patients over the number for which there was accommodation. Actual overcrowding will be remedied when the additional buildings, now being provided, are ready for occupation. These are : Ist. The new wing of tho Auckland Asylum. This is almost complete, and is intended for the male patients, being much larger than the old wing, which they at present occupy, and which will be given up to the women on their removal from their temporary quarters in the old hospital. It is designed for 107 patients, and the old wing is designed for 50, so that there will still be a want of accommodation for about 50 men and 20 women ; and the chapel and some of the dayrooms will require to continue in use as dormitories till further provision is made here or elsewhere. 2nd. A new wing to the Wellington Asylum for 50 women, which is also almost ready, and will completely relieve the crowded state of that Asylum. 3rd. The male wing of the new Christchurch Asylum, a portion of which, for 50 patients, is to be ready in September of this year, and the remaining part, for 100, in May, 1881. This, together with a part of the old buildings still fit for occupation, will provide for the male patients of that Asylum for some time to come, even allowing for an increase. 4th. The Asylum at Seacliff, Otago, for 300 patients. This, according to contract, should be completed in April, 1882, but, owing to delays which have unavoidably arisen, it will probably not be ready till long after that time. Supposing it to be ready by April, 18833, there will then be, altogether (exclusive of the old hospital at Auckland, the " cells" at New Plymouth, and the old Christchurch Asylum), accommodation for 793 men and 492 women, which will be sufficient, even allowing for the annual increase, which is not likely to be so great as within the last few years, now that prosperity is on the wane. It is to be feared, however, that, before the Seacliff Asylum is ready, overcrowding will have increased to such a degree that it will be impossible to avoid putting up temporary buildings of some kind. But, although the works already undertaken are calculated to increase the accommodation for the insane so as, in all probability, to make it sufficient for the requirements of three years hence, it must be remembered that, for various reasons, which have been sufficiently dwelt on in previous reports, several of the present buildings —namely, the Dunedin, Wellington, and Napier Asylums, will soon require to be relinquished : in other words, permanent buildings for 390 patients will have to be provided, in addition to those already undertaken. The first of the old buildings which should be relinquished is the Dunedin Asylum, a sort of poorhouse, badly situated on a reserve within the city boundaries, which is wanted for a high school. In order to compensate for the loss of this building, which holds about 208 patients, it will not be necessary to enlarge the Seacliff Asylum on tbe same expensive scale on which it has been begun. The building already contracted for is for 300 patients, and that will be quite sufficient for a long time for the treatment of such cases as really require or benefit by the costly arrangements fc a modern asylum. What will be wanted is accommodation of a simple,

Amount of Accommodation at 31st December. Nun o Patiei 33st Dec aber »f uts at member. Excess over Accommodation. Asylums. M. F. M. P. M. V. lttckland — Asylum at Whau ... Old Hospital in the city Iapieb—Asylum (within gaol grounds) Iew Plymouth— Cells in hospital Vellimoton— Asylum fELSON— Asylum Iheistcuurch — Old Asylum New Asylum [okitika — Asylum )UNEDIN— Asylum on High School Reserve Seacliff Farm buildings 50 17 6 82 30 0 50 6 3 27 30 156 13 83 34 0 73 6 53 26 106 -4 -6 1 4 0 23 0 -3 26 -4 60 80 146 86 86 6 51 23 57 20 6 -3 132 74 76 132 74 07 21 Totals 502 295 695 361 193 66 r. r 7! >7 156 2r I .9 i;