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though arduous duties of asylum nurses as has arisen in the case of hospitals. I hope by systematic lectures on nursing to raise their ideal of their duty, and remove the prejudice which at present exists against this as affording a career for educated young women. This Asylum owes a great deal to the vigilant and kindly care of Mr. Mackay, Deputy Inspector. His presence in the immediate neighbourhood gives me a great sense of security in my frequent absences from Wellington. Nelson Asylum. This Asylum, under tho new Superintendent and his wife, will, I trust, very soon show satisfactory results in economical working, without in any way impairing the character for homely comfort which it has always enjoyed. This year the expenditure has been necessarily increased by the making good of deficiencies in bedding and clothing, the refurnishing of the Superintendent's house, and the restocking of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have previously done good service in Wellington Asylum and elsewhere, and have thoroughly earned their promotion. Dr. Boor's care and efficiency as Visiting Medical Officer are so well known that it has become monotonous as well as superfluous to praise them. Mr. Fell, the Deputy-Inspector, has been a great help to me this year in clearing up the difficulties caused by the change of Superintendents. Hokitika Asylum. What I have just said about Dr. Boor I must here repeat about the admirable administration of Mr. and Mrs. Gribben at Hokitika Asylum; while the care with which Dr. Macandrew looks after his patients is extremely satisfactory. I do not think that two more satisfactory asylums of their class can be found anywhere than the asylums of Nelson and Hokitika. Sunnyside Asylum. Next month I hope to see the fine new wing of this asylum occupied by the female patients. To put an end to the long period of confusion and difficulty which the officers of this Asylum have had to struggle through, it will be necessary to build a small front block to replace the large block struck out of the last contract because we could not afford the money, as well as to add a cross block on the male side to supply day-rooms such as have just been added to the female side. When this has been done there will be no further additions to this Asylum, except perhaps by the building of separate cottage auxiliaries here and there on the farm. I have elsewhere recorded my high appreciation of Dr. Levinge's skill and energy in overcoming the difficulties that have hampered him during the rebuilding of the female wing. The enthusiasm which he has thrown into the management of the farm, and the out-door employment and treatment of his patients, is deserving of my hearty acknowledgments. Seacliff Asylum. At my last visit to this Asylum I was gratified to find that the large day-room which has replaced the damaged portion of the north wing was in occupation. Here, as at Sunnyside and Auckland, the accumulated difficulties of years have been all but overcome, and there is every reason for confidence that such a time of trial as we have had to contend with for years past will never be allowed to return. The Asylum is working harmoniously in all its parts, and there is no doubt that the administration is vigorous and careful. The new workshops reflect the highest credit on the head carpenter and his assistants. The farm is being steadily cleared, and is increasing yearly in productiveness. The benefit to the patients of the careful and thoroughgoing way in which all who can be induced to do any kind of open-air work are looked after is most striking. In none of the other asylums is there the same fresh and healthy look about the inmates. Mr. Chapman, the Deputy-Inspector, has made himself thoroughly familiar with the whole working of the Asylum, and a great debt of gratitude is due to him for the way in which he sifted the charges brought against the management of the Asylum by an ex-patient, who was clearly shown to be in a morbid state of mind. Nevertheless, I came to the conclusion that some of the old leaven was still working in the Asylum, and the attendants whose conduct was complained of have been sent away. The whole inquiry had the result of confirming my previous conviction of Dr. King's eminent fitness for his position, and of the conscientious way in which he performs his duties. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Eadford King and Dr. Truby King, the elements of evil which had crept into this institution have been at length eliminated, and the condition of things is now highly satisfactory. . Maintenance. Every year since I took charge of the department I have been able to show a substantial reduction in the yearly cost per patient. In 1885 the cost per head per annum was £24 ss. 3fd., in 1886 the cost was £24 Os. s£-d., in 1887 it was £22 12s. 3d., in 1888 it was £20 6s. 7-Jd., and this year it was £20 lis. Bfd. It will be seen that there is an apparent rise this year; but, in reality, it means a saving of 7s. 2d. a head, for there is included in this sum an amount of £1,052 9s. 3d. for repairs and buildings which formerly used to come out of loan ; and, in addition to this, a large allowance must be made for the increase of cost caused by the tariff and the almost universal rise in the cost of provisions. Full details of the expenditure will be found in Table XVI. as regards the total cost per head. The first in point of economy is Sunnyside, the second Auckland, and the third Seacliff. Of the three smaller asylums, the most costly is Nelson, Wellington comes next, and the lowest is Hokitika. Deducting from each the amount collected for patients' maintenance, the order of merit is—Sunnyside, Auckland, Seacliff, Wellington, Hokitika, Nelson. The largest of our asylums, Seacliff, shows the largest reduction as compared with last year, showing that the productiveness of the farm is steadily growing, and that Dr. King is steadily reducing expenditure. The large area of

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