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site of the building on high ground commands a picturesque view of Porirua Harbour. The ground slopes downwards on all sides from the building, and affords facilities for good drainage. The whole property consists of nearly 1,000 acres, a third of which is arable, and about two-thirds hill-country suitable for grazing cattle and sheep. There is thus considerable scope for farming operations, and there is no occupation which has a greater influence for good on both the bodily and mental health of the patients. Much has been done in the general improvement of the farm, and steady progress made in improving the breed of our large herd of dairy cows. The stock of sheep are doing well, and have been considerably increased. Owing to the fact that nearly all our available labour was required on the farm, no great improvement has taken place in the grounds about the Asylum. Some trees and shrubs were planted, as well as a new orchard formed in a suitable site. Nearly all the native bush has been cleared from the run years ago, but a beautiful bit of native forest, upwards of 100 acres, adjoining the waterworks of the Asylum, and about a mile and a half away, still remains undisturbed. This, I think, should be carefully preserved and securely fenced against the inroads of the cattle. The original scheme for disposal of the sewage from the Asylum was working unsatisfactorily, most of it escaping into and polluting the stream which runs along the valley to the south of the building. It was therefore decided to adopt the system introduced with such complete success during my tenure of office at the Auckland Asylum. A series of settling-tanks have already been 3onstructed by our own labour, and concrete carriers are being made to distribute the fluids on the sloping ground to the south of the Asylum. When these works are finished the land irrigated will well repay the labour spent on it. The addition to the Asylum, designed to accommodate seventy-eight more male patients, was begun early in the year, and, notwithstanding the urgency of the work, it has made but slow progress. The delay, no doubt, was partly due to the necessity for pushing on the building operations required for the better accommodation of the electric plant and engineer's department. Something must be done to remedy the defective workmanship and bad material used in parts of the building exposed to the weather. In many places the walls inside are damp and mouldy, and the moisture continues to come through. Painting the brickwork on the outside has proved useless. Thanks are due to the Rev. E. Drake for coming to Porirua Asylum once a month and holding a religious service. I have tried to enlist other ministers, with a view to having the services every Sunday, but owing to the inconvenient distance from Wellington I have not succeeded. I have, &c, Geay Hassbll, M.D., To the Inspector-General of Asylums. Medical Superintendent.

ENTRIES OF VISITS TO THE DIFFERENT ASYLUMS. Auckland. 17th September, 1896. —I have, after careful examination of this Asylum, to report my satisfaction with its condition. The staff is efficient and harmonious. Notwithstanding the extreme overcrowding, which has caused the greatest anxiety to all who were in any degree responsible for the management, the working of the institution is very satisfactory The new buildings at the Auxiliary are nearly finished, and the approach of summer makes the difficulty less every day. It has been fortunate indeed that no serious accident has befallen during the trying ordeal the Asylum has undergone. When the additions to the male wing are completed the building will have reached its maximum extension, except, perhaps, that it may be possible and necessary to add a range of single rooms on the female side. The number of patients to-day is 400—males, 254 ; females, 146. None were under restraint, and only two women were confined to bed. None were in seclusion. Of the men, 176 were usefully and healthfully occupied. Of the women, 102 were engaged in some employment, which helps to relieve the monotony of their lives. I was present at meal-times, and found the food abundant and well cooked, and of excellent quality. The bedding and clothing are clean and comfortable. All are well shod. Except for the impossibility of classification there is little to find fault with. The farm is being brought into good order. The utilisation of the sewage is immensely increasing the fertility of the low-lying parts of the farm and garden, nor is there the least trace of any over-saturation of the soil. The new dairy, built of concrete, is nearly finished. The splendid spring of pure water close by the farm-steading is to be pumped up to a reservoir on the hill, so that soon we shall have an ample pressure for all purposes, and thus become quite independent of the town supply. All the statutory books are in order. The visits of Messrs. Cooper and Ewington and Mrs. Gollings, so well known in Auckland, have helped in a great degree to remove the feelings of suspicion with which this, like other institutions of the kind, are always regarded. Eeligious services are regularly held, and there is a fire drill every Saturday. I regret very much that, owing to some mistake in issuing the authority for providing furniture for the new building, there is a danger of still further delay. 22nd February, 1897.—T0-day I completed my usual inspection of this Asylum. I saw all the patients in company with Drs. Fooks and Fox. None were in seclusion, except one Maori, who was suffering from acute mania, and was being restrained by a camisole to prevent him injuring

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