3

H.—7

The mortality in asylums due to tuberculosis has received much attention of late in Britain, and there has resulted a consensus of opinion that special buildings for the isolation of all such cases should be provided. A special institution for epileptics, idiots, and imbeciles is also an urgent necessity. At Mount View Asylum, Wellington, a new brick building has been put up for a boiler-house and drying-closet; but, as I pointed out last year, the Asylum as a whole is still liable to danger from fire—a danger which nothing short of a new central building will remedy. For such an expenditure the site is not suitable ; indeed, an asylum should never have been built in such a position. Dr. Gow has proved himself a capable and careful superintendent. Auckland Asylum also will soon be in a satisfactory position. A new range of twenty single rooms has been added to the female side. Instructions have been issued to go on with the new hospital block on the male side, and the vote for ventilation of the old buildings is going to be expended. At Seacliff a range of twenty-six single rooms is to be built, and I hope that this year the Asylum will be lighted with electricity. Nelson Asylum before the end of the year will be better off for accommodation than ever before. The additions to the female side have been authorised, a new laundry has been provided, and a porch is to be added to the new cottage auxiliary. The water-supply causes considerable anxiety from time to time owing to the failure of the Town Council to provide a suitable supply, which the Government paid for years ago. I am afraid we shall be driven to provide a special reservoir for safety in dry weather, as recommended by the Deputy Inspector and Official Visitors. Financial Besults of the Yeae. The following table gives the gross and net cost per patient for the year 1899, as compared with the previous year : —

The total receipts for the sale of produce, &c, from the farm for 1899 amounted to £2,972 12s. Id., as against £2,675 Bs. 9d. for the previous year. This year all our asylums, except Christchurch, which will be relieved when Porirua is finished, will be in a good position as regards accommodation, as will be seen by the foregoing tables. The Medical Superintendents are men of such standing and character that I have decided to let them speak of their own work and responsibilities.

MEDICAL SUPEEINTENDENTS' EEPOETS.

AUCKLAND ASYLUM. Sir — I have the honour to forward my report on the Auckland Asylum for 1899. The average number of patients resident during the year—440—shows an increase of fourteen, and the number remaining in the Asylum on the 31st December an increase of eighteen for the year. This is the largest increase for three years, and is due to the increase in admissions—ninetyseven also the largest for three years. I can assign no definite cause for this increase, which is out of proportion to the increase in population, and which is probably an accidental circumstance of no special significance. Whilst attaching no importance to this increase, I cannot but regard the character of the cases admitted as most serious. Of the sixty-one males admitted, fifty were from the first hopeless, whilst of the eleven who have been or who will be discharged not less than eight have every prospect of relapse. Of the thirty-six females admitted only seven can hope for discharge, and of these at least four, should

18' 19. 1898. 1899. 1899. Asylum. Total Cost per Patient. Total Cost per Patient, less Receipts for Maintenance, Sales of Produce, &c. Total Cost per Patient, lees Total Coat Eeoeipts for per Patient. Maintenance, Sales of Produce, &c. Increase. Decrease. Auckland Christchurch ... Seacliff Hokitika Nelson Porirua Wellington £ s. 25 15 26 6 27 13 26 7 29 17 25 7 33 1 a. 5* 6* 3i 3f 1 H £ a. d. 20 8 5J 19 7 4 20 3 0J 23 7 5 21 15 2f 21 5 10 23 13 2 £ a. a. 26 15 Of 25 1 Hi 26 3 8 27 14 Iβ 28 5 3i ! 27 5 5f 35 2 If £ s. 19 13 17 8 20 6 25 10 21 12 25 I 26 8 d. 6* 1 Of If £ s. a. 0 14 11 1 19 3 £ s. a. 0 3 8 2 2 7f 0 3" If 3 15 3f 2 15 2| 1 Averages ... 27 6 Of 20 16 llf 27 5 9| J 21 3 8* 0 6 5f