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Of those admitted, 13 were between seventy and ninety, and 22 between sixty and ninety years of age. According to the year's statistics of this Asylum, insanity would seem to be more prevalent between the ages twenty and forty, 40 out of the 95 patients admitted coming within that period. There were 29 deaths against 32 the previous year, which, added to the discharges, 56, and deducted from the total under treatment, 641, leaves 556 remaining in the Asylum at the end of the year, being an increase of 10 as against 32 for the year 1901. The recovery-rate was low, as it was also last year, owing to the unfavourable character of the admissions, a large proportion of them being senile cases or youths suffering from congenital deficiency. The death-rate was also low, and the causes of death such as are usual in all asylums. There was no epidemic of infectious disease, and, unless for sporadic eases of erysipelas, which is more or less always with us, nothing to indicate an insanitary condition of the Asylum. There were no suicides, and, with the exception of a fracture of the neck of the thigh-bone, occurring in a patient the subject of acute excitement, from his own misadventure, and from which he has recovered, no serious casualties during the year. The work of the institution has gone on as usual, and there was nothing in it specially deserving of record. The usual tradesmen have been employed, and much useful work in the nature of additions, repairs, painting, Ac, carried out, as well as the commencement of new piggeries on a better site and an approved principle, which I hope to see shortly completed. Sales of pigs, and of bacon cured on the premises, amounted to £550, so that class of stock is an important source of revenue ; other items in our sales of farm-produce were—bulls and cows, £420; potatoes, £190; peas, £177; mangels, £50: the whole amounting to £1,442. In addition to the above farm-produce, there was consumed on the premises 11,805 lb. of butter, and all the milk required, about 100 tons of potatoes, and over 10 tons of fruit; so that it will be seen, on comparison with last year's returns, the revenue from this source continues to increase, while the live-stock has been largely augmented. The overcrowding of the institution is so well known to you, and has been so frequently commented on by myself and others officially, that no good purpose can be served by again emphasizing its serious importance. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to record my appreciation of the services of my fellow-officers, including my colleague, Dr. Crosby, who has now been associated with me for nearly seven years. I have, &c, Edw. G. Levinge, M.8., The Inspector-General of Asylums, Wellington. Medical Superintendent.

SEACLIFF ASYLUM. -Sir — I have the honour to submit to you the following report on the Seacliff Asylum for 1902. The statistics for the year show no points of special interest. The admissions continue to be markedly in excess of the discharges and deaths; and at the close of the year we had an increase of sixteen patients as against an increase of twenty-four during the previous year. The average increase is about twenty patients per annum, and the finding of the necessary housing, furniture, and outfits for this number, together with the additional provision for staff needed, entails a very serious expenditure. Thus, if the present overcrowding were remedied there would still be an annual increase of, say, from £750 to £2,500 to meet in making initial provision for the growing number of persons of unsound mind in Otago, besides a sum of £400 per year for their maintenance. The discharge-rate during 1902 has been the highest for some years —viz., 51 per cent, on the admissions. The annual variation in this respect is not great: thus, in 1898 the dischargerate was 51 per cent., whereas last year it was only 45 per cent. There is no special importance attachable to such slight variations, the average over any series of a few years being fairly constant. The death-rate continues higher than it should be, owing to insufficient accommodation. The output of farm and garden have been very satisfactory, but improvements on the estate have not progressed as favourably as they would have done had the institution not been handicapped by having to provide working-power to develop the estate at Orokonui. The increase of £3 9s. OJd. in cost per patient is due to the high prices ruling for flour, meat, and other necessaries, to the working-out of our firewood, and to the substitution of electric lighting for kerosene-lamps. The thanks of the authorities are due to the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company and to the Evening Star Company for copies of their journals supplied free; and to private donors of books, periodicals, and other presents. To my colleague, Dr. Sydney Allen, and to the staff, I have to convey my thanks for their cordial assistance in carrying out the work of the institution. Periodical visits to the Home at Orokonui have greatly increased Dr. Allen's work and responsibilities, and I trust that this fact will be duly recognised. I have, &c, F. Truby King, The Inspector-General of Asylums, Wellington. Medical Superintendent.

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