17

H.—7

With the object of making an auxiliary reservoir, and more efficiently saving the water from the bush land, a section of 2 acres in extent which adjoins, and through which the bush stream bends, has been purchased from our neighbours, and I am hopeful that when the work is completed we shall be fairly well supplied with water for all purposes, even in dry seasons. Previous efforts to divert this stream into our main reservoir at a point lower down where it again passed into our property were not altogether successful, owing to much of the water being lost in the deep shingle bed of the stream at that point. Of the improvements made during the year, I may mention a six-roomed cottage the carpenter, attendants, and patients for the farm-manager ; and a brick house in the orchard, designed as a ripening and storage room, with an upper floor as a living-room for the orchard-gardener. The yield from the orchard fully warranted this expenditure, as many tons of fruit are now produced, and means to ripen it off indoors is essential to save it from being consumed by small birds. At the same time, I thought it prudent to have the gardener camping in the orchard to prevent raids on the fruit which in past years have taken place at night. I venture to take this opportunity to urge that the extensive additions to the main building for the accommodation of the more troublesome patients to be transferred from Mount View should be constructed in brickwork, instead of in wood as has been contemplated. The arguments in favour of the more solid material appear to me to greatly outweigh the financial argument in favour of the more perishable material. Taking into consideration the class of patients to be accommodated, the danger from fire, in my opinion, weighs heavily in the balance. The healthy employment of patients and their recreation have been duly attended to, as in former years. I have to acknowledge the good service of Dr. Gribben, who during the greater part of the year was my colleague. The other officers and members of the staff also did good work. We are under an obligation to the local Primitive Methodist minister for conducting regular Sunday services in the Hospital. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Wellington. Gray Hassell. WELLINGTON MENTAL HOSPITAL. Sir,— Mental Hospital, Wellington, 17th May, 1909. I have the honour to forward the following statistics and report in connection with this Hospital for the year 1908. At the beginning of the year there were 228 patients in the institution and 7 out on trial, and at the end there were 249 in and still 7 out on trial. The average number of patients in residence during the year was 240, which is 13 in excess of the number for which we have statutory accommodation. Sixty-nine patients were admitted and 41 discharged, a 59-per-cent. ratio to the number admitted. The admissions for the year comprised 39 men and 30 women. Amongst a variety of contributing causes of the insanity, bodily ill-health and alcoholism predominated. Of the total admitted, 11 men and 12 women were recurrent cases ; 2 of these latter came from Australia, and were eventually returned there. An analysis of the admissions shows that during the year 3 died, 24 were discharged, and 16 still have some prospect of recovery. The remaining 26 include sufferers from incurable diseases, organic brain disease, paranoia, and dementia. Exclusive of the discharges above referred to, 13 out of 28 non-certified patients recovered sufficiently to be able to return to the care of their friends after treatment of short duration. During the year 13 patients died. This gives a death-rate on our average population of 5J per cent., and is a little lower than last year. The general health of the community was fairly good, though furunculosis among the men during the spring and summer months was more than usually prevalent. Four cases of scarlet fever, occurring at intervals throughout the year, caused us some apprehension through the lack of an isolation ward,, but fortunately the patients were in each case sufficiently quiet and tractable to admit of treatment in the fever ward of the District Hospital. Dr. Ewart's readiness in taking them in relieved us from an embarrassing position. The outdoor employment for the men has, as usual, been carried out to the fullest extent, and the recreation has been on the same lines as formerly. For three years now the annual picnic has been held at Day's Bay, and greatly enjoyed. The conveyance of over a hundred patients by tram and steamer to the bay without any mishap having occurred speaks well for the care arid attention of the staff. Changes in the personnel of the staff have not been frequent. The most important appointment was that of Miss McDougall, of the Seacliff nursing staff, to the position of Matron. I have already expressed my satisfaction to you over this appointment. The staff has worked well throughout the year, and my thanks are due to the officers and members for their cordial co-operation. The thanks of the authorities are also due to the proprietors of the New Zealand Times and Post newspapers for supplying us with free copies of their journals. The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Wellington. Arthur Crosby. 3—H. 7.