PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1396, 9 May 1868, Page 3

PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM.

Oue readers will remember that in Januarylrst the iielief Committee, while sitting, went into the question of the management of the Hospital and Lunatic Asylum. We all know how great and salutary a reform has been brought about in the administration of the Sick and. Destitute fund, and it is gratifying to find twit the enquiries in the case of the management of the Hospital and Asylum have been attended with similar results. In the first named institution there used formerly to be admitted a large number of persons who had no business to bo there at all, and by the assistance of the Provincial Surgeon these have been removed. It is now necessary that applications for admission into the Hospital must be countersigned by a member of the Provincial Exeoutive. In regard to

the Lunatic Asylum, persons in well-to-do Circumstances hare been in the habit of placing relatives in charge tliere, and defraying no portion of their expenses. This state of things is being put an end to ; in all cases where the relatives of patients are able to pay the charge of the lunatic's maintenance that.charge will be enforced.

We have been favored with the following statement respecting tlie cost of maintenance of the Provincial Hospital for the past three quarters endin-.r March 31, 1868.

Cost of Hospital for quarter ending September 30, 1867, £800 os ; cost for quarter ending December 31, 1868. £966 os lid ; cost for quarter ending March 31, 1868, £591 8s 3d. Tlie gross number of rations issued in the month of December, 1867, was 3762; in January the issue of rations was decreased by 520 ; in February by 1362, and in March by 1187. The number of patients in hospital at the end of December, 18G7, was 121; at present the number is only 83. Wo must certainly give the present Government great credit for the active reform which they have carried into the management of the charitable institutions of this province. In previous administrations there must have been thousands of pounds of the public money recklessly squandered, as indeed the evidence taken by the Kelief Committee in the case of the management of the Sick and Destitute funds plainly showed. Those matters are now, however, zealously looked after. The appointment of the present Relieving Officer has saved no inconsiderable sum to the Province, which formerly was worse than wasted.