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New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5583, 7 October 1879, Page 4

We have received the third annual report of Dr. Skae, the Inspector of Luuatio Asylums, ou the lunatic asylums of New Zealand, and which has recently been presented to Parliament. The report only comes down to the end of IS/8. At the close of last year the registered lunatics numbered 957, being S7 over the previous year, and 1 in 471 of the population, Maoiis basing excluded. The Auckl *nd establishment contained n- arly 200 patients. Some curious statistics are given by Dr. Skae, as to the difference in tho proportion of the insane amongst people of various nationalities. At the date of last census, 1 in 311 of the English population was mentally afflcted; 1 in 264 of the Scotch ; 1 in 205 of the Irish ; lin22 L of the Germans ; 1 in 184 of Scandinavians ; but only X in 512 Lof colonial - born Europeans, tho immense disparity in the latter ease being attributed to the fact that insanity is a ma'ady principally confined to adult life. During 187S, the admissions to New Z^a ! aud iuuatic asylums were 1 in 1144, a figure considerably above the Eng'ish rate; 9 of thvse, it is significantly stated, were admitted shortly after arrival in the colony, three of them straight from th«- ships. Dr. Skae says that "the comparatively large number of admissions in New Zealand asylums, is partly . xpla ne 1 by the frequency with p* suffering from delirium trenwis are committed as luuatics," and 14 by the absurd practice sanctioned by the 21st section ot the .Lunaties Act, ISGS, of sending habitual drunkards to lunatic asylums, where they get no good aud do much harm." 'Che of insanity, in 30 per cent, of the male patients, is given as intemperance, a statement which will furnish a fresh text for temperance reformers. Recoveries are put down at 50 per cent., and ' the rate of mortality is stated to he less than in England- The total chirge for maintenance aud management during the year was, in round number*, £35,000 ; and tbe average cost per patient per week, 12s Bd, being under the sc.de prevailing in New South Wales aud Vioto-ia. Turning to the Auckland asylum, ami the portion of Dr. Skae's report more particularly relating to it, we fiud chat oifie-u* regards the condition aud musagement of the asylum as st-ikiugly improve I, and :%•* itfL ctiug griat cedit on I the officers. Tho p:.tieuts are much more OJiuf« rally tidier in their appearance, and more tmnq-iil in their manner, owirg to greater liberty for exerci*-, and t> the i-.creased at edition to industrial Various suggestions are made lor remcdyiug some of the defects still existing, namely, the want of furniture in tiie male department, fifsy patients sleeping ou the ff.or for want of bedsteads. The want of gas in the asylum results, it is said, "in the patients spending far too much time iu bed, to their manifest injury." The erection of a washing-house and laundry is recommended, both us furnishing the female panieuts with a beuelicial occup ition, and as terminating the unnatisfactory arraugement by whiou the washing is done at the gaol by the female prisoners When the new wing of the asylum is completed. it is hoped that the evils of overovercrowdiog will be largely reduced, but not wholly abolished. Speakiug of the past and proscut medical managements, of the asylum. Dr. Skae remarks : — "The appointment of Dr. Thornelly did n»t result in the satisfactory manner which had btea expected, aud on the 30ch June last he resigned on account of his health. He baa been succeeded by Dr. AU-x. Young, of Auckland, a gentleman of high standing in his profession " From all we can learn, the new supeiintendent of the asylum is fullilling his duties iu a very efficient manner, and has introduced mauy reforms iu the system of management which have added considerably to the comfort of the patieuts.