WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4362, 13 March 1875, Page 6

WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Although a comparatively new building, and one' which it was thought would suffice to accommodate all the demented who might; require proper custody for many years to come, the Wellington LunatidAsylum is now almost full. Since the Ist of January of the present year there have been no fewer than nine admissions, a marked increase in the ■ rate of lunacy not pleasant to contemplate. When the present building was first opened—hardly two years ago—there were but twenty-three patients to occupy it; now, however, the total has swelled to fifty-two, notwithstanding that a great number have been discharged as cured and eight have died. There have been four epileptic patients admitted who recently arrived as immigrants, one of whom has died, and it is probable that the remaining three will never leave the institution alive, the peculiar character of their insanity precluding the hope that they will ever again be able to do a day’s work. There is at present no physical sickness in the institution, excepting, of coui'se, the debility inseparable from old age, the healthy site and the excellent manner in which the premises are kept, necessarily tending to health. A gang of prisoners is at work forming new and finishing old approaches to the building, and several of the more robust of the inmates are engaged in the removal of a knoll which obstructs the view of the harbor and town. The kitchen garden, which is under the entire control of one of the patients, is in a most satisfactory condition, as also ax-e the six hundred forest tx-oes which were kindly given by the trustees of the Botanic Gardens for the embellishment of the asylum grounds. The Sunday services, which heretofore were conducted by Mr. Gaby, are now carried on by the Rev. Mr. Porritt, an officiating minister appointed by his Lordship the Bishop of Wellington ; and it is pleasant to state tlxat about thirty of the immediate residents attend these services regularly. Visitors to the institution appear to be on the increase, and all of them, in the visitors’ book, testify their appreciation of the manner in which the institution is conducted.