WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2083, 25 January 1894, Page 19

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) Wellington, January 17. FORIBUA LONATIC ASYLUM.

I was much interested in an examination of the new lunatic asylum at Porirua, which I have visited.' It is situated 15 miles from Wellington on the Manawatu railway line. The site is a superb one, the space ample, and the general design of the buildings appears to answer the most exacting of modern sanitary and economic requirements. The institution when completed will cost' about £5000, while the expenditure up to the present time may be put down at half that sum, including cost of water supply and electric lighting. The central section of the building is now almost complete, and will accommodate 230 inmates. Sixty male patients, all quiet, tractable men, have been in occupation for some weeks pas^t, and the overcrowded state of the men's wards in other asylums, notably Auckland, make further transfers immediately necessary. Fifty patients are to arrive from Auckland on Saturday, and 120 more are being drafted from Sunny Hide and Seacliff. When completed the Porirua Asylum will accommodate 500 patients, or equal to Seacliff, which may be said to represent treble the cost of the new iustitutiou.

HIE CHF.VIOT ESTATE.

The Cheviot homestead purchase has been completed for £25,000, as some tirao fiince I eaid it would be. The purchaser is Mrs Campbell, daughter of the late Mr Robinson, who owned the estate.