11

H.—23

for about 100, and with insufficient exercise grounds even for that number, it is of course very pleasing to me to be able to make such a report, since the difficulties of management in this state of overcrowding have been so much greater than in former years. My observations have been made during forty-two visits, mostly paid " without any previous notice," as required by the Act, and may therefore be received as correct, so far as they go, as well as corroborative of remarks made by others when on visits to their friends. A daily statement of particulars is also to be found in the Medical Journal, which is always produced for the Inspector's perusal and inquiry. 2. Considering the average number of inmates, both male and female (See statistics herewith), and the increasing want of room both indoors and out, their general good health during the year has been surprising. This must in some measure be attributed to the refreshing airiness of the situation, as otherwise the ventilation of the building would be found very incomplete, especially in the night time, though there are open chimneys in every associate dormitory, erected chiefly for that purpose, in addition to the ordinary ventilation in the window-frames. But when any serious case of illness has occurred, the want of a night-nurse or watcher has been much felt, as the present number of attendants and nurses is unequal to the extra duty. Such an officer is also required for the prevention of accidents, &c, in the several wards during the night season. There are many epileptic patients in the Asylum, and it does not seem right that they should be left for so many hours without regular aid and supervision. 3. With the exception of the meat, all the usual contracts have been faithfully performed, and the supply has been good and abundant in every case. The meals have also been regular and satisfactory. The clothing is not exactly as it should be, but an improvement is about to be made in that particular during the coming year. Tho musical entertainments have been much interrupted of late, but will be resumed as the winter advances. Other amusements, if possible, will also be supplied. 4. Ten proper sized and very comfortable small rooms (9 feet by 6, and 10 feet high) have recently been erected in the women's yard, but contiguous to the main building. These are always fully occupied by the more noisy and restless of the patients; and other similar rooms are already required for the same sex, as it is neither safe nor salutary to shut up two quarrelsome women all night in the same apartment. About fifteen or twenty single rooms, of like capacity, are now required on the men's side, as it does not seem probable that any general enlargement of the building will take place for some time to come. These, with two additional day-rooms, can easily and without great expense be projected at right angles with the present erection, and thus, with a corresponding enlargement and division of the outer yards, the immediate wants of the inmates will be met. If they were not so madly intent in the pursuit of their own separate schemes and fancies, the mere want of space would bring them into constant collision with each other, and lead to dreadful encounters. But as it is, when they are all herded together, as in wet weather, in the day-rooms and passages, quarrels and misunderstandings frequently occur, which under other circumstances would be altogether prevented. The average increase of patients remaining at the end of each year is between 4 and 5 per cent., as in most other asylums, and therefore the want of accommodation will be always of a progressive nature, and must be provided for without delay, from time to time. It is, however, for the Government to consider whether it be safe or really economical to erect so many small wooden structures in immediate contiguity with so expensive a building as our Asylum is, especially as, in case of fire, there are no means of extinguishment at hand. 5. And this leads me to refer again to the water supply, or rather to the want of it. For many months in the year nearly all the water used on the premises is drawn by cart from a neighbouring stream, so that the general supply is very limited, and what is required in the various lavatories, upstairs and down, has to be carried thither by hand, which in the female wards on the upper story, creates much extra labour for the attendants, and takes them from their other necessary employments. All this, I think, could be avoided, and sufficient water procured for all purposes, by sinking another well rather deeper than the present one, and at a little distance from it, so as to be well away from the drain, and then the water for the upper tanks in the roof, which supply the whole of the building, could be projected by the present pump as heretofore. In this district there is said to be a constant underflow of pure water, and this is surely the readiest and cheapest way of making it accessible. Otherwise a series of tanks will require to be fixed outside, in different parts, so as to preserve as much of the rain water as possible, instead of its being allowed, as at present, to run to waste. 6. In the month of September, an official visit was received from Dr. Edward Paley, InspectorGeneral of Asylums in Victoria, he having been requested by the New Zealand Government to examine and report on all similar institutions in this Colony. All necessary information was supplied to him by Dr. Aickin and myself, and it is to be hoped that the proposed scheme of establishing a Central Asylum somewhere at the South, in reference to which Dr. Paley's inspection has been made, will be at once proceeded with after the next meeting of the General Assembly. 7. I have the honor to append a copy of the Medical Statistics and Dietary Scale for 1872, as supplied by Dr. Aickin, the Medical Superintendent and Resident Surgeon. H. Hanson Turton, J.P., St. George's Bay, 31st January, 1873. Inspector of Asylums, Province of Auckland.

NEW PLYMOUTH. No. 20. Dr. Eawson to His Honor F. A. Cakeington-. Sib, — New Plymouth, 31st January, 1873. I have the honor to report to you, for the information of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, there being no official Inspector appointed, the number of lunatics in the Asylum, and the condition of the Asylum in this Province,