17

H.—23

Statement showing the XmtßEit of Lunatics maintained at the Cost of the County of "Westland during the Tear ending 31st December, 1872. Males. Females. Total. Remaining in Lunatic Asylum on 31st December, 1871 ... ... 30 0 30 Admitted during the year ending 31st December, 1872 ... ... 14 14 28 Discharged during same period ... ... ... ... 10 0 10 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 0 3 Remaining in Asylum on 31st December, 1572 ... ... 31 14 45 Lunatics in Sunnyside Asylum, Christchurch, 1872, maintained at the cost of Westland ... ... ... ... ... 4 2 6 G-. G-. FitzGtebald, Office of Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, Inspector. Hokitika, 25th January, 1873. Retvrx under Part IV., Section 60, of " The Lunatics Act, 1868." Number of visits to the Lunatic Asylum on the Hospital Reserve during the half-year ended 31st December, 1872 ... ... ... ... ... 1 = Smiles. dumber of visits to Lunatic Asylum on the Gaol Hill ... ... ... 3 = 9 „ Total number of patients seen during the above visits ... ... ... 149 Average number of lunatics in custody during the half-year ended as above ... 44 Gr. Gr. FITzGrERALD, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums.

No. 12. DUNEDIK Report of the Ixspectok of the Di'NEDiy Luxatic Asylum for the Tear ending 31st March, 1873. Sib,— Dunedin, May 1873. I hare the honor to forward you report of the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum for the year ending 31st March, 1873. On the Ist April, 1572, there remained in the Asylum 153 patients. During the twelve months ending 31st March, 74 persons were admitted, 36 were discharged recovered, 2 were relieved, and 15 died —leaving 174 in the Asylum at the end of the financial year, and 21 patients more than remained in the Asylum at the end of last annual report. The daily average number resident throughout the year was 163 ; the total number treated, 227. On referring to Table XL, .it will be observed that the number remaining in the Asylum at the end of each year has steadily increased; but the number of admissions for the past year is only slightly in excess of the number admitted the previous year. In common with all lunatic asylums, the population of the Asylum will increase year by year, by reason of the hopeless and incurable cases which continue to be received. The number discharged, excluding two cases received, is 48-7 per cent, on the number admitted during the year, and 16 per cent, on the total number treated. The percentage of recoveries on the total number (663) admitted since the Asylum was first opened is 61 '09. There is a slight increase this year in the average annual mortality. On referring to Table 11., it will be observed that several of the patients who died were a long period in the Asylum, one of them, a female, being confined to bed for upwards of six years. As required by the Lunatics Act, an inquest was held in every case of death. Table 111. shows the ages of patients admitted during the year, and it is worthy of observation that the greatest number admitted (47) were in the prime of life, from 25 to 40 years of age. It will also be noted, that of the 74 patients admitted, 41 males and 2 females were unmarried. As in former years, a large percentage of the patients admitted were miners and labourers, I visited the Asylum periodically during the year. At each visit I saw all the patients in the Asylum, inspected the bedding, provisions, &c, and also examined the books and records of the Asylum, as required by the Act. Having pointed out in a former report the necessity for additional accommodation, it gives me pleasure to state that a new ward, capable of accommodating 60 male patients, is in course of erection. The length of the building is 142 feet, its breadth 22 feet; an additional ward at right angles to it, 75 by 25 feet, is also being built. These buildings, when completed, will contain 28 single rooms, large dormitories, day rooms, attendants' rooms, bagatelle and bath rooms. In connection with these buildings will be a large airy court, about half an acre in extent, with a sunshade or verandah 120 feet long. These important additions will meet the requirements of the male division of the Asylum for some time to come. A new airy court for female patients, similar in extent to the one just mentioned for the males, has been enclosed. Asphalte walks have been laid down, a large verandah erected, and the whole surrounded by a neat stone wall, built by the artisan attendants and patients, who also quarried the stone required for it. It is intended to plant both the male and female airing-courts with shrubs, flowers, &c, as recommended by me. During the year there has also been erected a new kitchen fitted with boilers and apparatus capable of cooking for 400 patients. The lofty ceiling and cupola with moveablc windows render the ventilation perfect. A most important work has been done within the last few months, viz., the erection of 30 chains of strong fencing along the road from the Halfway Bush Toll Bar to the Old Cemetery. This portion of the road was most dangerous for travellers, drays, <fee, and the erection of such a fence was 3—H. 23.