H.—23.

18

absolutely necessary as a safeguard against accidents. It is intended to lay out the grounds enclosed by this fence, to plant trees, shrubs, &c, and allow the public to use it for recreational purposes. The works above mentioned have been performed by the patients and officers of the Asylum. A number of the male patients have also been employed regularly in the various workshops, in the garden, and in levelling the ground around the Asylum. A new branch of industry, shoemaking, has been started during the last year, and tinware, which formerly had to be purchased, is now made iv the Asylum. The employment of artisans to work at their trade, in addition to performing the ordinary duties of attendants, results iv a considerable saviug to the institution. The drainage from the Asylum is satisfactory, but the cess tanks are now becoming insufficient to receive the sewerage from such an extent of buildings. It will therefore be necessary to adopt some means of deodorizing the sewage before passing the overflow, or to carry a main culvert to some point of outlet, in order to prevent the sewage becoming a nuisance to the neighbourhood. This is a matter which will require prompt attention, as the limited extent of the Asylum grounds will not allow of the sewage being utilized. The patients' amusements are continued with the same vigour as formerly. The Friday evening's dance, concert, or dramatic performance is looked upon by the patients with great pleasure, and no greater punishment can be inflicted than to prevent any of them attending these assemblies. The economical results of the year are satisfactory. The net weekly <jpst of each patient was Bs. 7^d., or at the rate of £22 7s. sd. per year, which is below the cost of patients in many of the home asylums, notwithstanding that the dietary scale of the Dunedin Asylum v more liberal than that of similar institutions in Great Britain. The repayments from private patients during the year amounted to £550 Os. Bd. The religious services have been conducted regularly by the Government Chaplain ; but clergymen of every denomination have facilities afforded them for visiting and conversing with the patients. In conclusion, I have to state that the general health of the inmates of the institution has been good throughout the year, and that no accident of a serious nature occurred. I have, Ac, J. Prases, To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Inspector. P.S. —Mechanical force is never used in the Otago Asylum, with the exception of the " comisale," and that but in one instance, and for a short period, with a dangerous homicidal lunatic. —J. F.

TABLE I. RETURN of PATIENTS Admitted, Discharged, and Died, during the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1873.

Table 11. Showing the Number of Deaths during the Year, and their Causes; also, Age at time of Death 1 female, aged 32 ; eight years four months in Asylum ; cause of death, consumption. 1 male, aged 33; four years seven months in Asylum ; cause of death, meningitis.

Number of Patients remaining in the Asylum, 1st April, 1872 Admitted from Dunedin and Suburbs „ Invercargill „ Dunstan „ Tuapeka „ East, West, and North Taieri „ Wakatipu „ Tokomairiro „ Hawksbury „ Port Chalmers ,, Blacks „ Oarnaru „ Clutha ,, Dunedin Hospital „ Dunedin Gaol „ Province of Nelson Males. 104 10 10 7 4 5 5 2 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 Female 49 4 3 2 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 les. Total 153 14 13 9 7 5 5 3 3 3 1 2 2 5 1 1 Total number under treatment 159 68 227 Discharged— m. Cured ... ... ... ... 22 • Relieved ... ... ... ... 2 Died ... ... ... ... 12 p. 14 0 3 36 17 53 Remaining in the Asylum, 31st March, 1873 123 51 174 Percentage cured on the admissions ,, „ on total number treated „ of deaths Daily average number for the year 48-7 160 6-6 163-