H.—2c

2

Of the males, 31 are considered incurable. 2 as questionably curable, and 2 as doubtfully insane. Of the two doubtfully insane, one is a convict transferred from prison at Taranaki to the Lunatic Asylum here, and believed to bo a malingerer, and the other is Captain McGrath, whose wife ia a female patient. Of the females, 25 are considered incurable, and 3 as questionably curable. Of the total number of 63, 54 are from the Province of Wellington, 2 from Marlborough, 1 from Napier, and 6 from Taranaki; total, 63. Between the 31st December, 1873, and 30th June, 1875, the deaths have been 5 males and 2 females ; total, 7. The phases of disease are principally—l epilepsy, 2 chronic and intermittent mania, 3 dementia; 4 congenital idiotcy, of which there are two cases. As regards out-door work, a considerable extent of land is under cultivation, and large quantities of vegetables are raised for the use of the institution. At tny suggestion, cows have been provided, by which a considerable saving has been effected, and the milk supplied for the use of the patients is of better quality than could otherwise be obtained. I suggested that a pair of horses and a roomy open carriage should be supplied for the purpose of affording recreation to the patients, but this suggestion has not yet been complied with. I believe that a large saving in the ordinary expenditure of the institution might be effected by procuring clothing, Ac, from London direct, not merely by reason of difference in price, but also in the quality of the articles. The orders for admission have been generally regular ; but I would call especial attention to the necessity of amending the law, by requiring that each order for admission should be accompanied by as complete a history of the case as possible. Under the present system, patients are thrown into the Asylum without any such history, and the officers are left to discover the particular phase of disease in each case, a course which materially increases the difficulty of treatment. A careful examination of the records of the institution satisfies me that the great majority of the patients admitted are incurable, and therefore that, in the construction and arrangement of buildings for the keeping and maintenance of the insane, attention should chiefly be directed to the means of classifying the patients with a view to securing to them as much bodily comfort as is consistent with their several conditions. I wish to bear testimony to the care and attention given to the patients by Dr. France, the Medical Officer of the Asylum, their bodily health being indeed the best index of that care and attention. I append to this report some tables prepared for me by the Keeper, which may be found useful for statistical purposes. I do not give any detailed account of the number of visits I have paid or of the miles I have travelled since my last report, believing that what I have stated above embodies all that is important in connection with my inspections. I have, <fee, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. Wm. Thos. Locke Tbatebs.