H.—4

6

I enclose an extract from a communication received from the Resident Surgeon upon this subject, and beg to be informed whether you desire to make any remarks thereon. I have, &c, Readee Wood, The Inspector of Asylums, Auckland. Provincial Secretary.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 5 in No. 2. Extract from Letter of Resident Suhoeon to Provincial Secretary, dated Bth Eebruary, 1870. " Torn shirts, blankets, &c, stored in this cellar could not communicate infection to persons who reside some hundred feet from it. As to ' swarming with vermin,' the practice has invariably been to burn all such clothing forthwith, and I believe that the patients hitherto have been kept in a perfectly clean and healthy condition. At the same time I am of opinion that the storekeeper should be permitted to destroy worn-out clothing when proved useless, and certify accordingly."

Enclosure 6 in No. 2. The Inspector of Lunatic Asylums to the Provincial Secretary. Sir, — Ponsonby, Auckland, 15th February, 1876. On my return from the Asylum yesterday, I had the honor to receive your letter of the 11th instant, enclosing an extract from a communication received from the Resident Surgeon, in regard to the accumulation of worn-out clothing in a state of corruption, and asking me if I desired to make any remarks thereon. In reply, I beg to state that I am unaware that in any part of my report I have said that the patients have hitherto not been kept in a perfectly clean and healthy condition. With respect to the report I had the honor to forward to his Honor the Superintendent, I beg to inform you that previous to my sending it, knowing that I had mentioned in it both the Resident Surgeon and the Keeper, I conceived that I was bound in honor to read to them what I had said of them, and when I next went to the Asylum I took out with me a verbatim et literatim copy of that report. I read it calmly aud deliberately to them both, and in the presence of each other; and when I had finished reading it, I asked them what they thought of it, when they replied they " quite agreed with it, and hoped it might do good," or words to that effect, but not a word of dissent or disapprobation was uttered by either of them. I think I have now said all that is necessary. I have, &c, H. D. Morpeth, The Provincial Secretary, Auckland. . Inspector of Provincial Lunatic Asylums.

Enclosure 7 in No. 2. The Provincial Secretary to the Inspector of Lunatic Asylums. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 2Gth February, 1876. "With reference to your annual report upon the Auckland Lunatic Asylum, and the correspondence that has taken place relating thereto, I am instructed by his Honor the Superintendent to inform you that he has for some time past been of opinion that he could procure the services of a person who would bo in every respect more fitted than yourself to fulfil the duties of Inspector of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum. As you seem dissatisfied with the payment which you receive for your services, his Honor at once relieves you from the duties of the office. I have, &c, Reader "Wood, H. D. Morpeth, Esq., J.P., Inspector of Asylums, Auckland. Provincial Secretary.

No. 3. The Provincial Secretary, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sib — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 30th March, 1876. "With reference to my letter dated the 7th instant, I have the honor to transmit the enclosed copy of further correspondence in respect of the Inspector's annual report upon the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, for presentation to Parliament. I have, &c, Reader "Wood, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. (for the Superintendent).

Enclosure 1 in No. 3. Mr. Morpeth to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Sic, Ponsonby, Auckland, 27th March, 1876. I heg very respectfully to request, if your Honor will obligingly permit it, the withdrawal of my report, dated the 26th January last, on the state of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum during the year 1875. I have, &c, Hia Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. H. D. Mobpeth.