H.—6

10

ornaments and objects of interest in the wards. On the male side there is not so much as a picture or print of any kind: and there are no books to speak of. If the Superintendent were allowed a small sum —of, say, £20 —he could do a good deal towards remedying these glaring defects. "The defect formerly complained of in the water-supply still continues: that is to say, although there are ten tanks of 400 gallons each, which are filled during the night, so that there is sufficient water for the requirements of the patients —though at present it has all to be carried into the house — jet the pressure is so weak during the day that no water is then delivered, and even at night it is too feeble to allow of the hydrants being serviceable in the event of a fire breaking out. "Although the present number of patients is perhaps not large enough to render it actually necessary that there should be some one in regular attendance on them during the night, yet, in a building of this kind, there will always be some danger of fire in spite of every precaution. I think, therefore, that, as already recommended by the Deputy Inspector, a night attendant or watchman should be engaged." In the month of October Mr. Heffer, the Superintendent of the Asylum, died. He was succeeded •by Mr. Mills, who had for upwards of nine years been senior attendant in the Hokitika Asylum. The subject of the deficient water-supply was referred to the District Engineer, who reported that abundance could be got from a neighbouring creek; but the cost of bringing it into the house was estimated at between £500 and £600, and there appeared likely to be a difficulty or further expense in acquiring the right of monopolizing the stream. The Engineer has therefore been asked to report on the subject again. I visited the Asylum again in March, and the following is the entry made in the Inspector's book regarding the condition of the Asylum at that time: — " On the 9th and 11th March I inspected the Asylum, and was much impressed by the marked improvement which has taken place under the vigorous and intelligent management of the new Superintendent, Mr. Mills. It was particularly pleasing to see the great success which has attended his efforts to increase the number of patients engaged in occupations of a genuine, healthy, and enlivening description. There were 35 male patients, and all of them except 4 were found busily employed on both days of the visit in the following manner: 15 were digging up the male court (which, as formerly recommended, is being turned into an ornamental garden), 5 were at work in the vegetable garden, 2 were building a summer-house, 4 were cleaning the wards, 1 was doing tailor-work, 1 was engaged in the kitchen, 2 were painting the female wards, and 1 (a private patient) was reading a book. The only idlers were an idiot, a demented old man with one leg, another demented old man, and one who is paralytic. " Among the busiest of those seen employed were several who had been obstinately idle for years, and who, since they have been induced to work, have very much altered for the better. An improvement has also been effected in the female side of the house, both as to the number of patients employed and the importance of the work they engage in. " The whole premises were found in excellent order. The wards have a much more cheerful appearance than formerly, their furniture having been considerably increased, and the walls painted or varnished by the inmates, and decorated with a number of coloured and other prints, most of which were framed by the patients. " The patients were very quiet and orderly, and suitably and neatly dressed. " The Superintendent has striven to ameliorate the condition of the two almost mindless and very helpless females alluded to in my last report. They were not found, as hitherto, lying in the ba.ck yard apart from the others. One of them was seated in an easy chair in the ward; and the other was walking about in front of the house between two other patients. " Only one person was in bed. This was an exceedingly suicidal woman, who was suffering from an extensive scald, which she had produced by deliberately tumbling backwards into the boiler of the washing-room at the end of the ward, the door of which had been left open. She was much excited, obstinately refusing food, and altogether in a very unpromising condition. She was occupying a room by herself; and thick leather gloves without fingers were fastened on her hands, to prevent her attempts to injure herself. I instructed the Superintendent to engage an extra nurse, so as to admit of some one being in constant attendance on her, as it did not appear to me safe to leave so suicidal a patient unobserved for a moment, night or day. " On an average about 25 men and 15 women attend Divine service in the hall on Sundays. About 30 men and 20 women are present at the weekly dances, in which a good many of them join. Parties of from 12 to 15 women take frequent walks beyond the Asylum grounds; and the majority of the men get a walk on the Saturdays. " Night attendance is now arranged for by each of the male attendants taking the night duties for a week. Since this has been done, the more helpless patients on the male side have been much better looked after, and all their beds are now kept dry. Their dormitory was found as fresh and clean as any of the others. "Six women were recorded in the medical journal as being of 'wet or dirty habits,' and 1 male ;and 6 females as being ' unable to wash, dress, or feed themselves.' The proportion of helpless and •dirty women is large, and might be lessened if greater attention were bestowed on them. " The Superintendent complained of the general, inefficiency of the matron ; and especially that she had on a recent occasion left her ward without any officer in charge of it while it contained several patients, among whom was an extremely violent one and the suicidal one above referred to. "My own observations had satisfied me as to the truth of the first of these charges; and she herself admitted the second. I therefore advised her to resign, which she did. " The statutory registers were examined, and found neatly and correctly written-up to date. A case-book has been opened by the Medical Officer, and the cases of all patients admitted since last (inspection have been entered in it. The Inspector's book contained an entry, of date 17th January, by Mr. Acton Adams, M.H.R., Official Visitor, suggesting that the patients, when out walking, should avoid the central part of the town, and expressing satisfaction with the state in which he found the Asylum; also an entry by Mr. Joseph Mackay, Deputy Inspector, referring to four inspections which he had made, in which he speaks very highly of the system of management pursued by Mr. Mills."