H.—3

6

place of internal sliding ones. The bailiff's house needs a small verandah, and it will be necessary to erect proper farm-buildings, with a good yard. I was sorry to find that there has been an outbreak of typhoid fever in the asylum. There have been two deaths from this cause, and some cases of severe type were shown to me in the male division ; The cause of the outbreak is not known, but the overcrowding under the circumstances becomes the more serious. The general health of the establishment is otherwise very good. A great deal appears to have been done in clearing the farm-land of scoria, and erecting stone fences. There are some good crops, but the long-continued drought did much harm. The acquisition of a piece of land of some five acres near the creek, and having on it a good spring of water, is very desirable. The use of gas made from gasolene for lighting the asylum has not proved a success. A very serious increase in the annual expenditure has occurred under this heading. Moreover, the light is so bad and unreliable that kerosene lamps are still provided and often used. The ceilings are very much blackened with the smoke from the burners, and many complaints were made to me as to the bad illumination. All proper care seems to have been taken to secure the success of this system if possible. I recommend that arrangements be made at once for the supply of coal or other gas in place of that made from gasolene. The laundry drying-closet is badly constructed and arranged. Some slight modifications of the air inlets and outlets would insure better results ; but the steam-pipes must first be made tight at the joints, which should have properly-faced flanges for the purpose. The horses also require some alterations. The amusements of the patients receive some amount of attention here, but they are never taken for walks beyond the asylum grounds, nor are any excursions or picnics organized. This is a matter for regret. If these amusements are practicable in London and its suburbs there can be no insuperable obstacle to their being enjoyed here in a sparsely-populated district. My inspection gave me a good impression of the zeal and ability of Dr. Young, and of those who assist him in the administration of this asylum. Mr. Thomas Macffarlane, the Deputy-Inspector, pays regular and frequent visits to the Asylum. Christchurch Asylum. The number of patients on the Ist January, 1882, was 282—-182 males and 100 females. During the year 50 males and 29 females were admitted for the first time, and 12 males and 5 females readmitted. The total number treated was 378 —viz., 244 males and 134 females. Of these, there were discharged as " recovered " 18 males and 17 females ; 9 males and 3 females were discharged as "relieved "or "not improved ;" while 18 males and 6 females died. At the end of the year there remained in the Asylum 199 males and 108 females : total, 307. The recoveries show a percentage of 36"45 upon the admissions. The deaths were 8'36 per cent., calculated upon the average number resident. The asylum was visited by me on the 9th November, 1882, and again on the 16th, 17th, and 18th January, 1883, when I made the following entry in the Inspector's Book:— I have this day concluded my inspection of the Sunnyside Asylum, which has occupied my attention since Tuesday last, the 16th January. Every part of the buildings has been seen by me, including the cottages occupied by the gardener and attendants and the other outbuildings. I have also examined the Case-books, Register of Admissions, Register of Discharges and Deaths, Medical Journal, Inspector's Book, Patients' Book; and made all the statutory inquiries. A number of patients' letters were submitted to me, one of which I directed to be forwarded as addressed; the others were properly detained. The list of patients was examined by me, as also the orders and certificates relating to the admission of patients. All were found to be correct. The whole of the books are carefully kept. Some slight omissions in the Register of Admissions were pointed out for rectification, and instructions given that inebriates should not in future be entered in this book as lunatics. The patients were all seen by me with the exception of four, who were absent on leave. The present number is 299, of whom 197 are males and 102 females. The general health of the patients is very good, though a number of cases were shown to me of goitre, and it was remarked that this affection sometimes commences after admission into the asylum. Eive males and five females were in bed yesterday, but several of these were there simply for observation or examination. A woman suffering from paralysis, and another from advanced phthisis, would more properly be inmates of a general hospital. I satisfied myself that all were properly detained, the only complaints on this score being obviously unreasonable, and on no other subject whatever was any complaint made. There was a remarkable absence of excitement, and all appeared to be fairly contented. A large proportion were usefully employed, but none were in the workshops : in fact the printing office and shoe-room were so unbearably hot as to be unfit to work in to-day. There is no record of restraint having been used, except in one case for surgical purposes ; and seclusion does not appear to? be unduly resorted to. One patient (a female) was secluded on the 15th, but none yesterday. The proportion of incurable cases is very great. In the new buildings excellent order prevailed. The rooms are substantially furnished and well ventilated, everything being scrupulously clean ; but there is a want of decorative objects in some of the male wards. The bedding is well attended to, and, though chaff beds are in use, they are carefully made and fairly comfortable, especially when placed on a canvas stretcher. Where wooden laths form