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registers, books, orders, and medical certificates, and made the prescribed statutory inquiries. The books are well and neatly kept, and the orders and certificates in legal form. There are to-day 90 patients on the register :62 males and 28 females. I have seen each of these, with the exception of one man and one woman absent on trial. The weather was very wet at the time of my visit; and the patients were consequently kept within doors, but excellent order and perfect quiet prevailed. No one was under restraint or in seclusion. The latter mode of treatment has only been resorted to in the cases of three patients since my last visit. The general health appeared to me very satisfactory; good food, perfect cleanliness, suitable employment, and a most healthy situation all contributing to this result. The dinner to-day consisted of boiled mutton, carrots, potatoes, soup, and bread and cheese, well cooked and well served. The number of unemployed is about twenty, and sometimes less than this number. It is almost superfluous to say that the clothing, bedding, and, in fact, the whole establishment was found in the best possible order. The so-called airing-courts are very attractive and well-kept gardens, in which one of the patients, learned in botany, takes great interest. Tho bush supplies employment of a healthful kind, and an additional portion of land, of some two acres has been got under cultivation. The offices have been replaced by new ones of a very commodious kind, erected entirely by asylum labour, and a considerable addition made to the men's reading-room. It is intended shortly also to remove to the asylum premises the old immigration barracks, which, when repaired and rearranged, will furnish a recreation-room, a storeroom, and accommodation for about twenty beds. The sleeping accommodation for the male patients is at present quite inadequate, sixty-two occupying the space intended for fifty only. The female department of the asylum is full. In view of the higher rate of wages paid at this asylum to attendants, it may be well to remark that the whole of them are either musicians or have a knowledge of some trade. Thus it is that amusements are provided without further cost, and improvements and repairs effected with no other help than that of a bricklayer occasionally. The patients appear to be very contented. Some, who asked me to be released, could not be discharged with safety. Amusements are provided as heretofore. To-morrow evening a theatrical performance by some gentlemen from the Town of Hokitika will take place. With regard to Divine service no arrangement has yet been made ; but it is hoped that the newly-arrived minister of the Church of England may be able to give a week-day service. Altogether my visit gave me great satisfaction. The arrangements and condition of the asylum are second to none in the colony, and reflect the greatest credit upon the Superintendent and matron, Mr. and Mrs. Gribben. Dr. James, the Medical Officer, visits daily.

_ 4th April, 1884.—1 have been engaged during a portion of yesterday, and again to-day, in my periodical inspection of the Hokitika Asylum. The whole of the buildings have been visited, and every patient seen by me. The books I find to be well and carefully entered-up to this date. All the orders of admission and medical certificates are in legal form. There _ are at present here 94 patients : 67 males and 27 females. All have had an opportunity of conversing with me, and I have had no complaint whatever made to me. Tho absence of any excitement has been yery marked. In connection with this matter I would point out the large proportion of the employed to the unemployed this asylum. Fifty-six men and nineteen women are usefully occupied, and I am assured that these numbers are rather below than above the average. No restraint in any form has been found necessary (unless for surgical reasons), and seclusion has only been resorted to on one occasion since my last visit in October. The removal of the "immigration buildings " to the asylum grounds has been nearly completed. A large recreation-hall, 80 feet long by 20 feet wide, will shortly be available for use, and a new dormitory, capable of accommodating twenty-six beds, for male patients. To obtain room for these additions a dormitory for seven beds has been transferred bodily to the female side. These valuable additions have entailed much labour, but the cost has been trifling. All the work has been done by the attendants and patients, any expenditure being for new roofing and other material. The grant of £125 for the purpose will be sufficient, although it may hereafter be found necessary to incur the expense of building a chimney. I find that Divine service is now regularly held here on one day in each week by the Church of England minister. The new hall will in future be used for this purpose also. A dramatic entertainment took place the night before last. Dr. King, the recently appointed Medical Officer, attends with great regularity, and makes careful entries in the case-book. My opinion of the excellence of this asylum, and of its management by Mr. and Mrs. Gribben, remains as favourable as formerly. The whole establishment is a model of cleanliness, good order, and discipline. Napier Asylum. On the Ist January, 1883, there were 14 males and 5 females in the asylum; 5 men and 9 women were admitted for the first time during the year, and 1 man and 1 woman were readmitted. The total number under care was 35 ; 1 male and 5 females were discharged " recovered," and 1 female as " relieved;" 1 male and 1 female died. The total remaining on the 31st December was 26 —18 males and 8 females. I visited the establishment on the 14th April, 1883, on the 20th January, and again on the 22nd February, 1884; and left the following report in the Inspector's Book:— 14th April, 1883.—1 have this day inspected the Napier Asylum in every part, and have seen every patient, with the exception of two females, who are at present absent on trial. There are at present on the books 15 males and 6 females, also one patient (M W )on