H.—lo.

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The subsoil-drainage scheme, lately completed, is so far very successful, and cannot fail to improve the healthiness of the place. The sewage now flows into the public drains to some extent; new water-closets have been provided in various parts, and others completed; but the requirements of the Drainage Board regarding ventilation and connections are so complicated and costly in carrying out that the work is at present at a complete standstill. I cannot help thinking that the Board might approve of some more simple and economical arrangements in this case. In conclusion, I would press upon the Government the urgent necessity for completing this asylum. Plans for the necessary additions were long since prepared and approved, and a sum of money, sufficient for the requirements of the present financial year, appears on the estimates. My visit confirms my good opinion of Dr. Hacon's management and zeal, and I formed a favourable impression of his whole staff.

15th, 16th, and 17th April, 1885.—During a considerable portion of each of these three days I have been engaged in inspecting the Sunnyside Asylum. Two hundred and twenty-one males and 127 female patients are now on the register; total, 348. With the exception of three males and five females absent on probation, I have seen every one of them. The males were assembled " on parade " for the purposes of my inspection, and their conduct was most orderly, evidencing great painstaking on the part of the attendants ; not one patient remained in the refractory wards. Benefit cannot fail to result from this kind of drill, which is repeated at frequent intervals. The women I saw at their meals and at their ordinary avocations. Very little excitement was noticeable, marked improvement having taken place in several who were formerly very noisy and intractable. The overcrowding, which has often been alluded to in previous reports, will be temporarily relieved by the transfer of 25 males and 20 females to the Seacliff Asylum within the present month. Owing to the elaborate requirements of the Drainage Board the work of providing additional water-closets and ventilating-tubes has lately stood in abeyance. The result of this delay is that the male patients are still confined in the old and condemned refractory wards, while urine is actually in places allowed to flow into the foundations of the buildings. Some temporary arrangements should have been devised to prevent this occurrence; but it is to be hoped that no further delay in completing the connections will be allowed to take place. The patients, as a whole, presented a very healthy appearance; 4 men and 2 women were in bed, but some of these had only very temporary ailments. A paralyzed old man, not long since admitted, died this morning (17th). As usual, I found good order to prevail throughout the establishment, and as much contentment as could be expected in a well-managed asylum. Several applications for release were made to me; and, to one of these, after consultation with Dr. Hacon, it was found possible to accede; the other applicants were obviously unfit to be at large. A great deal of useful work is done by the patients, but the proportion of the unemployed is somewhat large. No doubt, the number of useless and troublesome cases is unusually large here; but, with an increased area of land, it may hereafter be found practicable to employ a larger number of men. The new airing-court is a great success, but the patients are by no means confined to its boundaries, a considerable amount of liberty being enjoyed by a large number. The records show that about 50 take part in country walks. The evening classes are attended by about 140 of the patients, and as many as 150 attend Divine service. No one was restrained in any way or secluded on either day of my visit. The records of seclusion are by no means numerous. I found the bedding in good order, and the personal clothing liberal and suitable. The stores are kept with a degree of order and neatness which is remarkable. Strict economy is constantly in view of the Steward, who permits nothing to be lost or wasted. A considerable improvement in the water-supply has resulted from the recent erection of a hydraulic-ram. This is found to raise one gallon per minute. It is worth while to consider whether a second ram should not be provided, as the water-supply is deficient on the male side, and a considerable quantity is necessary for flushing the new drains, as required by the Board. My examination of the register showed it to be neatly and properly kept. I also inspected the admission papers, and a few letters detained from the post. Some special remarks were made in the patients-book. It will be gathered from the above remarks that I continue to hold a favourable opinion of the management of this institution. Hokitika. There were on the Ist January, 1884, 91 patients in this asylum, 64 males and 27 females; 17 males and 7 females were admitted during the year for the first time, and 1 male was readmitted. The total number treated was 116; of these there were discharged as " recovered " 7 males and 2 females, 3 males were discharged as " relieved " or " not improved," and 3 males and 1 female died. The number remaining at the close of the year was 100, 69 males and 31 females. The percentage of recoveries on admissions was 3600 • the death-rate on the average number resident, 416. This asylum was inspected by me on the 18th and 20th December, 1884, when I left the following report in the Inspector's book : —