H.— 25

4

able, as a preventative to future settlement, to lower the drain. I think this is all that is required to give complete security. 7. Store Fittings. " The store-rooms and offices are good and conveniently situated, but the fittings as left by the ■contractor were of the roughest. Much time has been spent in reconstructing shelves, bins, and other articles which had become quite unserviceable through warping and shrinkage."—(lnspector's Beport, November, 1884.) These fittings did not form part of the contract, but were an extra done at the request of the asylum authorities. The work is certainly not up to the mark, there being undue shrinkage and warping in some of the timber, which seems to have been green and sappy to begin with. The explanation given to me by the architect and contractor is, that the work was wanted in a particular hurry, so the materials readiest to hand had to be taken. Under any circumstances the •matter is a trivial one. The total cost of the extra fittings in the store was £33 175., and a fraction of this amount will make good the defects. 8. Tanks and Piping. " The hot-water tanks, lined with lead, are frequently under repair, and will eventually become unserviceable after causing much mischief to ceilings. Some of the bath-room ceilings are being destroyed by leakage from valves and waste-pipes, the former unprovided with safes, and the latter having joints made of putty instead of solder."—(lnspector's Eeport, 1885.) The hot-water tanks, which were also an extra to the contract, are four in number, measuring about 3ft. 6in. each way. They are made of wood lined with lead. It was first intended to have them of copper, but the present plan was adopted on the score of economy. The lead expands and contracts by the change of temperature, and eventually cracks, causing leakage. The same action is observable every day in baths and gutters. It was from the first known that lead would require more maintenance than copper, but with tradesmen about, as at the asylum, this was not considered a serious objection. The valves, or rather taps in the bath-rooms, were originally placed so as to drip into the baths, as at the old Dunedin asylum, the handles being moveable to prevent interference by patients. At Dr. Neill's instance they were moved from this position, and placed in a locked cupboard alongside the bath, so they now drip on to the floor. The cost of providing the taps with cups or safes-leading to the waste-pipe will be from 7s. to Bs. for each bath, or £6 to £7 for the whole building. It is unnecessary to direct attention to the insignificance of this sum. I may, however, add that the damage to the ceilings is not due entirely to the drip from the taps, but mainly from the water that runs on to the floor from persons using the baths. As pointed out by Mr. Lawson, the only effectual remedy is to cover the whole floor with lead, or some other impervious material. This was recommended while the building was in course of erection, but not authorized on account of the expense. The statements that the joints of the waste-pipes are made of putty instead of solder is the most serious charge in the whole report, for it implies gross dishonesty on the part of the builder or plumber, and gross negligence or corruption on the part of the Architect and Clerk of Works. It will therefore be scarcely credited that the statement is without substantial foundation. Dr. Neill's explanation is that, in fixing the woodwork, a carpenter accidentally made a hole in one of the pipes. As there was no plumber about, he temporarily plugged up the hole, not, as it happened, with putty, though that is immaterial, but with Portland cement. That such a trifling circumstance should be magnified into a general charge of dishonesty and maladministration against those connected with the works is simply inexplicable. 9. lioads and Airing-courts. " The roads and paths about the asylum are in a very bad state of muddiness ; a great dea of road-metal is necessary for their formation and repair. The airing-courts also are wet for want of proper drains; that the patients are kept within doors much to their detriment."—(lnspector's Eeport, May, 1885.) 1 can indorse what is said by the Inspector as to the bad state of the roads, but can give no explanation on the subject, for the matter is altogether in the hands of the asylum authorities. That being so, it is scarcely for me to venture an opinion on the subject; but it strikes me as anomalous that such a state of things should be allowed to exist for long, with so much labour available in the asylum and plenty of material for road-making on the ground. "Work of this kind at asylums has hitherto not been charged to loan moneys. 10. Furniture and Gasworks. "The two large halls are perfectly useless, having no scats or tables, and being without any means of lighting them. Furniture ought to be supplied without further delay, and gasworks established. The whole of the asylum is at present wretchedly lighted by kerosene-lamps, which require the entire services of a man to trim and attend to. They are also an element of considerable danger. Lighting by gas would materially assist in warming the building, which is wretchedly cold now, and must be still more so in winter; while the whole of the residual products of manufacture would find a ready use in the establishment. Viewed only as a matter of economy, the provision of a proper gas-making plant is highly desirable." —(Inspector's Eeport, 1885.) This, is also a matter in which the initiative at least rests "with the asylum authorities. Whether the furniture is to be provided or the gasworks erected is a question between the Inspector and the Government, so Iv see no reason why it should be made the subject of a public complaint. As for the gasworks, a pause may well be made before beginning them, for they are estimated to cost £6,600.