H.—25.

Summary. The following is a summary of the principal conclusions come to in the foregoing report :— 1 and 2. There is no extravagant expenditure of money on architectural effects in the laundry and larder. The boiler can do its work when it and the other appliances are in perfect order, but it is desirable to get a larger one. The alteration in the Inspector's method of heating the coppers was made to meet the wishes of the Medical Superintendent. The workmanship and materials in the drying-horses are not bad and unsuitable, but the design furnished by the asylum authorities has a few minor defects. 3. Beyond that arising from its newness, there is no particular dampness about the building. The water which lodged under the basement has been drained off at a cost of £4 4s. sd. 4. The leakage in the roof, which was due to broken slates, has been repaired. This is a mere matter of maintenance. 5. The woodwork and fittings of windows and doors are a good fair job, and the locks, bolts, and hinges are not trumpery. It is not usual to nail window-beads tightly, but if considered necessary they could be done for £4 or £5. 6. There is no general movement in the ground, and there has been little or no movement of any kind for about twelve months. The damage done is comparatively small, and the part of the building affected is in constant occupation. 7. The store-fittings were made of green and sappy timber, so have shrunk and warped unduly. The total cost, however, was only £33 175., and a small fraction of this amount will make good the defects. 8. The tanks were made of lead advisedly, on the score of economy ; the leakage is due to imperfect maintenance. The valves or taps were altered into their present position by direction of the Medical Superintendent. The cost of providing safes for the drip would be £6 or £7, but this will not completely save the ceilings, which are mainly injured by water spilt on the floor. There are no putty-joints in the pipes. 9 and 10. The roads and airing-courts are in a bad condition from mud, but this a matter for the asylum authorities. It also rests with them to take the initiative in furnishing the, hall and erecting gasworks. Conclusion. Leaving out the settlement of the building, which could not be foreseen, and the boiler, which is very much a question of keeping the other appliances in good order, all the structural defects in the Seacliff Asylum referred to in the Inspector's report may be rectified for £30. When we consider that the building has cost £78,000, the whole matter is summed up in the telegram I sent from Dunedin stating that the faults have no practical existence. This brings me to what I consider the root of the whole trouble —the practice of referring to headquarters every trifling matter that arises in connection with the asylum. The regulations relating to the repair of public buildings provide that the officer in charge of any building can get small repairs done on application to the local Engineer of the Public Works Department, and the Engineer is authorized to do such repairs without reference to Wellington/ Instead of adhering to these regulations, the practice at Seacliff appears to be for the Medical Superintendent to let things remain until the Inspector makes his half-yearly visit, and direct his attention to them. The Inspector enters his opinion oi them in a book kept at the institution, and in due course a copy of this entry reaches Wellington. Whether it ever reaches the person who is expected to take action is a detail which seems to receive little attention. As already noticed, the report of November, 1884, contained a reference to the water under the building, the leakage in the roof, and the loose window, all of which required immediate attention. That report was not seen in the Public Works Department until some time after the May, 1885, report had been received. If the regulations above mentioned are only worked to there will be no delay in rectifying any little defect that may appear and repairing any damage that takes place; and, what is perhaps equally important, much misconception all round will be avoided. I have, &c, W. N. Blades, The Engineer-in-Chief, Wellington. Assistant Engineer-in-Chief.

By Authority: Gkobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBs.

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