5

H.—4

useful employment is 157 on the male side. On the female side, five were confined to bed, and five secluded; while 134 were usefully employed, and 57 unemployed, out of the total, 191. The clothing of the patients is good and suitable, except that their slippers were defective. The food is abundant, carefully cooked and served ; indeed, one of the most gratifying features of the management is the admirable way in which this department is looked after : none of the other asylums is equal to Sunnyside in this respect. Great difficulty has been experienced in laying out the grounds and airing-courts, owing to the constant building operations and laying of pipes, &c, but there is reason to hope that better progress can be made for the future in this matter. The stock-sheets were found to be well kept, and all the property issued to the attendants well looked after. A new laundry is a necessity, and I hope to get a vote for the purpose next session. The farm is in capital order. The statutory books and documents are in order, and my examination of the institution as a whole has given me the liveliest gratification. 27th May, 1893. —I have examined the Asylum and found everything going well. There is a good deal more than the usual number of persons confined to bed, owing to the disproportionate amount of aged and feeble cases admitted lately. The fire-prevention system was tested and found to be in good order. Seacliff. 25th August, 1892. —I have just completed my half-yearly inspection of this Asylum, and never before have I felt so satisfied with the whole working of the institution. The utmost harmony prevails among the staff, and the appearance of the patients shows that they are carefully looked after in every way. I appreciate very much the constant efforts made by Dr. King to improve the sanitary condition of the building, to make the classification better, and to make the whole place comfortable. He has introduced an effective system of fire-prevention, which now for the first time makes one feel comparatively easy about the dangers of fire. The day before yesterday the alarm-bell was unexpectedly rung, and within from eight to ten minutes the hose was fixed, three lengths of ladder placed in position, a window in the very top of the building forced in, the fire-escape fixed, and twenty-one patients were safely shot down from a height of three lofty stories on to the front lawn. The greatest credit is due to attendant Tattersall and the others whom he has drilled so creditably to act as a reliable fire brigade. The apparatus, from the hose-reel downwards, was all manufactured by the staff. The comfort of the day-rooms is being greatly improved by handsome sofas, all upholstered on the premises. The defective ventilation of the wooden single rooms on the female side, which press of other work has delayed, will soon be remedied. Both sides of the building are now comfortably heated, a fact which must improve the chances of weakly patients getting safely through the colder months of the year. The farm and garden operations are admirably carried on by Messrs. Cruickshank and Spence respectively. A skilled bacon-curer, who was a patient, has thoroughly taught this art to a member of the staff, and it is a sight to see the quantity of magnificently-cured bacon and hams which he has got ready for use. It has been a great pleasure to me to find such energy and goodwill pervading the Asylum. 31st December, 1892. —I have found all departments of this Asylum in the usual good order. The total number of patients is 513—males, 301 ; and females, 212. On the farm, 114 men are engaged in regular work; in the workshops, 37 ;in the wards, 73 men and 64 women are usefully and beneficially occupied. In the kitchen and sewing work, 58 women are assisting in various ways. This is perhaps the most striking feature of the management, and I know of no more satisfactory test of the good and efficient working of an asylum. It implies very great care and devotion to duty on the part of all the staff. I doubt whether anywhere better results can be shown, and the result is most striking in the improved health and appearance of the patients. The farm and grounds are steadily being improved. A very serious loss to the institution has been caused by an epidemic, of a very severe form, of what Dr King, by laborious pathological research, has determined to be tuberculosis, among the swine. I hope the results of this investigation will be made public, and that some benefit may result to those interested in such matters. All the pigs had to be killed. Great additional comfort has been provided in the day-rooms, reading-rooms, and billiard-rooms by providing comfortable and durable sofas and padded seats. Great attention is given to the amusements both of patients and attendants. One of the charge attendants, whose stock I found badly managed at my last visit, and whom I warned that any further laxity would be severely dealt with, has been dismissed as being evidently unequal to the duties required of him. All the statutory books and documents are in good order. The case-book in particular is admirably kept. 24th May, 1893. —I visited the Asylum to-day, in company with the Hon. W. P. Reeves, and found the Asylum working satisfactorily. Hokitika. 25th November, 1892.—1 find that this Asylum is very efficiently and economically managed. The patients to-day number 99 —males, 65 ; and females, 34. Of these, one man and two women were confined to bed. The dinner was well served and of good quality. The beds and dormitories are comfortable and perfectly clean. In fact, the cleanliness which pervades the whole institution, and the order and neatness everywhere apparent, strike a visitor very forcibly. The books and documents were found in order. The staff is capable and contented. The Asylum, as a whole, deserves the confidence of the public, and is a credit to the district. Nelson. 22nd November, 1892.—After making a careful examination I find this Asylum in a very satisfactory state. The patients are all well cared for. Order and cleanliness prevail throughout. I regret to say that there are very few cases who have a chance of recovery. There were none in seclusion or under any form of restraint. The total number of patients is 108—males, 64 ; females,