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paralytic, and one epileptic, being fifteen hopeless cases, besides fourteen cases of
chronic insanity, who have been Asylum inmates for periods varying from four to
twenty years.

Four males died during the year, two of them from general paresis, from which they
were suffering upon admission; another died suddenly from serous apoplexy, and the
fourth from exhaustion following exposure and want of food in consequence of having
escaped from the Asylum for a time: another male patient also escaped, and is said
by the police to be living at Rangitikei.

The general health of the patients remains, as hitherto, very good, being, in fact,
much superior to that of the townspeople, owing to the better sanitary condition of
their surroundings, and their good diet. Although the present Asylum is situated
in a very breezy position yet the inmates remain remarkably free from any chest
affections, and enjoy an immunity from epidemics. They have always appeared to me
to be generally contented with their condition, which may be accounted for by the fact
of their present mode of living being much superior to what the majority have been
accustomed to as working people. I have no doubt the amusements they enjoy among
themselves and friends of the Masters and attendants conduces to this, as also the
Sunday services kindly conducted by Mr. Gaby at the request of the Bishop. Another
reason for their contentment is that such as are able are kept pretty generally employed,
especially the men, fifteen out of the twenty-two being more or less employed
out of doors daily in favourable weather, and without being pushed to work laboriously;
some preferring to work alone, others in company. The women are chiefly kept occupied
in knitting, mending, and washing clothes, keeping the wards and corridors
clean, as well as making beds, and, in addition, are allowed to walk about the grounds
in the neighbourhood in charge of attendants. Their liberty might be much increased
if a few acres in the immediate vicinity of the Asylum were surrounded by a high
fence, and this could easily be so adapted to the ground as not to interfere with the
view. In connection with this it would be of great advantage to the more delicate
patients if a mound which is immediately in front, and a little to one side of the
building, had a covered seat erected upon it, capable of containing ten or twelve
persons, as from this spot a beautiful view of the town and harbour is obtained; this
could be connected by means of a light garden fence with a lawn or croquet ground
in course of formation.

At present the establishment is quite free from any overcrowding; but looking
at the large increase in numbers during the present year, this will inevitably take
place before long owing to the large number of chronic and incurable cases which have
been accumulating during the past twenty years, and it is to be expected that a proportionate
increase will take place with the increasing population of the Colony.

The most violent and dirty patients are accommodated in what were intended as workshops;
these require additions to render them adequate to the increasing demands for
their use. In the first place, special accommodation is required for two idiot children,
as well as for three attendants, especially on the female side, although it would be
advisable to make similar additions on both sides, increasing the size of the present
day-rooms, and enclosing the ground at the back to form exercising yards. A
general bath-room, with central bath, should also be added on each side for this class
of patients.

There is no special accommodation for private patients. The most convenient and
economical could be obtained by adding another storey over each of the front day-
rooms, which would also improve the appearance of the frontage.

One of the greatest improvements would be lighting by means of gas; at present
there is great risk of fire from kerosene lamps.

Special provision against fire should be provided by means of hydrants, fire
buckets, and garden engine, which last could also be used in cleaning windows. The
present supply of water appears to be ample and of good quality, and could be
supplemented by means of a reservoir on the neighbouring hills. A few tanks placed
on the outside of the buildings would be useful to catch such rain water as at present
runs to waste, and an open brick drain should be built all round the premises.

With regard to ventilation, the present plan—by open windows and fireplaces—
although ample is drafty, and might with advantage be assisted by shafts or openings
communicating with the chimneys of the large rooms especially applicable to those
occupied by the dirty and excited patients; also by means of flues of zinc running up
to and terminating in the roofs. These shafts to be supplemented with venetian
openings above the doors (luffe-boarded blinds) covered with perforated zinc. The
cells could be ventilated in a somewhat similar manner.