ASYLUMS IN THE COLONY.

Gk—No. 27a,

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If I am in error in my reading of the Acts, may I ask you to be good enough to have me advised. 11. One patient, No. 374, was admitted on the 14th instant for curative treatment as an habitual drunkard. As he conducts himself very properly, I have not the same objections to urge against his remaining, as it was absolutely necessary to make in reference to a previous patient of this class, who has been got rid of. 12. I would particularly urge that there should be (at once, before the season for gardening is past) a small garden plot laid off round each attendant's cottage, and. fenced in. I have, &c, J. W. Hamilton, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Inspector, " Sunnyside" Lunatic Asylum.

No. 14. Mr. Harman to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent's Office, Sir, — Christchurch, 24th September, 1872. I have the honor to forward herewith a Report by the Inspector of the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum of an inspection made by him on the 18th instant. I have, Ac, R. J. S. Harman, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Deputy Superintendent of Canterbury.

Enclosure in No. 14. Mr. Hamilton to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 24.) Sir, —■ Christchurch, 18th September, 1872. I have the honor to report that I inspected Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum this day, in accordance with the directions of " The Lunatics Act, 1868." 1. All the books were closely written up, and in proper order. 2. The number of patients was 114—viz., males, 76; females, 38. One female patient was under seclusion; none under restraint. 3. I found everything in its customary state of good order and cleanliness. 4. The inquiries I had made at Rangiora respecting patient 373, alluded to in paragraph 9 of my last Report (No. 23, August 20), have satisfied me that he requires to be treated at the Asylum. 5. Patient 374, under "curative treatment" as an "habitual drunkard," continues to conduct himself so as to remove all the objections which have been raised to allowing, as a general rule, this class of patient to remain in the Asylum while it is not roomy enough for special classification of patients. 6. A safe has been provided, as recommended by me, for protection of the Registers and other important papers against damage by fire. 7. The poultry yard near the eastern front of the Asylum requires still to be removed to the back, so that the prevailing N.E. winds shall not, as at present, drive the smell from it directly on to the wards. 8. The ditch running alongside the attendant's cottage, near the gateway, and containing unwholesome stagnant water and drainage from the laundry, has yet to be filled up as recommended in my last Report (paragraph 7). 9. The convalescents' cottage I found, on this visit, in a thorough state of neatness and cleanliness. 10. I would again urge that the new attendants' cottages should all be fenced round neatly, and a garden plot laid off for each. 11. The attendant's cottage at the S.E. angle of the Asylum is the only one that faces the full heat of the noonday sun and is without the protection of a verandah. One ought to be added before the summer heats become excessive. 12. The photographing room is now repaired and in good working order. A camera has been secured for taking portraits instantaneously, The advantages of this over the ordinary camera are, that it saves much trouble, a better likeness is procured, and none of the patients are alarmed at the apparatus required. Many were under apprehension that some harm was intended to be done to them with the ordinary apparatus ; as for instance, that they were going to be shot at with it. In my Report of 17th January last (page 8) I recommended the general use of photographing in all Asylums, as a means, far superior to any written description, by which patients can be identified by friends at home. In one instance, the small outlay at Sunnyside has been highly reproductive in bringing in a guarantee of £25 per annum maintenance money from a gentleman in England, who was enabled by the photograph sent him to identify as his brother a patient whose written description was insufficient, and who was being maintained entirely at the public expense. 13. I beg again to urge on the Government the necessity for at once connecting the Asylum with the Police Depot and Pire Brigade Office by telegraph, and allowing the poles already erected along the Lincoln Road for the Akaroa line to be used for the short one of about two miles now recommended. I am informed that the Telegraph Department have objected to this wire being run along the Akaroa poles, on the very ridiculous and absurd ground that this will be a "private line!" The Lunatic Asylum is a public institution, built with the public funds, under the control of a branch of the Government of the Colony, existing in virtue of a public Act of the General Assembly, and placed under the 2