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smoothly. The clothing, which, owing to the delay in getting ready the new system of contract, had become deficient, is rapidly being put to rights. I found all the patients were well cared-for. Three are under medical treatment. Forty-two males and thirty-four females are employed in some useful work, and this, out of a total of ninety-five, is very satisfactory. Under Mr. Morrison's management I expect a much better return from the farm than has yet been obtained. At my next visit I shall be in a better position to judge of Mr. Morrison's management. Hitherto his time and thoughts have been so occupied with the state of the accounts as left by Mr. White that it has not been possible to do much beyond preparing the ground for next season's crop. Hokitika. 12th February, 1890. — This week I made two visits of inspection to the Asylum—on the 10th and 12th. On both occasions I found everything in admirable order. The patients were examined individually, and I was greatly struck with their healthy appearance. They were comfortably clad and shod, and I was particularly pleased to find that, under Dr. Macandrew's treatment, the unusual number of goitres of large size, which were so noticeable on my former visits, had almost all disappeared. An unusually large proportion of the inmates are employed on the farm and in the gardens, and Mr. Gribben has shown extraordinary skill in making the most of any faculties the patients may manifest for any form of useful employment. I heard no complaints from either patients or attendants. The statutory books were duly entered up, and the case-book in particular is very carefully kept. Here, as in all our New Zealand asylums, the proportion of curable cases is small, the great majority being chronic and incurable. The Asylum is in a thoroughly satisfactory condition, and is creditable to all the officers, among whom the best spirit prevails, so that the utmost harmony pervades the institution. Christchurch. 11th September, 1889. —To-day and yesterday I have been engaged in inspecting this Asylum. I was particularly anxious to ascertain how Dr. Levinge and his staff had managed to tide over the winter, considering the overcrowding necessitated by the destruction of the female wing. lam relieved to find that, owing to the unusually mild winter, no great hardship had to be endured either by patients or attendants. The organization of the staff has been so skilful, and the administration so vigorous, that the Asylum is in better order than the most sanguine could have anticipated. There is no friction or disorder. The female side, where the greatest difficulties had to be faced, I found to be very quiet and orderly. The clothing, bedding, and feeding are very satisfactory, and there is not the slightest ground for the suspicions which interested persons are endeavouring to propagate regarding the management of the Asylum. Very great improvements have been effected in the drainage of the farm. The new farm-buildings are very substantial, commodious, and cheaply constructed. Vigour and capacity are manifest everywhere, and I hope that Dr. Levinge's health, which had been affected by worry and anxiety, is now permanently re-established. The new matron, Miss Campbell, will, I am sure, prove a great assistance to the female side, and I have no doubt that, once the new buildings are finished, this institution will soon be placed in such 'a condition that it will be a credit to the district. The pains which Mr. Russell has bestowed on the recovery of maintenance-money has had a most gratifying result, and he deserves my warmest commendation. The books and papers were all in good order, and the institution as a whole is in a thoroughly sound condition. 19th March, 1890.—After a careful inspection of this Asylum during to-day and yesterday, I am greatly impressed with the admirable devotion of Dr. Levinge and his staff, which has enabled them to produce such results amidst the overcrowding and manifold embarrassments of the past year. At every point there is evidence of signal administrative ability. In all essentials the comfort of the patients has been successfully looked after, and such disagreeable experiences as were inseparable from the building operations are now nearly at an end. Unfortunately, through a misunderstanding, the opening of the new female wing has been delayed. Prison-locks have been sent out from England instead of asylum-locks, which had been ordered. The delay, however, is not without its compensating advantages. The walls are having time to get thoroughly dry, so that the painting of them can be completed at once, thus saving a great deal of subsequent trouble. The new buildings will entirely remove many difficulties which hampered the management before the fire, and the new day-rooms will be a very great advantage. So greatly has the female side been improved by the additional day-room accommodation that the very first opportunity should be taken to secure the same benefit for the male side by building a similar transverse block. A great deal of welldirected labour has been expended on the farm and garden, with the most satisfactory results ; and I am satisfied that, if only Dr. Levinge could get rid of the workmen and the confusion that they necessarily cause, he would soon transform the whole appearance of the Asylum and its grounds. It is not, in my opinion, possible to look after the patients in the circumstances better than they are looked after. A good spirit pervades the staff, and that is saying a good deal when the difficulties they have had to face are considered. The statutory books are all well kept, and the medical certificates are in proper form. The total number of patients is 367—males 221, and females 146. Two females and two males are restrained by gloves from injuring themselves. The amount and full details of all seclusion resorted to are duly entered in the medical journal. The useful employment of all who are capable of benefiting thereby is sedulously encouraged, and a great deal of care is devoted to the religious instruction and amusement of the inmates. Seacliff. sth September, 1889.—1 have been engaged for the last three days in making my half-yearly inspection of this Asylum. I find that, partly owing to good management, and partly owing to the unusual mildness of the winter, much less discomfort has been experienced by the patients than I anticipated from the overcrowding caused by the delay in removing and restoring the damaged