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1901. NEW ZEALAND.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF THE COLONY (REPORT ON) FOR 1900.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Inspectok-Geneeal of Asylums to the Hon. the Minister of Education. Sib,— Wellington, 20th May, 1901. I have the honour to lay before you the following report on the lunatic asylums of the colony for the year ended the 31st December, 1900: — The number of registered insane persons on the 31st December, 1900, was 2,672 —Males, 1,581; females, 1,091 —being an increase of 115 —males, 71; females, 44—over the previous year. The insane of the colony are distributed as follows : — Males. Females. Total. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 297 190 487 Christchurch ... ... ... ... .. 283 231 514 Dunedin (Seacliff) ... ... ... ... 401 224 625 Hokitika ... ... ... ... ... 87 34 121 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... 85 52 .137 Porirua ... ... ... ... ... 218 245 463 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 188 90 278 Ashburn Hall (private asylum) ... ... ... 22 23 45 1,581 1,091 2,672 The proportion of the male insane to the male population is,— New Zealand (exclusive of Maoris) ... ... 3-90 per 1,000, or lin 256 New Zealand (inclusive of Maoris) ... ... 3-71 „ lin 270 The proportion of the ftmale insane to the female population,— Exclusive of Maoris ... ... ... ■ ... 299 „ lin 335 Inclusive of Maoris ... ... ... ... 2-85 „ lin 351 The proportion of the total insane to the total population,— Exclusive of Maoris ... ... ... ... 3-47 „ lin 288 Inclusive of Maoris ... ... ... ... 3-30 „ lin 303 Admissions. On the Ist January, 1900, the number of insane persons in our asylums was—Males, 1,512 ; females, 1,045: total, 2,557. The number of those admitted during the year for the first time was —Males, 250 ; females, 157: total, 407. The readmissions numbered—Males, 85; females, 106 : total, 191. Deaths. The percentage of deaths on the average number resident during the year was 561, as compared with 6-30 for the previous year. The percentage of deaths on the admissions was—Males, 33-00; females, 22-77: total, 28 88. Recoveeies. The percentage of recoveries on the admissions was —Males, 34-33; females, 47 - 52 : total, 39-64, as compared with 37-58 for the previous year. I—H. 7,