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and improvements to farm-buildings, &c. A water-supply and lire-service has been provided for the auxiliary building at Simla, but a proper reservoir has yet to be constructed. Eoads have been pushed further through the estate, but, owing to a breakdown of the stonecrusher and long delay in getting repairs effected, scarcely any metalling has been done during the year, and the condition of several of the roads is not satisfactory. A leasehold of over 90 acres at Puketeraki, partially cleared of bush the previous year, is now well grassed and securely fenced. This is a most valuable addition to the estate, and affords very fine pasture. There is a steady increase in the production of the farm, the most satisfactory advance during the year being, perhaps, an increase in the milk-yield from 50,854 to 58,608 gallons. In the matter of expenditure there is only one point which calls for special comment —viz., the large sum which appears under the heading " Necessaries, incidental and miscellaneous," and in dealing with this I can merely repeat what I have previously said upon the subject. Under this heading there is unavoidably charged, at the Seacliff Asylum, to annual expenditure money spent in repairs and improvements, which in most other institutions in the colony would not be charged to the Asylums Department, but to the Public Works Department. The maintenance and repair of the main building alone is a constant heavy charge, owing not merely to its large size and costly type, but even more'to initial defects of workmanship and construction. Sixteen years ago Seacliff Asylum was described by the then Inspector-General in his official report as " badly designed and out of date, the buildings defective in construction, and showing everywhere bad workmanship which should never have been accepted." During the last twelve years every effort has been made to overcome these initial defects and render the buildings properly habitable. As the whole of the plumbing had been utterly scamped, and has had to be almost entirely replaced and remodelled, and as there were almost no provisions for ventilation of buildings or drains, no proper drains anywhere, no adequate means of heating, and, in fact, no modern sanitary provisions of any kind, our annual expenditure upon unseen works of this class has necessarily been heavy in spite of the most rigid economy. When it is added that the Asylum was a mere naked unfurnished shell, which has had to be gradually painted, decorated, supplied with necessary furniture and amenities, while the estate was undeveloped and unequipped, and that all these things have to be remedied and supplied for the most part out of the annual expenditure of the institution, it will be fairly realised, I think, that the item " Necessaries, incidental and miscellaneous," has had peculiarly heavy burdens thrust upon it at this particular institution. Further, it is to be noted that in the accounts of the year there has been temporarily charged to " Necessaries " a sum of over £300 spent in wages for extra hands employed in connection with the new annexe, for which a refund will be obtained from the Public Works Department. An average of about 246 male patients have been employed throughout the year at the farm, garden, and workshops, while the main employment for women has been found in fruit-picking and in kitchen, laundry, sewing, mending, and other household work. The two following fatal accidents happened during the year, viz. : (1) A Chinaman working with a bush party carrying firewood at a steep hillside was struck on the head with a piece of wood pitched down from above; (2) a man escaped from the attendants into the bush and hanged himself before those who were pursuing could find his exact whereabouts. Another patient inflicted a severe wound on himself, but it healed rapidly, and left scarcely any scar and no disability. Amusements and recreations have been provided throughout the year. The thanks of the authorities are due to the Otago Times and Witness Company and to the Evening Star Company for copies of their journals supplied free. Very acceptable donations have also been received of books, periodicals, &c, from private individuals. To my colleague Dr. Falconer and to the staff I have to convey my thanks for their cordial assistance in carrying out the work of the institution. I have, &c, F. Teuby King, The Inspector-General of Asylums, Wellington. Medical Superintendent.
D. MacGeegoe, M.A., M.8., Inspector-General of Asylums.
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