H.—7

1903. NEW ZEALAND.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF THE COLONY (REPORT ON) FOR 1902.

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

The Inspector-General of Asylums to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— • Wellington, 30th June, 1903. I have the honour to lay before you the following report on the Lunatic Asylums of the colony for the year ended 31st December, 1902 : — The number of registered insane persons on the 31st December, 1902, was 2,848 —males, 1,715 ; females, 1,133, being an increase of 75 —males, 61; females, 14—over the previous year. The insane of the colony are distributed as follows : — Males. Females. Total. Auckland ... ... ... 341 197 538 Christchurch ... ... ... ... .. 317 239 556 Dunedin (Seacliff) ... ... ... ... 430 235 665 Hokitika ... ... ... ... ... 88 32 120 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... 84 54 138 Porirua ... ... ... ... ... 258 250 508 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 177 104 281 Ashburn Hall (private asylum) ... ... ... 20 22 42 1,715 1,133 2,848 The proportion of the male insane to the male population is,— New Zealand (exclusive of Maoris) ... ... 4-00 per 1,000,0r lin 250 New Zealand (inclusive of Maoris) ... ... 3-82 „ lin 262 The proportion of the female insane to the female population, — Exclusive of Maoris ... ... ... ' ... 2-94 „ lin 339 Inclusive of Maoris ... ... ... ... 2-82 „ lin 355 The proportion of the total insane to the total population,— Exclusive of Maoris ... ... ... ... 3-50 „ lin 286 Inclusive of Maoris ... ... ... -... 335 „ 1 in 299 Admissions. On the Ist January, 1902, the number of insane persons in our Asylums was—males, 1,654 ; females, 1,119 : total, 2,773. The number of those admitted during the year for the first time was —males, 290; females, 150 : total, 440. The readmissions numbered —males, 62 ; females, 42 : total, 104. Deaths. The percentage of deaths on the average number resident during the year was 628, as compared with 6-41 for the previous year. The percentage of deaths on the admissions was— males, 34-90 ; females, 28-65 : total, 32-17. Eecoveeies. The percentage of recoveries on the admissions was —males, 38-35 ; females, 51-56 : total, 43-01, as compared with 4217 for the previous year. I—H. 7,