Seacliff Lunatic Asylum . This asylum was established in 1877. As it now exists it is one of the most noteworthy institutions in the Colony. The asylum estate comprises about 1000 acres, and the building commands a noble view of the surrounding country, and is itself visible from the deck of passing steamers. In front there is a large lawn, which is used by patients and attendants for cricket. There is also an enclosed and prettily laid out recreation ground for female patients; there is a summer house provided with seats in the ground; walks are asphalted, and the surrounding fence is hid from view, which at first sight gives an impression of perfect freedom from restraint; a circumstance which at first sight gives an impression of perfect freedom from restraint; a circumstance which must prove beneficial to patients. The building itself is of brick, with cement facings. It is of a bold design, and is three stories high in front and two behind. Female patients occupy the northern half, and males the southern portion of the building. There is an entrance hall in the centre of the building, with offices off the entrance, to the right. At the end of the hall there is a large reception room for visitors seeing patients, and to the left are the surgery and laboratory, accident ward, etc. On the first floor there are convalescent and refractory wards for each sex, and these are provided with all necessary hospital accommodation, lavatories, cells, etc. The bedrooms are on the second floor. The convalescent ward for men is provided with billiard, sitting and dining rooms, and similar provision is made for the women patients, with the difference that a sewing room takes the place of a billiard room. Immediately over the entrance hall there is the general dining room, with all necessary provision for both patients and attendants; and above it, again, there is the large music hall, which serves as a chapel, and there is a concert hall and ball room, with a gallery, a large stage and the usual appliances. The building is fitted with proper fire escapes and fire alarms, and there is a patent electric tally to denote the rounds of the night watchman, and the times of his visits to the different wards. A very complete system of heating is provided for the whole building. A large fine weather recreation ground, surrounded with a high page 148 picket fence, with a shelter shed, is provided for men whose cases are classified as refractory. At the back of the building there are asphalted courts for the use of both sexes during wet weather. Convalescent male patients are permitted to roam through the grounds, on the understanding that they do not leave the precincts of the estate; and this rule has, in its effect, greatly lessened the number of escapes. Out of a total of 700 patients less than 100 are not at work. The men follow various occupations on the estate, and the women are engaged in washing, sewing, and other light work. Close to the back of the men's quarters there is a large blue stone building, which provides accommodation for blacksmiths, painters, carpenters, upholsterers, plumbers, bootmakers, tailors, and bookbinders; and the fire brigade appliances and outfit are in the same section of the building. Standing about ten chains backwards from the main building, there is an auxiliary asylum, which has all necessary offices and equipments, and is connected with the main building by means of a covered way. To the north of this auxiliary building, on a prominent and picturesque site, stands the residence of the farm manager. Close to this again is the poultry farm, which carries on an extensive trade in sittings of eggs, and in pullets and cockerels with many persons in Otago, Southland and Canterbury. There is an incubation house with all necessary apparatus and a good fowl run. The cow byres are in a large wooden building, with concrete floor. In the centre, accommodation is provided for sixty milking cows; on the eastern side there are eight stalls and a loose box for horses; on the west, there are the piggeries and calf pens—all beautifully clean, well aired and well paved. One of the industries connected with the asylum is stone-breaking. For this purpose a ten-horse power steam engine is kept, and it is worked beside the tramway used for the conveyance of firewood to the asylum, which consumes about seven cords per day. There are various small gardens in connection with the asylum, which is never without fresh vegetables. It has an orchard, fruit gardens, nursery, several propagating houses, and a number of glass houses, some of which are devoted to tomato growing. There is a promising plantation of 250 walnut trees, eight years old, and walnuts, chestnuts and filberts are growing in other parts of the grounds. The water supply is brought from above Warrington, about three miles distant, along the railway line, and thence up the district road and into the asylum. A small reservoir is also provided on the estate. The laundry, a large handsome red brick building, is situated between the farm manager's house and the asylum; it is continually working, and a never-ending washing day is carried on. The work is done by female patients, superintended by attendants of their own sex. The residence of the medical superintendent is a large two-storey wooden building, in the grounds of which there are rustic bridges over rivulets, and an artistic summer-house, which was constructed by one of the patients. Since these particulars were first drawn together many improvements have been made in connection with the asylum. They include a cottage for convalescent female patients. It stands a few chains from the main building and contains ten well furnished rooms. Then there is the Nurses' Home, a large wooden building of a pretty design; this stands close to the north end of the institution, and was built in 1901. A fourth ward, attached to the north end of the main building, has considerably increased the accommodation for female patients. It is a long wooden building of one storey, and was erected in 1900. A smoke house and fish shop has recently been erected at the back of the asylum, and there is a fully equipped fishing station at Karitane, four miles distant. Simla, situated on the hill, about half a mile from the institution, is one of the most important of the more recent additions. It is a wooden building of one storey, contains seven dormitories, fourteen single rooms, one large dining room, one billiard room, lavatories, bath rooms, and store rooms, and provides accommodation for 100 male patients. Bella Vista, about one mile and a quarter north from Simla, was erected to provide a place of isolation, and has proved of great value in cases of contagion. The farm connected with the institution has been much improved during recent years; new byres have been erected, and the general work of clearing and cultivating has proceeded apace. In May, 1902, electric light was installed throughout the establishment. The power-house for that purpose is situated to the rear of the main building. The first medical superintendent of Seacliff Asylum was Dr. Neill. He was succeeded by Dr. Ratford King, and then came the present superintendent, Dr. Truby King, whose tenure of office dates from early in 1889. Dr. Truby King was first honoursman in his year at Edinburgh University.