Charitable Institutions.

The funds required for the support of hospitals, asylums, and kindred institutions are chiefly derived from endowments, and local rates. To these may be added fees from patients, and contributions due to private generosity. The Christchurch Hospital, the most important institution of its kind in the province, is beautifully situated on a terrace above the Avon, at the corner of Lincoln and Riccatcon roads. Its controlling body has an annual total income of about £10,000. Chiefly through the generous bequest of the late Mr. Hyman Marks, a fine brick wing— the Hyman Marks' Ward—and a comfortable home for the nurses have lately been added to the older building. In size, comfort, and convenience, and the completeness of its appointments, the Christchurch Hospital compares favourably with any similar institution in the colony. Smaller hospitals are situated at other centres; the Timaru Hospital Board has a revenue of about £3000, the Ashburton Board about £1300, the Waimate Board £1100, and the Akaroa Board £300. At Sumner, nine miles from Christchurch, there is a Deaf and Dumb Institution, which has about fifty patients in training. The children are taught to speak with the mouth, and to read articulate speech by observing the motions of the lips. About half of the deaf and dumb inhabitants of the colony are domiciled in the institution, which is supported by the Government at a cost of over £3000 a year.

The work of distributing charitable aid and relieving the absolutely destitute is carried out by two boards. Of these the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board has an income of over £14,000, and the South Canterbury Board an income of over £2000.

One of the largest and best appointed Lunatic Asylums in the colony is situated at Sunnyside, on the Lincoln Road, about three miles from Christchurch. The returns for 1901 show that about 280 males and 230 females were treated at Sunnyside during the preceding year. There is a large farm attached to the Asylum, and those of the patients whose physical and mental condition permits so much freedom, are employed in the lighter work about the farm and buildings, with very beneficial results. The Sunnyside Asylum costs over £9000 in annual maintenance. At Ashburn Hall, a private asylum situated at Waikari, North Canterbury, twenty-two males and twenty-three females received medical treatment for insanity during the year 1900–1901. The Rhodes Convalescent Home is a picturesque building, situated on the slope of the Port Hills, near Cashmere, about 200 feet above the level of the plains. This Home, together with the valuable grounds surrounding it, was presented to the city by the family of the late Robert Heaton Rhodes. The Home is managed by a lady superintendent under the supervision of a committee; and the object of the institution is to provide a healthful change for invalids who need rest and fresh air. As the property was endowed with a revenue by the generous founders, the charges for invalids are made extremely low.

Mount Magdala is an asylum for unfortunate women. It was founded chiefly through the exertions of the Rev. L. M. Ginaty, and is managed by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. The Asylum stands in a large farm about five miles from Christchurch, on the Lincoln Road. A large portion of the funds is supplied by an extensive laundry business which the institution carries on. There is accommodation for 134 inmates, and the number in residence averages about 120.

The old Addington Gaol, on Lincoln Road, is now utilised as a Samaritan Home, with accommodation for about sixty persons, and with an average of forty-four inmates. At Linwood there is a Female Refuge with an average of twenty-one inmates. At Woolston the Queen's Jubilee Memorial Home averages sixty inmates, and at Lyttelton an Orphan Asylum is provided for children needing the care of the State. The Industrial School at Burnham, about eighteen miles from Christchurch, is used as a reformatory for about 380 boys and 200 girls. At Ashburton, fifty miles from Christchurch, there has for many years been an Old Men's Home with accommodation for sixty-five persons, but on the 16th of November, 1901, the Hon. W. C. Walker, Minister in charge of the Charitable Aid Department, laid the foundation stone for a new home to be built entirely of brick, and with accommodation for from seventy to eighty inmates.

The province has various private and denominational institutions founded for charitable purposes, notably the City Mission Home, but enough has been said to show that the suffering, the destitute, page 56 the insane, and the aged in Canterbury, receive a liberal share of humane attention and support.