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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Mr. Walter Morley Miller

Mr. Walter Morley Miller, Secretary, Treasurer, and House Steward of the Christchurch Hospital, was born in Poole, Dorsetshire, England. He was educated in Bristol at the establishment of his uncle, the late Mr. Alfred Day, LL.D. Mr. Miller came out to the colonies in 1853, and was for a number of years in Australia, where he became
Scene Near The Hospital.

Scene Near The Hospital.

page 158 associated with Sir Thomas Mitchell, surveyor-general of New South Wales, with whom he continued until the death of Sir Thomas. In 1863 Mr. Miller crossed the Tasman Sea to Nelson, and was for some time engaged in goldmining at Collingwood. He was one of the party who conducted Dr Hochstetter through the stalactite caves of Collingwood. Subsequently Mr. Miller engaged in mining in the Grey Valley, and was there for many years. Removing to Christchurch in 1882, Mr. Miller was appointed secretary of the old Benevolent Association, prior to the coming into operation of the present Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, and was appointed to the positions he now holds in January, 1886. Mr. Miller was married, in 1867, to a daughter of Mr. Joseph Lash, of Paignton, Torquay, and has one son and one daughter living.
Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. W. M. Miller.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. W. M. Miller.

Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum is situated on a block of land facing Lincoln Road, beyond Addington, and about three miles from Christenchurch. In the early period of settlement in Canterbury, lunatics were accommodated in a portion of Lyttelton Gaol, under the supervision of the chief gaoler, Mr. E. W. Seager, afterwards lay superintendent and later still steward of Sunnyside Asylum. In 1868 the inmates were transferred from the gaol to the asylum, which was originally a wooden building and is now used chiefly for workshops. During Mr Seager's term of service, which terminated in 1887, the main portions of the present asylum were erected, and the architect was largely assisted by the late Dr. Hacon, the first Medical Superintendent, in designing the central—that is, the administrative—block. The female wards, or west wing, were first built, followed by the male wards, or east wing. The central block was erected in 1887, and has both a northern and southern aspect. Each wing contains four wards, and two of these are capable of further subdivision if required. In 1880 a fire occurred in the female wards, which completely gutted that part of the building. Steps were immediately taken to restore the injured section, and the entire wing was re-modelled, enlarged, and vastly improved, as regards accommodation, sanitary conditions, and facility of administration, at a total cost of about £12,000. Up to the time of the disaster there were no proper appliances for suppressing an outbreak of fire. These have since been supplied on the most approved principles, including the system of electric alarm bells throughout the entire building, and there is also a regular fire-drill of the asylum brigade, which is composed of the attendants. The dining-hall is a fine apartment measuring 89 by 44 1/2 feet, heated with steam radiators, and supplied with, twenty tables, each of which accommodates sixteen persons. The room is also used for religious services and entertainments. At one end of the hall there is a stage, measuring 64 by 1 1/2 feet, provided with a drop curtain and other necessary appliances for giving periodical entertainments to relieve the monotony of the life of the inmates. At the other end of the hall there is a gallery with an organ. The departmental offices consist of waiting-rooms, public office, medical superintendent's room, and assistant medical officer's quarters. North of this block and connected by a covered corridor, is the laundry, containing receiving and sorting rooms, wash-house, fitted with enamelled earthenware wash-tubs, two washing-machines with steam-engines, attachment by Oakley and Keating, of (New York, a centrifugal hydro-extractor, by Broadbent and Sons, of Huddersfield, and steam-boilers. There is also a large drying-room, heated by steampipes, and constructed generally on the most approved principles. There are also ironing and mangling rooms, with gas iron-heaters. Artesian water is supplied to the whole establishment on the gravitation principle by means of a powerful pump. The officials of the institution consist of the medical superintendent, Dr Edward G. Levinge; assistant medical officer, Dr Arthur H. Crosby; clerk and steward, Mr. John E. Russell; head attendant, Mr. G. Chapman; and matron, Miss L. Erskine. There are also two engineers, and most of the male attendants are artisans, farm hands, or gardeners, who are capable of directing the occupation of the patients to the best advantage. One of the advantages of having a farm attached to the asylum is that it enables the superintendent to find diversified employment for the male patients, who are stated to be chiefly drawn from the agricultural classes. The variety of employment is the chief and most salutary method of treatment, whilst the produce of the farm, especially the milk, butter, potatoes, and vegetables is of considerable value to the institution. The stock of the farm consists of from sixty to seventy milch cows, besides dry cows and calves. There is a capital dairy constructed on the most approved modern principles, and worked on both the Jersey, creamery, and separator systems. The skim milk from the former being slightly richer, is used in the asylum for cooking, and that from the separator is given to the pigs, of which there are from 100 to 200 always in various stages of fattening. These pigs form a considerable source of revenue, yielding as much, as £552 in one year, with a net profit of £100. There is a pasteurizing plant, and the Babcock tester is used for ascertaining the richness of the milk so as to regulate the class of cows kept on the estate. The cattle are mostly of the Ayrshire breed with a few Shorthorn grades. A working overseer is in charge of the farm, and lives in a detached building with some of the working patients. The asylum is surrounded with fine gardens, ‘with beautiful lawns, which are kept in splendid order, and are very pleasing to the eye of the visitor.