No. 2

Referring to my Despatch No 125 of the 11th October last, and
Your Lordship's Circular of 1st of August previous, I now have
the honor to forward the Returns of Hospitals and Lunatic
Asylums, required in Lord Granville's Circular of the 12th July
1869.

2. There is no separate Lunatic Asylum, I regret to say. The
small number of Patients and the pecuniary embarrassments of the
Colony have hitherto prevented any attempt to supply this want.
Lunatics can only be confined in part of the Gaols at Victoria
 and New Westminster under the best arrangements for their
comfort which are possible in the circumstances.

3. There are three Hospitals—at Victoria, New Westminster and
Cariboo. Although not coming up to the standards of English
requirements, those at the two latter places answer all
practical purposes for small communities very well, and provide
sufficiently for the comfort of the Patients. The Hospital at
Victoria is not equally satisfactory. But it is not under the
control of the government; being managed by a Board

*

consisting of a President, Treasurer, Secretary and Eight
Members who are elected at a yearly public meeting of
subscribers. The Institution is supported by Voluntary
Contributions, and a small income arising from paying patients,
with the aid of a grant from the Government of Three hundred and
Twenty Dollars per month;

**

which however constitutes the chief Revenue.

4. A good deal of discussion has from time to time taken place
as to the necessity for improvement in the Victoria Hospital,
 and after Union with Canada, when the finances of the Colony
will be in a more prosperous condition, I have no doubt that
steps will be taken for this purpose.