THE STOKE ORPHANAGE

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10758, 11 September 1900, Page 3

THE STOKE ORPHANAGE

COMMISSION.

FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT.

The report of the Royal Commission on the Stoks Industrial School, Nelson, has now been circulated as a Parliamentary paper, and the great interest taken in the subject wo think justifies the publication of the document in full. The correspondence and evidence appended to the report would occupy about eighty 'Tress" columns, if printed in full. May it please your Excellency,— We, the Commissioners appointed by your Excellency's commissions of the 20th day of July and the 6th day of August. 1900, to inquire into and report on the management of the Industrial School for Boys at Stoke , , and the treatment of the inmate? therein within the last five wars, and into any matter or thing which might be preferred in writing or otherwise brought before us in any way relating to or arising out of the premisses, have now the honour to submit to your Excellency this our report.

In pursuance of the objects of our commission we proceeded to Nelson, risked the school at Stoke, and, after due notification to all persons concerned, and publication of your Kxcellcncy's commission of the 20th July, sat at the Supreme Court Building at Nelson on the 25th'day of that mouth, to receive any complaint that might be preferred against the management of the school, and hear any evidence produced in respect of them. The supplementary, commksioo was published, on the 10th August, aften previous notification, and further evidence taken subsequently*.

Tha 'School at Stoke, known locally a? "The Orphanage," is a branch of the Roman Catholic institution established in Nelson by the Rev. Father Garin in 1874, and which was subsequently recognised by the Industrial Schools Act, 1882, as a private school undiT that Act, by the name of "St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson." The approval of the. Rev. W. J. Mahoney, as manager, was gazetted in 1884, and he continues to hold that position.

The branch at Stoke, which is five miles from Nelson, is u-ed for boys of nine years' and upwards, the younger boys and girle being at tlu Convent at NeLson. The Rev. Father Mahoney resides at Nelson, and is manager under the Act of both branches. Tho development of the institution, and increase in the number of children, led to the (acquisition of 675 β-cres of land at Stoke, and the ereotion of the present building? thereon, at a total cost of some £11, COO. The property belongs to the archdiocese, and is vested in trustees, of whom Archbishop Redwood is one. The buildings are good, the playground, football and cricket grounds, and swimming-bath excellent; but the baths in the house are insufficient.

There is now a debt on the property of £5000, secured by mortgage, £500 having been paid off during the last two years. 0/ this sum £300 was taken, from the revenue of the school, andi £200 was a legacy to Father •Mah'jney, given for the purpose.

Prior to 1890, Father Mahoney had personal management of the school, but in January of that year an arrangement wa.« come u> by which the charge of the school was taken over by an Order known as Marist Brothers, a French religious Order of laymen devoted to tha instruction of poor boys, under a convention with the trustees, dated 13th May, 1889. by virtue of which the Order is empowered to receive all revenue of the estato iun4.scli.ool. and employ thesame for the purposes of the institution, a liability remaining with the trustees to supplement the funds if insufficient, with a proviso that, while- following-in their teaching the methods and rules of their society, they will in all things conform to the laws of the country.- Tho Superior-General of this . Order, which numbers some six thousand members throughout tho world, resides iD France, its members in thi.» and neighbouring colonies being under the immediate control of the Brother Provincial, who is stationed at Sydney, and who visits the school? under tho charge of his Order in this colony twice a year, at intervals of about six months.

The staff of the school consists of ten Brothers (of whom one is director), and various employees. Two of the Brother? (including the director) are foreigners, the others English. Irish, Scotch, and colonials-. No salary is paid to the Brothers, but £15 a year is charged against the income of the school for the clothing, etc., of each of them. The whole revenue is dtevoted tc the institution, none going out of the colony except for goods purchased.

The total number of boys on the book." of the school is 224, of whom 125 are resident lat Stoke. In respect of fifty-nine of these. I the State, by the Education Department, pays directly to the manager the sum of 7p per week each; while the various Charitable Aid Boardte pay for thirty-nine, who hare been committed from their districts as indigent children, the amounts following: — ! Dun*dm CEiaiitaJble Aid Board,, for 9 1 boys, 6s 6d per week each. Oamaru Charitable Aid Board, for 1 boy, !7s per week. Timaru Charitable Aid Board, for 1 boy. 7s p*T •week. Christchurch Charitable Aid Board, for A boys, 6s per week each. Westport Charitable Aid Board, for 2 boys, 6s per week each. Greymouth Charitable Aid Board, for A boys, 7s per week each. fceafton Charitable Aid Board, for 2 boys. 6s 6d per -week each. Nelson Charitable Aid Board, for 5 boys. 7s per week each. Nelson Charitable Aid Board, for 2 boys. 5s per week each. % Picton Charitable Aid Board, for 2 boys, 6s per week each. Wellington Charitable Aid Board,*for 5 boys, 7s per week each. Wanganui Charitable Aid Board, for 1 boy, 6s 6d per week. Auckland Charitable Aid Board, for 1 boy, 6s 6d per week. there are twenty-seven for whom no payment by the State is being made. THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE MANAGEMENT. In response to the public notification of your Excellency's commission of July, a series of complaints were preferred br the Nelson Charitable Aid Board against the management of the school, and one in respect of the limited right of inspection ?iven by statute. The Board was represented before your Commissioners by Mr Hurley as counsel, and the school authorities by Mr Fell.

The complaints of the Nelson Charitable Aid Board were as follows: —

1. That, although many of the boys at the school are very young, the school is entirely under the management of unmarried men, no matron having been employed th»ere for many years. 2. That the punishment of the boys at the school has been and is more severe than is allowed at Government industrial schools, and mon> severe than should be allowed in such a school a? St.. Mary's. 3. Tliat the boys' food has been- and is insufficient in quantity, poor in quality, and not sufficiently varied 4. That the boys have been and are poorly and insufficiently clothed. t 5. That certain of the work required to be performed by the inmates has been and is too hard, especially for lads of ter.dsr years. * 6. Tlkat boys who have died at the school have been buried in ths grounds connected with the school. 7. That St. Mary's Industrial School. being a private school under the Industrial Schools Act, 1882, stands on a different footing to Government industrial schools, and is not subject to the same supervision and inspection as Government schools, although the majority of the boys at

the school are committed there by Magistrates, and are supported by Government or Charitable Aid Boards. In considering these complaints, we have weighed carefully the evidence adduced, and made such further inquiries as seemed to as meet, and, after due consideration, report upon them as follows: — "1. Tliat, although many of the *boys at the school are very young, the school is entirely under the management o! unmarried men, no matron having been employed for many years." The ftcts as alleged are admitted. The question raised is an abstract one on which we have no evidence to guide us. It is purely a matter of opinion, founded on general observation, and on which, .especially in relation to bivs of the class found in industrial schools, we know a great deal can be .=aid on both sides. Our opinion will be expressed in making our recommendations.

THE QUESTION OF PUNISHMENT. "2. That the punishment of boys at the school has been and is more severe than is allowed at Government industrial schools, and more severe than should be allowed in such a school as St. Mary's."'

This complaint lias been established. We can only compare the punishment of the boys at Stoke with the punishment allowed! at Government schools by referring to the regulations now in force in respect of punishments in those schools, issued 14th October, 1895. Punishment at Stoke has not beea in conformity with those regulations,, which by statute apply only to Government schools. No regulations are issueable under the Act in regard to punishment, in private schools. At Stoke all teachers in charge. of boys, whether at school, play, or work,' administer it. Punishment was given until quite recently by strokes upon the hand with a supplejack. The supplejack has been freely used in this way, and, without doubt, in some cases with great severity. The use of tho supplejack has lately been abandoned in favour of the strap, on the recommendation of the Secretary for Education. Some cares of punishment outside the rules laid down by the Brothers for their own guidance have hsen brought to our knowledge, in which cuffs and blows, and in two cases kicks, were given by Brother Killian, who, by those and other acts, has shown tha-t 'i"c is unfitted for his position. Brother Wybertus, whose conduct, although not wo reprehensible as that of Brother Killian, has also by violence proved himself unsuitable for his position. We are now informed that both these Brothers have been removed from the school.

Corpora! punishment by flogging on the baro posterior with a supplejack was inflicted with severity, previous to 1895, for absconding and other serious offences; but we are not satisfied that any case has been proved within five years of the date of our commission. The witnesses who have referred to it, speaking from memory, assert it occurred about five years ago, and was inflicted by Brother "Wybertus. The duty of flogging devolved on the Prefect, which office Brother Wybertus ceased to hold towards the end "of 1894. We are quite satisfied there has been no case of flowing for more than four years and a halt.

Cell punishment at Stoke has been much in excess of that authorised at- the Government schools, and is more than should be allowedi. During the last two years sixteen boys have bsen confined in cells for various periods, as under: — Two boys for four days. Ono boy for six days. Six boys for seven days. Two boys for eight days. One boy"for two weeks. Two boys for three weeks. One boy for two months and three days (Skilton)." One boy for three months (seclusion). In some of these cases the confinement has been continuous for an unreasonable period, and has been solitary, except that tho boy lias been token out for church services, and visited by » Brother four times a day, at meah and." at bedtime. The boy has been fed as the other boys, but on some occasions water ho%been given instead <# tea for one or two days; and in two, if not more, oases strokes of the supplejack were given upon the hand at intervals during the confinement. A mattress and sufficient blankets were provided at night. The boy Skilton. who was confined for over two months, had repeatedly absconded ; and in dealing with him for a criminal offence (horse-stealing) the Supreme Court ordered that he should b* sent to Burnham, but that institution not being ready to receive him, Be was detained at Stoke, and as he threatened he would escape on the first opportunity he was confined in a cell at night, and tiken out morning acd afternoon for work and exercise in charge of a Brother. The boy, who was confined for three months, had bet-n guilty of a grave offence against morality, and was punished by seclusion for' the period named. He •slept in the cell, was taken out in the morning and afternoon by a Brother, but not allowed to associate with othfj* boys. In the other cases enumerated, the punishment has bean for absconding, insubordination, and immorality.

We have no proof of any boy having been confined in a da*k cell. Two of the old inmates spoke of a cell under a staircase, lighted only by an opening the width of the door, and about 4in wide, but we have no reason to believe any boy has b?en confined, in ifc diwing the last five years. These cell punishments were ordered by Brother Loetiw, as director, without the knowledge of Father Mahcney, the manager, were not reported to him, and no record of the punishments kept. Wβ flntj no particular fault with the cells used at Stoke, except tha,t they were top isolated. The cells at Burnham are, we are informed, more like the ordinary police lock-up, bait better lighted. The cells recently used at Stoke were demolished on the Ist of June last, in compliance with a. suggestion hv membsrs of the Nelson Charitable Aid Boaid, who vidied the institution about that time. There is. however, a rcoin. in which are three sub-divisions, apparently originally constructed for odls, but which certainly have not been used for that purpose for five years and upwards.

THE FOOD SUPPLY. "3. That the boys' food has been and is insufficient in quantity, poor in quality, and not sufficiently varied." On this complaint we are of opinion that the food supplied at Stoke prior to- June last was not sufficiently varied, the dietary table for dinner Iwing a monotonous repetition of stews composed of meat, pota. toes, and vegetables, no joints being served except on festivals, and puddings but seldom ; but it was sufficient in quantity, and wholesome in quality: if it had been otherwise, the Itatltih 0I tl'ft inmates must- have suffered, whereas th.c ttietlicnj witnesses told us the boys are healthy aiwi welUeonditiooed. Some of the witnesses complained of the use of dripping or fat, and of the mode of its prej>a.ration; but, in our opinion, without justification. Since last June the following dietary table« h,a§ been adopted: — Breakfast, 7.30 a.m. Sunday. Cocoa o* coiifea, )rfrea4 and jam or butter.

Monday: Tea, bread, porridge, milk and sugar.

Tuesday: Tea, bread and jam,

Wednesday: Same as Monday. Thursday: Same as Tuesday" Friday: Same as Monday. Saturday: Same as Tuesday. Dinner, 12 noon. Sunday: Cold beef or mutton, steamed potatoes and vegetables, pudding. Monday: Stew of mutton or beef, potatoes and "vegetables, bread. Tuesday : Same as Monday. Wednesday: Sausage or mutton, potatoes and Vegetables, pudding. Thursday; Same as Monday. Friday:"Tea, bread and butter, mashed potatoes, cheese. Saturday: Same as Monday. Tea, 6.30 p.m." Sunday: Tea, bread and jam or butter. Monday: Tea, bread and golden syrup. Tuesday: Tea, bread and butt-er." Wednesday.- Tea, bread and dripping. Thursday:' Tea. bread and iam. Friday: Tea. bread and golden syrup. Saturday: Tea, bwad and butter" Fruit or pie in season. This table is -a considerable improvement on the former one, but we recommend that hot boiled or baked meat ba supplied at dinner on Tuesdays and Ihursdays, and vegetables in addition to" potatoes on Fridays. We think tins ditiiiy would be satisfactory, although it is not equal to that at present in use at Eurnham, which appears to us to be somewhat beyoud the requirements of such an institution, and which is set out in the appendix.

THE GLOTHIXO. "4. That tJie boys have been and are poorly and insufficiently clothed." lh? clothing has. in our opinion, been sufficiently good in quality, although mad* of rough mat-trial; the shirts being of a strong, coarse linen ; the coats, vests, and trousers of coloured moleskin. Vests are not usually worn with every-day clothes. The boys- wear no underclothing in summer, but in winter a flannel shirt or jersey over the day shirt is worn by soros of the boys, while others have cnir the linen shut.' Many of the ferseys are thin, and some not whole. The school and working-clothes are old and patched, but quite wearable. They have, in addition, one Sunday suit and one picnic or gala suit. It seemed to us the boys were, on the occas-jcn of our visit on tfoei 25th July. lightly dad for the season of the year, and we recommend that either under-vests or outside jei-sejs should be worn in addition to linen shirts by all the boys diuring the winter months. *On a visit "made on the 3rd August we found the boys wearing new outside jorsey-s with waist-coats and coats. They were decidedly overclothed on that occasion. We 'have medical evidence that the ordinary clothing is adequate for purposes of warmth. While it may be truly said they have b:en poorly clad, we cannot, in view of the fact that there lias been no death, at the school for over six rears and no case of pulmonary disease or other illness for more than two years, and that at the present time there is not a cough or a cold amongst the 120 boys, say they have b&en insufficiently clothed.

WORK REQUIRED OF THE INMATES. "5. That certain of the woak required to bo performed by the inmates ias b?en and is too -hard, especially for lads of tender veai-s."

The evidence adduced and our observations q'o not -establish this complaint, in support of which it was endeavoured to be s-hoivn that lads of tender years were sent up a, hill about 1200 ft high, ascended in a distance of 75 chains, three or four times a day to bring dfow n heavy posts and poles. Wβ are satisfied that during thie last four or five years none of bays have been up the iiiili mere than twice m a day, and hut seldojn more than one* ; but when the boundary fence was in course of erection, m ISS4-95, on some occasions boys did make four trips in the day. The work of bringing down etc, was -not too 'heavy: bringing them up cm the other side of the bill, a distance of 10 to 20 chains; would have bsen if azh post was carried by a single boy, but two or three assisting lightened the work when necessary. We are satisfied that tbe work was no" harder than is frtqumtly Veing done by bush-settlers , sons of the same »ge. The boys went to vrmk in -large- munA»rs, and regarded it more as a holiday than -work. Residents in the neighbourhood say there was no appearance of severity in enforcing the labour, but that, on the contrary, it was done with muciii hilarity. Some of the boy witnesses stated that they preferred this work to lessens. Work on the hill was not continuous, but at intervals as occasion required. "6. That boys who have died at the school have been buried in -the grounds connected with the school." This is perfectly true, but is no ground! for complaint. Those, who .have died at the school have been buried in a public cemetery dedicated-and gazetted ten years ago, being 5 acres in extent, part of the school estate, sufficiently remote from the school, and prfioriv sanitary. The school is seven or eight miles distant by the nearest road I from any other cemetery. Four boys have dfied at the school and one at the hospital since 1890—viz., one in 1891, two in 1893 and two in 1894—and these have been buried in the cemetery. No death of an inmate in tie school ihas occurred during tke last six years, • "7. That St. Mary's Industrial School, being a private school under The Industrial School's Act. 1882, stands on a d'iffetrent footiDg to Government industrial schools, and is net subject t<: the same supervision and inspection «a Government schools, although the majority of the boys at the school are committed there by Magistrates, and supported by Government or Charitable Aid Boards."

This is a complaint not against the man.' agement of thy school, fcjjt aeftinst the existing law effecting.a.U_.piFivats schools under The Industrial Schools Act, 1882, ard will be dealt with in coir recomtnendatJcns.' On the occasion of a recent visit which we mid« to the school, we gave the boys an opportunity of making any complaints they dssircd to make to us. Ten complained. Wβ examined $hsm separately. The coimjlainta. we'pe of strokes with the supplejack and rough treatment. . Some of these eompkints were trivial; none were s&rious.

At a sitting held subsequent to the issue of the supplementary commission a complaint madfe by one Frank McCormick, an ex-inmate of the school, of short feeding ftlid. severe treatment, which, as it related to events occurring more than five years ego, -was outside our tnqu"ary. A boy named Thomas Lane, an inmate now in the hospital, wiio liad previously given evidence in support of a complaint by the Charitable Aid Board, complained of ill-treatment, and "that he had not received soma article his mother told him she had , given the Brothers for him; but, as it was shown the mother had died »t Wellington in 1895, we made no further enauiries. A letter written by this boy at >c hospital on Bth June last addressed to Brother in terms of affection and gratitude, very inconsistent with the evidence, was produced , , and will be found in the appendix. A statement was macTe" to ns by Williajn Ross, a former inmate, that he> had been informed an inmaje pf the school named TJigmru} 'Lynch had told some other boy that one of tas Brothers had acted indecently with him. We had the boy brought to us, and examined him carefully, the «j[an}iaa' tion being reported, in the evidence herewith, with the result that we are satisfied the imputation was a fiction, or, as the boy himself put it, a lie.

RECOMMENDATIONS OP THE COM, Reviewing the evidence given by inmates and ex-inmates reep&cting the discipline and management of the school, we feel a great deal of it was taints! by exaggeration, the result of strong personal antagonism to certain of the Brothers who have now been removed.

The management of the school by the Brothers has not been satisfactory in respect of the cleanliness of the body and clothing of the inmates, while the condition of one of the dormitories, which is infested with fleas, and of the one used by boys of dirty habits, is not creditable. The limited amount of bath accomiQodat'ion in the house,' and ths failure to keep the hotwater apparatus in order, together "with the absence of proper and sufficient conveniences accessible from the dormitories, are matters whic'a should receive immediate attention. There should be at least four baths supplied with warm water. A new range has besn purchased at a cost of. over £90, which has not- yet been erected, but which will not only afford better facilities for cooking, but provide a sufficient supply ©£ k>t

water. The bedding, with tbs exception above referred to, is good and sufficient. The Ma-rist Brothers have had no experience in the Australasian colonies exct-pt at Stoke, of any but day schools, and are therefore untrained in tiho special duties involved in the management of boys permanently with them, -while the habits of •ife of members of the Order cannot be regarded as calculated to develop those charterbtics which are necessary to engender such feelings as should exist in those having charge of young lads. This want would b< especially felt by boys as young as nine years, at which "age they are, as a rule, passed from the boys' school in charge of the Sisters at Nelson to the school at Stoke, although in cases of unusual precocity they are removed earlier. The number and ages of boys at both schools axe as follows: — At Nelson. ' 2 aged 3 years 6 aged 7 years 1 aged 4 years 5 aged 8 years 5 aged 5 years 1 aged 9 years 4 aged 6 years 1 aged 10 years At Stoke. 2 aged 7 years 13 aged 12 years 1 aged 8 years 24 aged 13 yeare 7 aeed 0 years 22 aged 14 years 10 aged 10 years 8 aged 13 years 14 aged 11 y&ars 2 aged 15 years

Out opinion ia that no institution for I young boys can be efficiently conducted so !as to secure cleanliness in their surroundings, ana proper attention in regard to their underclothing, linen, and bedding, without the assistance of women. In cases of sickness, the presence of women in the infirmary is indispensable. It appears to us almost impossible for men. na matter how well disposed, or how much in sympathy with the boys, to do what women can do in the matters referred to. We cannot believe that if women had had anything to do with the duties at Stoke school, the boys would have been allowed to wear socks for weeks or months without washing, or that the bedding of the smaller dormitory—that occupied by boys of dirty habits —would have been in the condition described in evidence. Again, it appears to us that the entire dissociation from women during six or eight years of the early life of a boy must have an injurious effect upon his character. We consider there should be at least two women employed at Stoke school—married women, whose husbands might be engaged as cook, gardener, farm-hand, etc., and whose duties should be

in the laundry, the clothing-room, the dormitories (when not- occupied by boys), and the infirmary. If these women were carefully selected for their duties, we believe their presence would be of great advantage to the institution.

Nor do we think the management has been satisfactory with regard to outside work. It appears evident to us that 'the boys' work has been too desultory and unsystematic, and that in consequence they have not benefited by their physical training to the extent they might have* done. Ample opportunity exists at Stoke for the empoyment of the boys at more systematic labour under proper instructors, in garden, dairy and farm work. This would involve the employment of skilful men suited for the work, as instructors; but the result would be to make both gairden and the farm more productive than they have been, and provide a much larger and more varied supply of vegetables and farmproduce, milk, and butter for the use of the school than nas been produced of late. More technical education should also be given.

THE SYSTEM OF PUNISHMENT, The system of punishment until quite lately has been unsatisfactory, and has already been referred to in detail. It has been too severe. The flogging with supplejacks on the body, now long discontinued, verged on cruelty. The punishment on the hand witii suDplejacks is more severe than with cane, and it has Tjeen used too freely. It is now given up, and ifhe strap adopted. The regulations now in force as to punishments in Government schools appear to us to err on the" side of clemency.

It has been the practice at the school for upwards of ten years io administer a dose of mustard and water in all cases of indisposition. This has been much complained of, and has been more or less strongly condemned by the medical witnesses. No direct mischief has been traced to it, but its use should be discontinued at once.

The fact that Brothers Kilian and Wybertus. who were deservedly unpopular, were retained in their positions for a considerable time after their unsuitability was manifest is a serious blot on the management.

In the course of our inquiry we instructed Drs. Gibbs and Talbat to visit the school, and report upon the physical condition of the boys. Ths result of their examination of the inmates and premises is given in Dr. Gibbs's evidence, concurred in by Dr. Talbot. From this we learn that the boys were generally well nourished and in good health, but in height were below the average of boys of the same age in England and Wales, while in weight they are above the average up to twelve years, and balow it after that age. Dr. Gibbs furnished us with a table giving the height and weight of each boy in the school compared with English standards, which will be found in the appendix. We have no means of comparing the children at Stoke with those at other similar schools; but we understand a low average is characteristic of inmates of industrial schools, Mr Hog Den, the Secretary, of Education and Inspector of tha Schools, having in his evidence told us. that industrial school children are usually under average size, principally due ta hereditary and antecedent circumstances.

The educational work of the school is under the care of Brother Augustine as headteacher, the boys being classed as under: '— Preparatory ... ... 3 Standard I. ... ... 8 Staiidari 11. .„ ... 16 Standard 111 41 Standard JV. ~, ... 24 Standard V. ... ... 20 Standard VI. ... ... 8 Standard VII. ... ... I

A nvunbsr of boys are employed at tailoring under a teacher, who make and repair the clothes worn by the inmates. Others are engaged in tho foundry, some at housework, and a few in the kitchen, the housscleaning being fairly well done. Th.Q school band is very good and well trained, and has over thirty performers. The football and cricket teams are well kept up, and during the summer bathing in the swimming-pool is regularly practised. The manager, the Rev. Father Mahoney, ig blamable for having allowed the management o. the school ta practically pass out of his hands. He appears to have entrusted the entire control to the Brothers in charge, failed to make himself familiar with the discipline of the school while under their care, and, in the absence of any complaints by inmates or other persons, either to himself cc to the chaplain, assumed the management by the Brothers to be satisfactory in every respect. Thfa having gone on for some years, the Brothers have come to regard themselves as to a great extent independent of the manager. This must not be allowed to continue;, the personal responsibility and control of the manager must be recognised.

Wβ are of opinion that, although, as a general rule, the manager should lie resident on the premises, still, having regard to the fact that Father Mahoney was practically the founder of the institution, that his in-

terest in ifc has been unceasing, that he is personally very much respected by former and present inmates, and that we hold him innocent of ajny knowledge of those severities and shortcomings which we have condemned, fee should remain the approved manager of the school, although residing at Nelson.

During our sittings the Provincial of the Marist Brothers gave evidence before us, and informed us t'bat the Ordrar recognises the overriding authority of Father Mahoney as manager i» the management of the school, including the right to remove any member of the staff if, in his opinion, he is unsuitable. The witness also expressed a willing-

ness and desire that the school should be placed und«r the same regulations in all respects as the Government schools, in regard to matters meniiened in section 46, of the Act of 1882, except as t6 reJigious instruction.

On action taken by the manager. Father Mahoney, the Brothers Loetus. Wybertus,

and Kilian have been removed, and their places filled by Brothers new to the school. While we recognise that no complaint has been made against, or any unfitness- shown by. the remaining ia«nbes» of the old staff, some of whom—more particularly Brother Augustine—have been speken of as kind Brothers, it wil. in our opiiuon, be in the interests of the institution *i> gradua lr replace them by with

the past administration of the school, of British nationality, and of cheerful disposition.

THE INSPECTION OF INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. The right of inspection of industrial schools is governed by sections 49 and 50 of The Industrial Schools Act 1882. Unler section 49, all members of 'both Houses of Parliament, Judges of the Supreme Court, all Magistrates, Inspectors appointed, under the Act, and all persons authorised in that behalf, by the Minister, have the right to inspect any Government or local school, while, by section 50, the right of inspection of private schools is limited to inspectors appointed under the Act, and inspectors of the Education Department appointed for tliat purpose. There is no definition by statute of the powers of inspectors. All-classes of industrial schools are subject to any regulations mode under the Act (section 47), in regard to inspection, but no such regulations have been mad© of which we have any knowledge. It appears to us that this.right of inspection of private schools given by the Act is sufficient if the power to appoint Inspectors is exercised so that somo two or more persons, one of whom should be, if possible, a medical man, resident in the district in which the school is situate, are appointed inspectors or official visitors, and their powers clearly defined. We do not consider ifc right to flood any. institution of this character, public or private, with a large visiting body. If, however, it is thought desirable to extend the riglit of inspection, it might be given, in addition to inspectors, to all members of both Houses of Parliament, Judges, Stipendiary Magistrates, and the Chairman of the Charitable Aid Board of the district in which the school is situate. We feel very strongly that the Act should be so -amended that all regulations in respect of the employment, education (other than religious instruction), diet,, clothing, correction, and industrial training of the inmates shall apply to all schools under the Act; and in making this strong recommendation we are supported by the assurance given by Father Mahoney, and the Provincial of the Marist Brothers, that they would welcome a change which, would put them on the same lines as the Government schools in respect to the matters above mentioned. .• We think it" very important that a duly qualified medical man should be appointed to visit the sahool periodically, whose duty it should be to inspect— not in a perfunctory manner—the inmates and dormitories, and to record in a book kept for the purpose the result of his visits. All punishments should be reported to this officer at his first following inspection. With regard to the punishment of inmates who rflaj be brought before a Magistrate under section 67 for absconding or othw miscGiKiuet, and ordered to be sent back to the school when they are punished, we feel strongly that the punishment should be ordered specifically by the Magistrate, and that, if whipping is ordered, it should be given by the police, and not by the school authorities. As showing the necessity for this, we, may state that the two boys found in the cfells by the members of the Charitable Aid Board who visited -the school on the 30th. May last had absconded; and were ordered by the Magistrate to be jseofc hack to the school and punished, and were placed in the cells—the usual punishment at the school for absconders.

CLASSIFICATION OF INMATES. The want of classification of the inmates at Stoke necessarily adds very much to the difficulty of maintaining .discipline in sucb an institution. The constantly recurring introduction into the school of boys fresb from crime or scenes of vice must in a constant ferment the evil existing amongst those already there. We learnt at the school that the Brothers make every effort to prevent the knowledge of the ground of a boy's committal to the school being known, so that all can be on a common footing, and, when they leave, go to the world as from the "Orphanage." When we consider the inmates consist of two classes —criminal and neglected or indigent children—it appears to us that a great risk of injury to one class is incurred for the sake of the other, and; that the more unworthy' We are of opinion that criminal children newly committed should, before being associated with the other inmates, undergo a period of probation in some part of the institution (it might be called "the reformatory" set apart for the purpose. We further think it desirable that inmates who have been licensed out for work, and who have returned to the school, Should, as far as possible, be kept apart from the ordinaryinmates. J It is notable that, no conmlaint hatjnff been previously made, the suggestions of the members of tkft Nelson .. Chiritable Aid Board on -the occasion of their visit to the school in May last were received in good spirit and promptly acted upon. Thjg r .with the desire expressed by the authorities o* the school that it should be placed under the regnla,, tioits and departmental inspection as Government schools, leads us "to anticipate satisfactory results from our inquiry.,, - We desire to expre&s fo your E*e|llency our recognition of the assistance given to vi in our investigations .by Mr Hogi&en, Secretary of the Education Department;' by Mir Harley, as eoun&gl for the Nelson Charitable Aid Board; and by Mr Fell', , as counsel for the school , '* '**' We now return to your Excellency the commissions with -which, you honoured us. together with tfee evidence taken, and appendix. *" ■£« -. In witness whereof we have Jiereunto set our bandn and seals, jthis eighteenth, day of August, in the ywr 6f our Lord one thousand niae hundred. v (1.5.) . Rr BUSH. (L.S.J H. & WA&DELL.

Note.—While entirely agreeing with iSU foregoing report, I am of opinion that tbe whole of the old staff of iastructors shoul<? b9 replaced by a new one, so as to enabl* the institution to be carried on for the futon* entirely free of old associations. R. BUSH, Commiesioner.