BURNHAM INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15515, 16 January 1911, Page 8

BURNHAM INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir An article appears in your valuable paper to-day under the heading of " Buraham Industrial School," by " J.T.M." Kindly allow me to say that I know from my own quiet observations that the comprehensive impressions by "J.T.M." about the school and management are founded on facts and cannot be gainsaid. I don't know "J.T.M.," hut I visit tho school and Quail Island when tho boys are there for their annual holiday out of goodwill

to thorn, and I just want to commend " J.T.M." for his wisdom in describing the true sentiment of every point he has alluded to, both temporal and spiritual. I have mingled with the boys' staff and the manager, who is a solid, kindhearted disciplinarian, together with his capable, diligent and modest wife, more or less for the past five years, and whenever I go I always feel I am going to a large, well-regulated family home, and that Mr and Mrs Archey are acting like father and mother to all concerned. I was there at the close of the old year that has just died and at the birth of tho new year which was rung in by the pretty school church bell. There were fathers, mothers and friends visiting their boys, and in general conversation with them they told me they were delighted to see the kind feeling prevailing among those concerned in the welfare of the boys and that they felt and saw a vast improvement in their own boys and that they would return to their homes, some from Auckland, with happy hearts. I could say much more about this fine, well-managed reformatory school, but I will close by commending the article in question to the attention of tho public and say that no system of boarding-out such boys that need special care and discipline that some people advocate could meet with happier results than are attained at Buniham Industrial School.—l am, etc., THOMAS JEFCOATE. January 14, 1911.