EDUCATION: INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-3, 1900.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1901 Session I, E-03

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1901. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-3, 1900.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. No. 1. EXTRACT FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. The number on the books of the Government industrial schools at the close of the year 1900 was 1,163, or 55 more than in December, 1899; on the books of the private industrial schools there were 540, or 20 less than at the end of the previous year. The total number of " inmates "on the books of all the schools was therefore 1,703, an increase of 35 over the corresponding number for 1899. The number actually in residence was 598—namely, 231 at Government schools (including 7 at receiving-homes) and 367 at the private industrial schools (including lat a receiving-home). There were boarded out 402 from Government schools, and 7 from private schools, or 409 in all. There were 18 girls in various corrective institutions, 8 boys and girls in orphan homes, 2 boys at the Institution for the Blind, Auckland, and 1 at the School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner. The total number of inmates dependent on the schools for maintenance was therefore 1,036, being 3 more than the number at the end of 1899. The remaining 667 were not dependent on the schools for maintenance, but were still subject to control and supervision. They may be classified as follows : Licensed to reside with friends, 138 ; at service, 472 : in hospital, 2; in lunatic asylum, 3; in the Costley Training Institution, Auckland, on probation, 2; in other institutions without payment, 15; in gaol, 3; absent without leave, 32 (namely, 16 from service and 16 from the schools). The inmates on the books of the four Government industrial schools in existence at the end of 1900 were distributed as follows : Auckland, 94; Burnham, 562; Caversham, 494; Te Oranga, 13: total, 1,163. Of those belonging to private industrial schools, there were on the books of St. Mary's, Auckland, 127; St. Joseph's, Wellington, 82; St. Mary's, Nelson, 307; St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin, 24 : total, 540. I—E. 3.

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TABLE T.—Inmates, 1899 and 1900.

* Including seven children in the receiving-homes. t Including one child in a receiving-home. The changes referred to in last year's report have been advanced a further stage, so that gradually a greater degree of classification of industrial-school inmates is being introduced. It was then stated that all the girls had been removed from residence at Burnham. During the year that school has been established as a reformatory for boys, and accordingly all boarded-out inmates, both boys and girls, and all other girls belonging to it, have now (August, 1901) been taken off its books, most of them being transferred to the books of the Christchurch Eeceiving-home. Te Oranga Home, near Christchurch, has been opened as a reformatory for girls; a new dormitory has been added to it, and a new wing, to accommodate about 24 more girls, is to be erected immediately. The receiving-homes at Christchurch and Wellington have been proclaimed as industrial schools, and the official correspondents at those places have been appointed managers, qualified matrons under their direction having actual charge of the homes. A site with about 400 acres of good land has been secured at Horowhenua, near Levin, for a boys' industrial school, and it is hoped that part of the new premises will be ready for occupation in the beginning of 1902. Most of the industrial school boys proper (i.e., exclusive of those requiring a reformatory treatment) who are in residence are at present at Caversham; when the Horowhenua School is open these inmates will be taken thither. It is intended that the latter school shall consist of a set of cottage-homes, not of one large institution. By the courtesy of the Justice Department a circular has been issued to Stipendiary Magistrates explaining the purposes of the various institutions. Although the leading idea in both classes of institutions (reformatories, and industrial schools proper) is predominantly educative, yet it must be borne in mind that the distinction between them is an important one. Boys and girls who have shown criminal or vicious tendencies are proper inmates of reformatories. Those who are destitute, or whose only faults are due to the want of proper discipline and control, belong naturally to the industrial schools. If they need a measure of firm control, they will be in residence at the schools ; otherwise, they are, as far as possible, boarded out. The disciplinary methods in an industrial school may be very much milder than are necessary in a reformatory. The fact that Magistrates can now, under the Act of last session, commit boys or girls to an industrial school up to the age of sixteen, instead of fifteen as formerly, and that under the Act of 1882 any one under eighteen years of age who has been sentenced to imprisonment may be transferred to an " industrial school " (which would be in such cases a reformatory), will not make the work less arduous. It is almost, if not quite, impossible in a reformatory to do without corporal punishment or the use of cells; but it is hoped by a system of promotions from class to class, and of well-considered money rewards for good conduct, to reduce these objectionable forms of punishment to a minimum. It would be a mistake to abolish prematurely the power to use such punishments;

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Boardc idoui Kesi [dence. Service, :c. Total Is. 6 G CD rt P5 © m CD sO CD n o P d CD P CJ r o <a CD o P P OS 6 CD p i « 1 I o ■ I 5 o o P OS o-j co CO <D P 6 'Si p o © o CO O © s A p tovernment Schools — Auckland Burnham Caversham Te Oranga Home, Christchurch 'rivate Schools — St. Mary's, Auckland St. Joseph's, Wellington St. Mary's, Nelson St. Vinoent de Paul's, South Dunedin 44 158 206 2 4 12 46 162 194 9 104 87 96 51 229 14 7 4 8 12 16 108* 95 12 100 49 202f 16 36 262 202 29 28 101 3 30 3 1 4 32 292 205 1 27 31 100 8 89 524 495 125 82 336 17 5 38 13 i 94 562 494 13 127 82 307 24 4 2 27 3 2 2 3 6 i 1 '2 5 i 29 2 '5 7 Totals 590 37 29 598 661 42 7 696 1,668 65 417 6 14 409 30 1,703

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for instance, in America, where corporal punishment was abolished, it has been found desirable to reintroduce it. Education, healthy work, and systematic industrial teaching will be the chief means of reclaiming those who have unfortunately started on a wrong path in life. That such means have been successful in the past is shown by the results of a careful inquiry that has been made into the subsequent history of inmates of our industrial schools from the passing of the Act of 1882 ; out of over 1,100 that have passed out of the control of the schools, and about whom the Department has authentic information, 90 per cent, at least have turned out well. The success that has attended industrial school work in New Zealand, despite imperfections and drawbacks that the Department is now endeavouring to remove, has not escaped the notice of authorities outside the colony. For instance, one of the most exhaustive reviews of such work throughout the world is contained in a paper read before the Royal Statistical Society of Great Britain in March, 1900, "The Treatment of Juvenile Offenders," by Miss Rosa M. Barrett. The writer warmly praises many features of the New Zealand system, and in the concluding summary of her essay expresses the opinion that " the best examples of preventive work" (i.e., work intended to prevent crime) " are afforded in the countries of New Zealand, Ontario (Canada), and in the States of Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota." The necessity for further progress must not, however, be lost sight of; accordingly, it is proposed to give to Boards of Education the power to establish separate truant schools, and thereby to check at its outset the nomadic habit that so often leads to juvenile delinquency. It is hoped also that the introduction of more definite industrial training into the schools—such as that given, for instance, in the workshops lately erected at Burnham —will still further increase the chances of success in the treatment of those committed to the schools. A second officer was appointed in August, 1900, to visit inmates boarded out with foster-parents, residing with friends on probation, and at service ; and for the same work one of the two Assistant Inspectors of Industrial Schools appointed in January of the present year will be partly available. These officers have to make themselves acquainted with the individual circumstances of some 1,050 children. The work is constant and responsible, but the additional supervision thus provided over non-resident inmates, supplementing the watchful care exercised by the managers and official correspondents of the schools and the local visitors, will, it is hoped, render the boarding-out and licensing systems even more successful than they have been before. From time to time regulations have been issued dealing with various matters that concern industrial-school inmates, but no complete set of regulations has hitherto been drawn up. Indeed, until the passing of the Act of last year, there was no power given to make regulations, except in regard to one or two matters, for the management of private industrial schools. Shortly, however, a set of regulations dealing with industrial-school matters generally, and applying to Government and private schools alike, will be issued; and it is hoped that the issue of definite instructions on all the most important points will tend to the more efficient management of all the schools. During the year 1900 157 inmates ceased to be under the control of the schools—namely, discharged, 112; having reached the age of twenty-one years, 23; by transfer to the Costley Training Institution, 6; by marriage, 5; by death, 11. The number of deaths (11) was unusually high. Of these, six were deaths of inmates in hospital—namely, two from phthisis, one from sarcoma of lung, one from tubercular peritonitis, one from cardiac disease and pneumonia, and one from typhoid fever; two were children boarded out, both of whom died of tubercular meningitis; and three in residence died of meningitis, double pneumonia, and acute gastritis respectively. The number admitted during the year was 192 —namely, 51 from Wellington, 39 from Auckland, 36 from Dunedin, 25 from Christchurch, and 41 from the smaller towns and. country districts, the committals from the latter being in every case under 8 in number. Describing the children admitted according to their religion, we find that 98 are set down as belonging to the

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Church of England; Eoman Catholic, 66; Presbyterian, 25 ; Methodist, 8; Baptist, 2; Congregational, 1; Church of Christ, 1; "Protestant," 1. TABLE U. —Admissions, classified acoobding to Pabents' Circumstances and Characthe, 1900.

On account of the earnings of inmates belonging to Government industrial schools there was, on 31st December, 1900, a balance in the Post Office SavingsBank of 5611,137 Is. Id., and on account of inmates on the books of private industrial schools, .£1,527 18s. 7d. During the year £1,377 16s. 6d. was withdrawn for inmates of Government schools, and £88 ss. 6d. for inmates of private schools. In Table W is shown the expenditure on the Government schools, including the cost of inmates boarded out, the salaries of the resident staffs, of the medical officers, of three official correspondents, and of two visiting officers of licensed-out inmates; the table also gives the amounts of the recoveries from Charitable Aid Boards, from parents, from the sale of farm produce, &c. TABLE W.—Expenditube on Govebnment Schools, 1900.

Table X shows the payments made by Government on account of inmates in private industrial schools, the recoveries, and the net expenditure by Government. The contributions from Charitable Aid Boards are made directly to the managers of these schools, and are not included in the recoveries shown.

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Prec ident C' mditio: of Chi dren a> [mitted in 1900. p. © p * DC © 11 © <s o !H d o R D O © S3 CD 'Sin © m S3 a a eg a °<£ © s © M a o3 n pq 1« - o ft«: © ©<jf p ww Total. Fathers, described as © p CO © p si a "So © PC a CO ft £ > Mothers, described as Dead Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. Good Bad .. Deserter Dead Good Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. Good Bad Deserter Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. Good Unknown Bad .. Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. Good Bad .. Dead Good 5 5 1 1 5 1 2 2 1 6 5 2 8 2 13 11 4 4 1 7 2 27 26 1 7 1 12 2 8 10 2 14 20 2 8 Sick, lunatic, &c. 2 4 Good 1 2 6 2 2 1 2 4 1 • 1 2 2 19 4 1 1 14 Unknown 4 1 9 1 6 4 2 11 2 i 2 1 2 1 Bad" .. '.. 5 Deserter i 17 '2 'i 2 2 8 Totals .. 73 1 14 36 13 •• 55 192

Gross Cost of School. Cost of boarding out. Salaries of School (Included in Staff. (Included in preceding column.) first column.) Recoveries. Net Cost. School. i Auckland Burnham Caversham Te Oranga Home Receiving-home, Wellington .. Receiving-home, Christchurch £ a. d. 2,134 17 8 7,132 2 2 7,257 17 4 975 13 6 468 8 3 22 18 9 £ s. A. 712 16 11 2,541 0 1 3,323 9 9 £ s. d. 193 17 7 1,405 8 11 975 3 2 130 0 8 18 17 4 9 15 5 £ s. d. 628 9 0 1,656 19 1 2,898 8 10 261 9 8 100 6 3 £ s. d. 1,506 8 8 5,475 3 1 4,859 8 6 714 3 10 368 2 0 22 18 9 54'16 3 Totals 17,991 17 8 6,632 3 0 2,733 3 1 5,545 12 10 12,446 4 10 Salaries and expenses of visitin Travelling-expenses of other ofii Contingencies g officers icers .. 526 10 3 80 15 0 10 7 0 Tot lal 13,063 17 1

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TABLE X.—Govebnment Expenditure on Pbivate Schools (R. 0.), 1900.

School. Parents. Kecoveries. I ** £ a. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. St. Mary's, Auckland.. .. .. .. 1,423 4 0 128 0 4 1,295 3 8 St. Joseph's, Wellington .. .. .. 311 11 0 24 0 4 287 10 8 St. Mary's, Nelson .. .. .. .. - 1,584 1H 10 217 911 1,367 811 St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin ■ .. .. 52 17 0 4 0 0 48 17 0 Totals .. .. .. .. 3,372 10 10 373 10 7 2,999 0 3

The Government or Charitable Aid Boards paid for the maintenance of the 29 children previously stated to be in corrective or other institutions or homes. The payments made by the Government were as follows : Levin Memorial Home, Wellington, £27 19s. Id.; private home (special treatment), ,£6 45.; St. Mary's, Eichmond, Christchurch, £84 Is. 6d.; Samaritan Home, Christchurch, £3 10s.; Mount Magdala, Christchurch, £214 7s. 9d. Six children belonging to the Wellington and Nelson private industrial schools were boarded at the Mission Home, Jerusalem, Wanganui (Mother Aubert's), the Government paying during the year £124 16s. for their maintenance.

No. 2. REPORT OP THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF SCHOOLS. Education Department, Wellington, 26th August, 1901. The Hon. the Minister op Education,— I have the honour to report as to the working of the Industrial Schools Acts during the past year. The changes that were initiated two years ago have made considerable progress during the year, the most important step being the establishment of the two reformatories quite distinct and apart from the industrial schools proper. Although the former, as well as the latter, are technically industrial schools under the Act, the Burnham Industrial School has been fully established as a reformatory for boys, and Te Oranga Home, Burwood, near Christchurch, as a reformatory for girls. Accordingly, all girls have been removed, not only* from residence at Burnham, but even from the books of that institution. Most of these girls have been transferred to the care of the Caversham Industrial School, or of the Christchurch Receiving-home. A few cases that need reformatory treatment have been sent to Te Oranga. In like manner the industrial-school boys, properly so called, at Burnham have been transferred either to the books of the Christchurch Receiving-home, or, if needing a measure of firmer control than can be secured in a foster-home, temporarily to the Caversham Industrial School. As the latter institution is, however, not capable of receiving all such boys, a few of the less tractable have been left at Burnham pending the completion of the new industrial school at Horowhenua, near Levin. They are kept apart, as far as possible, from the reformatory inmates at Burnham, being quartered in the buildings formerly assigned to girls in residence there. To the reformatories, therefore, are to be committed or transferred all those who have shown distinctly criminal or vicious tendencies, or are viciously uncontrollable. Generally speaking, children under twelve would not be sent there. As in many cases children convicted of crime are not criminal in mind or instincts, provision has been made for transferring at any time during the first six months a child from a reformatory to an industrial school; vice versa, an inmate may be transferred at any time from an industrial school to a reformatory. Under the Act of 1882 any boy or girl under fifteen might be sent by a Magistrate to an industrial school. By the Act of last session the age was raised to sixteen. Nearly all the additional committals—that is, of those between fifteen and sixteen—would be to reformatories. Again, under the Act of 1882, those of either sex under the age of eighteen who have been sentenced to imprisonment may be transferred by the Governor to an "industrial school " ; these would also be reformatory cases. There is no doubt that for these juvenile delinquents the reformatory and not the prison is the more suitable place, inasmuch as educative aims can in a reformatory be made predominant. But the task imposed upon the managers and officers of reformatories is by no means an easy one. The sense of responsibility entailed, the tact and patience required, are far greater than most people have any idea of; indeed, most of the casual, unthinking criticism that is from time to time aimed at the management of these institutions would fall to the ground if the nature of the work were clearly understood. The key-notes of the reformatory work are classification, education (especially physical, moral, and industrial education), and promotion for good conduct and diligence. As to classification, taking Burnham as an example, there will be three general divisions—the first, second, and third class, the worst offenders being in the third-class. These three classes will be kept quite distinct. The third class will be always under the immediate

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charge of special members of the staff. Inasmuch as many of them without strict supervision would undoubtedly abscond on the first opportunity, and as it is desirable to avoid as far as possible the use of cells or corporal punishment, there is being erected for them a spacious yard, with a shed for wet weather, in which a large part of their work can be done. They will, however, attend school at special times, and will be taught trades in the same way as the others. They cannot receive either pocket-money or wages, but may be promoted into the second class if they show continued good conduct and are diligent in learning their trade. The boys in the second class, which will receive most of those committed, will be in another part of the institution. They will be under less strict control, but will get just as full instruction. They may be paid small sums as rewards for good conduct and. diligence, and may in like manner earn promotion into the first class. The latter will not be placed in the institution itself, but will be quartered in rooms attached to the houses of married attendants, not more than six or eight in each house. As to the control exercised over them, boys in the first class will be placed to a large extent on their honour, the chief penalty for an offence being degradation to a lower class. They may not only receive pocket-money, but, when their work is worth more than the cost of their maintenance, their earnings may be paid into the Post-Office Savings-Bank in the same way as the earnings of those whe are licensed to service outside the school. Boys from this class who have proved themselves trustworthy will be licensed out to employers when suitable opportunities occur. The trades now being taught at Burnham are the various branches of farming, including ploughing, reaping, the care of stock, dairy-work ; poultry- and bee-keeping ; gardening, including orchard culture; carpentry ; bootmaking and rough saddlery; with some knowledge of ironwork and farriery. All these are now in operation. At Te Oranga a start, at present unambitious in character, has been made in the direction of securing somewhat similar treatment for the reformatory girls. It may not be out of place to note, with regret, the reluctance that seems to exist, not more perhaps in New Zealand than elsewhere, to sending girls to industrial schools at a sufficiently early age to give reasonable hope of success. The direct consequence of such neglect is the swelling of the number of young girls who either find their way into reformatories or corrective institutions, or, far more frequently, enter the ranks of vice, and tend to bring down the general social standard. There are many girls who, if taken in time, could be trained to habits of morality and diligence, and would become respectable wives and mothers, whose only sin has been neglect by their parents and the community, and who yet are practically lost to society. The corruption of the best is the worst form of corruption, and the indication of the evil ought to be sufficient to counteract the weakly sentiment of reluctance to deal with such cases in due time. Te Oranga was originally built for a private residence, with 9 acres of land attached. A new dormitory has been added, and another wing, to accommodate twenty-four girls, is in course of erection. In order that the classification may be as complete as that referred to in connection with Burnham, it will be necessary in course of time to add a third wing. The training given will be largely domestic and industrial, and the management will be, generally speaking, on the lines already indicated for Burnham. The form that industrial-school wbrk proper takes is widely different, the chief distinction being that whereas no inmates of reformatories are presumably fit subjects to be boarded out, but must be kept in the institutions until they can be licensed to service or friends, or be discharged, in the case of the Government industrial schools (as distinguished from reformatories) only 15 per cent, of the so-called " inmates" are actually in residence, while 46 - 5 per cent, are boarded out, 6-3 per cent, are with friends, and 276 per cent, are at service. The boarding-out system, whereby the care of the foster-home is substituted for the parental care the unfortunate children have lost, or have never had, is in my judgment, on the whole, a marked success. Some homes are from time to time found to be unsuitable, and children have to be removed from them ; but, notwithstanding, in the great majority of cases the foster-parents exerise proper care and control, and often affection springs up between foster-parent and child, so that the latter finds a true home in the house in which it has been placed. The minority resident in the schools are such as, while they cannot be said to be vicious or criminally disposed, need firm discipline and systematic training. There are now four Government industrial schools in addition to the two reformatories, the two receiving-homes established last year at Wellington and Ghristchurch having been gazetted as industrial schools at the beginning of the present year (1901). The receiving-homes, as explained in last year's report, are intended primarily for the temporary accommodation of children committed to industrial schools (but not of reformatory cases) and of industrial-school girls who have left the service of one employer and are waiting for another situation. Nearly all those on their books at any time will therefore be non-resident, and, accordingly, one important purpose to be served by these homes is that children may be boarded out or licensed out to service in the districts to which they belong without having to be transferred from one part of the colony to another. When the scheme now being worked out is complete there will be the two industrial schools for girls, as now, at Mount Albert, near Auckland, and at Caversham, Dunedin; these will also serve as receiving-homes for girls and young boys. The boys' buildings at Gaversham have long been condemned, and the buildings about to be erected at Horowhenua will give the opportunity for the removal of the boys thither. The removal will have many other advantages, as on the extensive area surrounding the new site there will be ample scope for training the boys in rural occupations, and the district between Wellington and New Plymouth is one in which there will no doubt be numerous openings for boys on dairy farms and in other employments.

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It must ever be remembered that the boys and girls not boarded out are those that have shown that they need very careful control, and it is a matter of common experience that industrial schools containing such boys and girls if carried on separately can be managed with greater ease and efficiency ; obviously, for instance, a much greater amount of liberty can be allowed to the inmates than if the schools were on the same premises. As a matter of fact, although still at Caversham (and till lately at Burnham) the boys' and girls' schools have been in juxtaposition, they are practically distinct in working. There is therefore very little in the objection that the separation of the schools means the separation of brothers and sisters; how little there is in it, indeed, will be more clearly recognised wbsn it is understood that at the present time (August, 1901) there is only one case (that of two brothers and a sister) to which the objection can apply. As regards children belonging to the same family who are boarded out, there is, of course, in general no occasion for breaking up the family, and whenever it is possible such children are and will continue to be boarded out in the same foster-home. The site of the industrial school at Horowhenua consists of about 400 acres of good land devoted by the Government to the purpose. As it is desired to avoid anything like a barrack life, the boys there will not be all congregated in one building, but the institution will consist of a series of cottage homes, each suitable for the accommodation of from twelve to twenty boys under the charge of a married couple. The conditions under which they will live will therefore approximate to those of ordinary home-life. They will attend a common school, and, besides, when they reach a suitable age, will receive definite training in farming and other industrial pursuits. I attach to this report a copy of a circular explaining the purposes of the various Government industrial schools which the Department of Justice was good enough to send, on behalf of this Department, to Stipendiary Magistrates. I have thought it well to explain at some length the policy that, with your approval, is being adopted by the Department. I may be permitted to point out one or two directions in which I venture to think further extension should take place. Inasmuch as the nomadic habit is generally recognised as the incipient stage of juvenile delinquency, the establishment of truant schools in our chief centres would probably serve to bring home to parents the need for the exercise of more thorough and regular control over their children, and so avert the necessity at a later age for their committal to an industrial school or reformatory. It would be a great advantage, therefore, if the Legislature saw fit to include in the School Attendance Bill now being considered some provisions for the establishment of truant schools. The Department hopes soon to secure a private house in a healthy situation as a home for epileptic girls. Such a home should be situated where the climate is good, and should have enough land attached to it to enable the inmates to engage for the greater part of the year in those outdoor pursuits that form the best antidote to their malady. I regret that the many other urgent matters that have occupied the attention of the Department have so far hindered the making of arrangements for the care of defective and imbecile children ; but the question is one that should not much longer wait for a solution. It is one that appears to belong partly to this Department and partly to the Lunacy Department; but Ido not think there will be much difficulty in delimiting the proper province of each. As will be seen from Table T, there is a difference between the private and the Government industrial schools in respect to the numbers of inmates actually resident and of inmates boarded out or otherwise disposed of. Even counting the reformatories—from which none are boarded out—in the case of the Government schools not quite 20 per cent, are actually resident in the schools; 74 per cent, are in foster-homes, with friends, or at service (34-6 per cent., 6-7 per cent., and 32-4 per cent, respectively). In the private industrial schools, on the other hand, 68 per cent, are resident, and 30 per cent, are in foster-homes, with friends, or at service (1-1 per cent., ll'l per cent., and 176 per cent, respectively). There does not appear to be any reason to doubt that the boarding-out system would be as successful for the inmates of private industrial schools as it has proved to be for those belonging to Government schools, although a change of policy, especially if made suddenly, would undoubtedly entail many difficulties at the outset. In the case of very young children, however, there is, it appears to me, urgent need for making the change at once. The Sisters in charge seem to spare no efforts in their endeavour to do their best for the children ; yet their success in dealing with infants falls far short of that attained in the average foster-home. It is not a question of neglect, or even of ignorance, but chiefly a question of the home versus the institution as a suitable place for the rearing of infants. The boarding-out of all suitable cases is in reality one of the chief elements in a proper scheme of classification. The separation of reformatory cases from industrial-school cases is, as pointed out above, another very important element ia such a scheme, and many of the transfers from the Stoke School to Burnham during the past year have been of this description. There has been no objection on the part of the managers of private schools to the transfers that have been made, and the managers of those schools have received willingly, and for the most part apparently endeavoured to carry out loyally, the directions which have been issued from time to time by the Department, and which now in a codified form are awaiting final approval before being gazetted as regulations. The effect of these regulations will be to bring the two sets of institutions into line as regards the general treatment of inmates. I trust therefore that, while it may not be possible or even desirable to make private industrial schools mere duplicates of corresponding Government schools, the Department will have no difficulty in persuading the managers of private schools that a nearer approach to the lines of policy indicated above should be regarded as necessary for effective work. There will, however, be many points of detail to arrange before the boarding-out system can be as fully carried out as it is in connection with the Government schools.

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Before passing on to the next section of my report, I should like to emphasize remarks that I have made on a previous occasion in regard to training-ships as reformatories or as industrial schools. Boys from reformatory ships are not admitted to the Eoyal Navy, and it is found in Great Britain that comparatively few of them enter, and still fewer remain in, the commercial marine. The same is true to a large extent of industrial-school ships; and here the further objection can be made that the training-ship is merely one form of the barrack system of treatment, and except in the case of a very large ship (which would be out of the question in New Zealand) is without proper means for that classification which is one of the essential elements of permanent success. The cottage home for industrial-school boys, and the farm and the workshop for reformatory boys, are, in my opinion, far more likely to be successful than any training-ship. Training-ships, in fact, are at present on their trial in the Old Country ; and it appears that at least their number is not likely to be increased. It is, no doubt, more attractive to see boys in sailor costume drill with precision at the word of command than to see boys coming in with their rough clothes from the farm ; but no training-ship in the world can show results comparable to those that New Zealand industrial schools, with all their drawbacks, can show for their past work. Training-ships are likewise far more expensive than ordinary industrial schools. The cost per head in the English industrial-school training-ships is £32 ; with much smaller numbers the cost per head in New Zealand would be very much greater. I therefore consider it would be a grave mistake to establish any such reformatory or industrial-school training-ship in New Zealand. These remarks have no reference to the desirability or otherwise of such training for other boys. The appointment of two Assistant Inspectors of Industrial Schools and an additional officer to visit boarded-out and service inmates has been of great advantage for the efficient working of the system. More frequent visits to the schools, to foster-homes, and to homes where inmates are licensed to service have been made, and. it is now accordingly easier to discover irregularities and to guard against their recurrence. It would be a good thing if there could be one more visiting officer, who should be a woman, more especially to look after the interests of girls licensed to service in places that the managers or official correspondents find it difficult to visit with sufficient frequency. In this connection it would be but just to express the warmest thanks of the Department to the ladies who, without fee or reward, act as Local Visitors to foster-homes, taking a lively interest in the boarded-out children, and thus rendering valuable service to the Department and to the State. Their monthly reports are sent through the official correspondents to the managers of the schools, and the officers of the Department are thereby kept aware of matters relating to the welfare of the children in a way that would not be possible without such local help. Thanks are also due to the Official Visitors, who in the case of Burnham and Caversham are formed into Boards of Advice, but elsewhere, as at Auckland and Nelson, act as private individuals. It would probably be as well if a uniform system were followed in every case. As the schools are colonial and not local in character and function, there does not seem to be any special reason why local boards should be appointed. At the same time the appointment of responsible persons as Official Visitors is evidently a safeguard in the public interest. Under " The Private Industrial Schools Act, 1900," the Department has now much greater powers in regard to private schools than it had before, and regulations will, it is hoped, be approved shortly by the Governor in Council, dealing comprehensively with matters relating to the treatment of inmates, both resident and non-resident. A regular and thorough audit of the accounts of the earnings of inmates licensed out to service from the schools has now been instituted, the chief object being to introduce a uniform method in dealing with such earnings, and to safeguard the interests of the inmates. Our industrial-school system has been the subject of high praise recently from Miss Rosa M. Barrett, honorary secretary of the Kingstown Cottage Home for Little Children, and author of the Howard Medal Prize Essay on " The Treatment of Juvenile Offenders," which was read before the Eoyal Statistical Society of Great Britain, 20th March, 1900. I will content myself with quoting two or three paragraphs from that paper, which contains the most comprehensive statement of industrial-school and kindred work in all countries that I have yet seen. The paragraphs in question are from the concluding portion of Miss Barrett's essay, called " Summary and Suggestions " : — " Certain conclusions force themselves upon the mind on reviewing the statistics here collected. One is that the methods hitherto employed for the repression and the punishment of crime have largely failed, as far as the reduction of crime or the reform of the criminal is concerned. The countries where crime is decreasing are those which have adopted widely both preventive work and such modern ways of dealing with criminals (first offenders in particular) as—(l) the indeterminate sentence ; (2) release on probation, with certain safeguards; (3) reformatories for ' adult-juvenile ' offenders ; (4) the most stringent regulations against drunkenness." "The best examples, however, of preventive work are afforded in the countries of New Zealand, Ontario (Canada), and in the States of Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota. In these States children morally neglected, as well as those physically neglected, become wards of the State: parental control is forfeited, and yet the numbers of children dependent on the State show a marked and constant decrease. In Massachusetts there has been a reduction of 50 per cent, in twenty years, and in Michigan and Minnesota even more —70 per cent. This splendid result is in part due to the States beginning their preventive work at a much earlier age than we do, and also to their doing it much more thoroughly and giving longer supervision. It has been noted that the inmates of our industrial schools are physically below the standard of ordinary school-children ; in Elmira, New York (for male first offenders), the same has been observed: no less than 66 per cent, of the inmates are physically degenerate. Strength of will depends upon strength of body as well as of mind, and to obtain this, especially in those inheriting evil tendencies, proper care and treatment cannot begin too young."

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Miss Barrett recommends " Separate trials of juvenile offenders, and a complete separation of juvenile offenders from adults during their trial, while awaiting trial, and while undergoing punishment." This recommendation, made in the first instance for the United Kingdom, would be a good one to adopt here. The system of private trials for children has been a marked success in South Australia and many of the American States. For some years the Department has had in hand a " Eegister of Past Inmates," in which has been entered from time to time any information that could be obtained respecting the character of previous inmates of industrial schools. Inquiries made in connection with applications for payment of earnings have, for instance, supplied a large proportion of the information that has been recorded. To make the record complete, a confidential circular has been sent to the police, and the Department is now able to furnish an interim report of the results. Information has been obtained with regard to 1,111 persons out of 3,529 discharged from industrial schools between the Ist January, 1883, and the 31st December, 1896. Of these 1,111 persons, 174 are accounted for as follows: Sixty have left the colony, fifty-nine are dead, three are in lunatic asylums, fifty-two cannot be traced. Of the remainder (937), 828 are of good character, six are of fair character, 103 are of bad character. Thus, 89 per cent, have certainly done well or fairly, and only 11 per cent, are certainly bad, and if to the former is added a proportion of the 174 above named (the fifty-two that cannot be traced would be known to the police if they were bad), the department is entitled to claim that not more than 10 per cent, of industrial-school children have failed to do well. It is to be remembered that this inquiry has been made long after the persons concerned have been free from Government control —for as long as ten years in some cases. Out of the 1,111 cases referred to above, 296 at time of their discharge were licensed to friends, and 428 were at service ; of the former, 260 turned out well, three were doing fairly, and thirty-three, or 1116 per cent., were of bad character; of the latter, 395 turned out well, and thirty-three, or 771 per cent., were of bad character. These figures probably show that even greater care should be exercised in returning children to friends than has been the rule in the past. Eeferring to England, Miss Barrett, in the paper already quoted, makes the remark that "the return of industrial-school children to relatives is generally a great mistake." Without going as far as that, it may yet be said that it would be wise not to relax, but rather to increase, the strictness of the conditions under which inmates are allowed to go back to their relatives. Indeed, the very fact that such a child has been sent to an industrial school by a Magistrate may be taken as primd facie evidence that the home of the parents is, in the judgment of the Magistrate, an unsuitable place for securing the proper care and control of the child. The examination returns for the children in the day-schools attached to the industrial schools will be found at the end of this report. The Department has to thank the Inspectors of the North Canterbury and Otago Boards for their services in examining Burnham and Caversham for many years past, and the Education Boards for allowing them to examine the schools. Inasmuch, however, as the conditions under which the children at these schools are instructed, more especially in regard to industrial education, differ considerably from those prevailing in the ordinary public schools, it is proposed in future to have the inspection and examination conducted by officers of this Department. It will be interesting, however, to note the following facts: There are on the books of Caversham and Burnham, our two largest industrial schools, the names of seventy-one inmates who have passed Standard V., and of twenty inmates who have passed Standard VI. Of those now in residence under instruction in the day-schools attached to Caversham and Burnham—l32 in all —twenty-four, or 182 per cent., are being prepared for Standard V., and eight, or 6-06 per cent., are being prepared for Standard VI.; totals for Standards V. and VI., 24-3 per cent. The corresponding percentages for children attending public schools are : for Standard V., 11 - 06, and for Standard VI., 763 ; total for Standards V. and VI., 1869 per cent. The children now in the industrial schools are therefore in a better position as regards the standard classes than those in the public schools. It should be borne in mind that many of the children entering the industrial schools are very backward when they are admitted. Our general rule is not to send an inmate to service until he or she has passed Standard V. or is fourteen years of age ; the condition for exemption in the public schools is the passing of Standard V. or being thirteen years of age. Here, again, the advantage is on the side of the industrial-school child. Boarded-out children are required to attend 94 per cent, of times the school is open, or cause must be shown. It is very rarely that complaint has to be made on this account. Geokge Hog-ben, M.A., Inspector-General of Schools.

Enclosure No. 1 in No. 2. SUMMARY OF REPORTS ON THE SEVERAL INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BY OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT. Auckland Industrial School, Mount Albert (Gibls and Young Boys). This small school has been visited four tirr.es during the year ended 31st March, 1901. Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, visited it on the Bth March, 1901. He found the premises scrupulously clean in every respect. The inmates were healthy, and appeared to be very happy. This Home has been under Miss Jackson's management for many years, and has always held a high place among our industrial schools. The removal of the school to Mount Albert gives greater scope for satisfactory results. 2—E. 3.

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St. Mary's, Auckland. Takapuna Branch (Boys). Visited four times during the year ended 31st March, 1901. Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, paid an unannounced visit on the 11th March, 1901. He reports to the following effect: The new day-school being built will allow of greater dormitory space in the main building, which at present is not sufficient, boys in some cases sleeping together. The means of fire-escape is defective ; the manager promised to consult an expert. The food is good, but it is an objectionable feature that the dining-room is underground ;it appeared, however, to be dry. The boys receive no industrial training, except that they are taught to milk. Some boys were examined when stripped ; they were in good condition. The drain from the building needs ventilating. The closets were in a bad state. The absence of trees or of cultivation about the building makes it look bare. The boys are evidently on good terms with the Sisters in charge. The medical officer visits the school only when asked to do so. Corporal punishment is said to be infrequent, and very mild. There is no library, but the boys see a few periodicals. Speaking generally, the school seems to be well conducted, and the boys to be considerately dealt with. Ponsonby Branch (Girls). Visited 12th March, 1901, by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector. Dormitories : Beds had only one sheet each, and pillow-oases were not very clean ; the bedding was otherwise in good order. The ventilation should now be sufficient, having been recently improved, but it is doubtful whether the means of fire-escape are sufficient. Bishop Lenihan will have this matter inquired into by an expert. There is proper provision for the supervision of the dormitories. The girls were neat and clean, and apparently healthy. Dinner consisted of cold meat, potatoes, and tomatoes. There seemed to be as much food as was required, but the girls' appetites were evidently not good. There were four cows in milk; the garden, it is said, produces sufficient vegetables, but there was only a small quantity growing. The drainage is defective ; it is not ventilated, and the sewage discharges on the hillside not far away from the buildings. Girls have warm baths weekly. Cookery classes were about to be started under competent instruction. This school appears to disadvantage when compared to the Takapuna branch, but the girls are evidently considerately treated by the Sisters. The wages accounts of both branches of the school were audited. The books have been kept in a faithful manner, though not in the form required by the Department. A book in the prescribed form has now been sent to the manager. Every facility was given to enable the Inspector to make a thorough examination of the books. Bishop Lenihan takes a keen interest in both these schools, and frequently visits them. He seems to be more in touch with them than the recognised manager, between whom and the Sisters there is evidently but little co-operation. St. Joseph's, Wellington (Girls). Visited by Inspector-General, 24th August, 1900 (surprise visit in company with Mrs. Dick, the official correspondent for the Wellington district). The buildings on the whole are well suited for their purpose, and the supervision seemed kindly and sufficient. The dormitories were in good order, but somewhat crowded ; and the ventilation was hardly sufficient. A good dinner was pro : vided. The Government regulations are observed in regard to punishments. Girls' clothing was examined by Mrs. Dick, and found to be satisfactory except that the garments worn.next the skin should be woollen. There is an air of cleanliness, briskness, and cheerfulness about the place. The inmates are evidently well cared for. Visited by Mrs. Dick, 25th March 1901. The dormitories are now well ventilated. The dinner was good ; the inmates were neatly dressed and looked well. St. Mart's, Nelson. Nelson Branch (Girls and Young Boys). Visited three times during 1900 and twice since Ist January, 1901. Summary of report on visit paid 24th January, 1901, by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, accompanied by the lady official visitor : None of the dormitories give sufficient air-space ; but the ventilation has been improved. The inmates are healthy and well clad. The dinner was of good quality. On the 18th July Mr. Pope found the institution clean and in good order. Some of the little boys had skin eruptions. The babies are the unsatisfactory feature, as it is impossible to provide for them adequately in such an institution, however well-intentioned be the care exercised over them. Moreover, there is an absence of the tie that is is formed in the case of infants boarded out, where a foster-mother frequently becomes almost as fond of the child as of her own. Statistics show that in the last ten years and a half, with an average of thirty-six children under four years belonging to Government schools, there have been seven deaths; while at private schools, which have had an average of only thirteen, there have been ten deaths. The former are boarded out; the latter kept in the institutions. The facts therefore afford strong evidence in favour of boarding out. Boarding out from private schools should have serious consideration ; it is the best and most natural way of treating infants.. The girls were neatly and comfortably dressed; but, taking the inmates as a whole, they seemed to be less healthy-looking than at some other schools. The ventilation of the day-school room is defective. The inmates seem happy and contented.

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Stoke Branch (Boys). [The school was reorgar Sbd from the 15th October, 1900, and it was thought expedient to allow an interval of time foi ne new staff to accommodate itself to the altered conditions before making another inspection.] Unannounced visit paid by Mr. E. H. Pope, on the 22nd and 23rd January, 1901 : The bedding was clean and in good condition. There are proper fire-escapes. No nightshirts are provided. The dormitory for boys who have urinary weakness was in good condition. The boys were suitably clad for summer-time. The underclothing is changed weekly after a warm bath. There are now six good baths, with hot and cold'water; the lavatory arrangements are also satisfactory. The food is now properly prepared and is varied. There is a plentiful supply of milk, and a good vegetable-garden. A new range and hot-water apparatus have been fixed in the kitchen. The water-supply is good. The drains should be ventilated. The plaj'ground is in a most unsatisfactory condition.. It consists merely of rough, bare clay. There is but little industrial training. Several boys learn milking, and there are one or two in the tailor's shop. The punishments are now of the mildest description. There are no cells at the institution. There are three domesticated women on the staff. Speaking generally, there is a great change for the better. Visited by the Inspector-General, 30th April, 1901. A great improvement is visible in most respects, but there are still many things needing attention. Some of the bedding might have been cleaner, and the boys were not so tidy as one would desire to see them. The outhouses and the other old buildings in the yard should be replaced by healthier and more sightly erections; and the playground itself should be made more even —it would be better still if it were levelled; it should, be asphalted or covered with gravel. In damp weather the clay adheres to the boys' boots and clothes, and is carried indoors, making everything dirty; the dust is almost as bad in dry weather. There should be definite industrial training provided for all boys. The master in charge seems anxious to make all the necessary improvements ; but in all these institutions the official manager should live on the premises, and not relegate his authority or responsibility to any one else. Visited by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, 17th and 18th July (unannounced). The bedding in the " wet " dormitory was only fairly clean ; other dormitories, very satisfactory. The blankets were clean; there were many new blankets and mattresses; the dormitories have been newly painted. The day-school was working satisfactorily. The outside of the main building was being repainted. A playground for the younger boys is being formed; the main playground is in the unsatisfactory state previously reported ; asphalting is needed at the back of the buildings. The outside closets were dirty, the water system not working properly. The drill was very fair ; twenty-six of the elder boys had model rifles. There is no fire-drill. A good dinner was provided. The boys' underclothing was warm and good ; all have flannel undershirts. The outer clothing was not so satisfactory ; several were ragged, some had ill-fitting garments, the suits of some were dirty, some had no garters ; there were hats of all kinds, some of them much the worse for wear. Nightshirts should be provided. The boots should be cleaned. Each boy now has clothing reserved for his own use. A large order for suits has been given. All boys were seen in the baths. Their appearance was a credit to the institution, as they were evidently remarkably healthy. The medical officer makes a monthly inspection. Discipline is maintained practically without corporal punishment ; absconding is rare. There are now five women on the staff. The behaviour of the boys in the playground is not so uncouth as it was; there is better supervision, and altogether the tone of the school has much improved. The manager undertook to make the suggested improvements, and favoured the formation of a gymnasium. The brass band has made good progress. The wages accounts showed several sums outstanding from employers of boys at service ; but unavoidable circumstances had interfered with the office-work, and, except for their not being up-to-date, the accounts seem to have been faithfully kept. Pressure of work in the Head Office did not allow a sufficiently long stay to be made for a complete audit on this occasion, but this is to take place before the end of this year. A comparison of the present state of the school with that shown in the report of the Inspector-General of Schools, made on a visit immediately prior to the setting-up of the Commission last year, will show that a marked change for the better has taken place. In a few months the school should be a credit to those concerned in the management of it. EBCBiviNa-HOMB, Cheistchukch (Girls and Young Boys). Visited in November, 1900, by the Inspector-General of Schools. On the 7th May, 1901, Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, visited the Home. He found it clean and in good order. There were in residence two little boys who were recently committed, and two elder girls waiting situations. The building is not quite satisfactory for the purpose, and the site is too small. Te Oeanga Home (Gibls' Befobmatoky) . Visited by the Inspector-General of Schools on the 9th and 10th November, 1900. The means of controlling refractory girls are very limited, and the opportunities for absconding very great. It is necessary that additions to the buildings should be made immediately. The drainage is unsatisfactory. Mrs. Branting, the manager, is doing her best with the means at her disposal. Visited by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, on the 10th and 18th May, 1901. The school is neat and clean, and the inmates cheerful and healthy. The girls are regularly drilled in physical exercises. The system of monetary rewards for good conduct is working well. A gymnasium should be erected. The drainage outfall is very unsatisfactory. Buenham (Boys' Eefoematoey) . Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, visited this reformatory on the Bth May, and remained there till the 10th. He found the institution neat and clean, the bedding satisfactory, the food of sufficient quantity, of good quality, and well prepared. The industrial workshops for the training of the boys were being erected. Industrial training was being carried on in unsuitable buildings,

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but in spite of this the boys are thoroughly interested in it. The system of monetary rewards for good behaviour should be introduced, and a properly equipped gymnasium erected. The discipline is very good, considering the difficulty that is experienced in preventing boys from absconding. A suitable detention-yard is absolutely necessary to keep the boys from running away. It is not right that settlers in the Burnham district should be harrassed by these absconders, who, finding themselves without the means of obtaining food or shelter, commit thefts and other offences of a more or less serious character. These lads can seldom give a reason for leaving. It is probably the result of their early nomadic habits. The fire-prevention precautions are excellent. All the staff seemed to be satisfied with their treatment. The school is now doing thoroughly good work, but its efficiency will be greater when complete classification is in force. Cavebsham (Boys and Gibls). "Visited by the Inspector-General of Schools, 19th November, 1900, and 25th May, 1901. Everything connected with the management was satisfactory. The increasing unsafeness of the boys' quarters makes the early completion of the boys' school at Levin most necessary. A fireannunciator system was being installed at the time of the November visit, and was in working order in May. It is desirable that elder inmates, who, for some cause, cannot be sent to service, should be remunerated for work done at the school. Visited by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, on the 14th and 15th May. This visit was unannounced. The buildings were clean and neat, the food, clothing, and bedding satisfactory, and the general welfare of the inmates most thoroughly attended to. All the inmates seemed well nourished. A few of the boys had bad coughs. The bill of fare shows that on some mornings breakfast consists of bread-and-dripping and coffee. This seems hardly adequate. The drill of the boys was very creditable. The girls were not seen at drill. Ample time is allowed the inmates for recreation. The school is in a high state of efficiency. St. Vincent de Paul's (Girls). Visited by the Inspector General of Schools, 21st November, 1900. A punishment-book should be kept. It is said that corporal punishment is very infrequent. The ventilation of the dormitories should be improved. There are not enough occupations for the girls. Laundry-work is taught pretty thoroughly. The food was good, the premises and bedding clean, and the children apparently contented. The defects noticed were probably the results of ignorance rather than of negligence. Visited 16th May, 1901, by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector. Visit unannounced. The dormitories were clean ; there is now good provision for ventilation; the bedding of infants' cots was in one or two cases in a very bad state, the beds having evidently been repeatedly made up wet. The means for supervising the dormitories were not sufficient. The closets were in bad condition. Here, as in St. Mary's, Nelson, very young children are in residence, and the remarks respecting that school as to the necessity for boarding these children out are equally applicable to St. Vincent de Paul's. It is a great pity that this school was built on such low-lying ground, as the inmates are very much shut in. There is a small library. No punishment record is kept. It is said that the punishments are very mild. The dinner was of good quality, but owing to the delay in summoning the children after it was served it was practically cold before they sat down to it. The girls seemed to be well clad and kindly treated, but somewhat subdued in manner. There is very little attempt at decoration of the institution, a remark that applies more or less to all the Eoman Catholic girls' schools. The Sisters appeared most anxious to carry into effect the suggestions that were made to them. Pbivate Institutions. The following private institutions have been inspected : — Gostley Training Institution, Auckland. This home was visited by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, on the 13th March, 1901. The time for the visit proved to be inopportune, the elder boys being in town at their occupations, and the younger ones about to return to school for the afternoon. The institution was clean and in good order. Attention is given to industrial training. There is a good gymnasium. The welfare of the boys is evidently being properly attended to, and the objects of the trust carried out. Mother Aubert's Mission Home, Jerusalem, Wanganui River (Boys and Girls). Visited in September, 1900, by Mr. H. B. Kirk, Assistant Inspector of Maori Schools. The institution was in a satisfactory state, and the general welfare of the inmates properly attended to. This Home is visited monthly by a lady official visitor, whose reports are very favourable. Levin Memorial Home, Wellington (Girls). This cottage home has been visited from time to time by the official correspondent for the district. It is efficiently managed. The girls who are of school age attend the public school. St. Mary's Home, Karori, Wellington (Girls). This is a corrective institution. It has been visited occasionally by the official correspondent, who speaks well of the general management. St. Mary's Home, Richmond, Christchurch (Girls). Visited on 11th May, 1901, by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector (unannounced). As usual, the condition of this Home was very satisfactory. For several years past St. Mary's has rendered valuable aid to the Department in the care of refractory girls, but the establishment of Te Oranga Home will probably make it unnecessary that any more committed girls be sent there.

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Mount Magdala, Christchurch.

Visited on 15th September, 1900, by Mr. E. H. Pope, in company with the official correspondent for the Canterbury District. The visit was unannounced. There were fifteen industrial-school girls in residence. The laundry provides the principal occupation for the inmates, but gardening is carried on by them. Assurance was given that no inmate is required to do work beyond her strength. The dormitories are large and lofty and give sufficient air-space. The bedding was satisfactory. There are not sufficient ventilation-inlets. The breakfast provided is bread with butter or jam ; this is not adequate. The clothing was examined by the official correspondent, who reported that it was sufficient, but hardly up to the standard required at Government industrial schools. The girls appeared to be healthy. Classification is adopted to some extent, but a new building, then ready for occupation, would give greater facilities in this respect. There seemed to be a lack of cheerfulness and homeliness. As a reformatory for young girls Mount Magdala is somewhat disappointing. Visited on Saturday, 18th May, 1901, by Mr. E. H. Pope, Assistant Inspector, in company with Mrs. Branting, manager of Te Oranga Home. The dormitories were very clean and orderly. The bedding was warm and clean. At dinner some of the inmates had only bread-and-butter. The girls under Government control were, speaking generally, not tidy. There were eighteen of these in residence. Each one was allowed to speak alone with Mrs. Branting in a private room. As regards food, two complained that it was poor. All complained that they were not sufficiently clad. Mrs. Branting indorsed the latter complaint. All the girls appeared to be healthy, cheerful, and on good terms with the Sisters. Protestant girls express strong aversion to being required to attend the Eoman Catholic services. While recognising that Mount Magdala is doing an important work in the colony, it is thought that the Government would do well to have all committed reformatory girls immediately under its control. Enclosure No. 2 in No. 2. Education Department, Wellington, 26th February, 1901. The Under-Secretary for Justice, — I am directed to ask you to be good enough to bring under the notice of the Stipendiary Magistrates the following statement of the position as it appears to this Department in regard to the sending of children to the Government industrial schools. In past years, when there were but three of these institutions —at Auckland, Burnham, and Caversham —and each of them accommodated both boys and girls, it was a simple matter for a Magistrate to determine the school to which he would order a child to be sent; in fact, the locality in which the case occurred generally settled the question. Now, however, that the Government has set about a reorganization of institutions under the Industrial Schools Acts, and has adopted and already to a large extent carried out a system of classification of the inmates, it is desirable that Magistrates should be made aware, as fully as possible, of the circumstances of each institution and the class of children for which it is intended to provide. The sending of a boy to a school that is now intended only for girls, or vice versa, of a child that is qualified to be boarded out to a school in which only inmates that require discipline are to be dealt with, of a reformatory case to an industrial school where inmates of the better class are being trained, and so on, gives rise to a great deal of trouble, and frequently considerable expense in the action that has to be taken, under the Governor's power of transfer, to adjust the case to the facts. The following is an account of the institutions at present existing, with a statement of the purposes to which they are applied : — Auckland Industrial School. For girls of any age, so long as they do not need reformatory treatment, and for boys not too old or too wild to be boarded out, or who can be placed at once at service or in the Costley Training Institution. Wellington Receiving-home. (Gazetted 31st January, 1901.) For young boys and girls fit to be boarded out, and for older girls that can be trusted at service. Burnham Industrial School. This ia now a reformatory for boys. The classification of the inmates will provide for their separation according to various degrees of improvement. Te Oranga Home, Ghristchurch. (Gazetted 31st January, 1901.) This is a reformatory for girls whose character requires that they shall be kept under strict discipline. Te Oranga is not a refuge, and although girls of vicious and depraved life may be formally ordered to this home, the Department makes provision for their transfer to the guardianship of institutions more specially fitted for the care of such persons. Ghristchurch Receiving-home. (Gazetted 31st January, 1901.) The purpose of this institution is similar to that of the Wellington Beceiving-home—viz., to receive young boys and girls fit to be boarded out, and for older girls that can be trusted at service. Gaversham Industrial School, Dunedin. This institution has not yet been specialised to the same extent as the others. The intention is to make it a place for the industrial training of girls of good character and of an age that fits them to receive such training. The boys will be transferred to another industrial school, which is

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to be established in the Wellington District, probably in the neighbourhood of Levin. In the meantime Caversham is open to both boys and girls of all ages, except such as are clearly subjects for Burnham or Te Oranga. Although the above outline explains briefly the intended purpose of each of the Government establishments under the Act, there will probably be many cases in which Magistrates will find a difficulty in determining which institution is best suited to receive any given boy or girl, and the Department would therefore be grateful if the Magistrates would in any case of doubt consult one of the Managers, or this Department, for the purpose of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion as to which of the institutions will best meet the circumstances of the case. Arrangements are being made by which officers of police will, as far as possible, bring under the notice of industrial-school authorities the particulars of any case that may lead to the ordering of a child to one of the schools, and it is hoped, therefore, that Magistrates will not find themselves subject to inconvenience or delay in taking the course now suggested. Except in so far as they may be affected by the Act of last session, the position in regard to private industrial schools remains as it was before. George Hogben, Secretary for Education.

No. 3. ADDITIONAL STATISTICS. " Inmates," 31st December, 1900.

Admitted during 1900.

Government Ichools. Private Schools. .11 Schi )0l8. Inmates. a s Auckland. •§ ft s pa B. G. B. G. a sVJ M © > o CO DD . a CD ga ojK Eh -"a St. Mary's, &g> Auckland. o;a 00^ Mat S'© 03 40 „ a en J a CO CD SPh a s* 0 n en © o Ph 'o CO o B. G. B. G. G. B. I G. 0Q o ffl EC ft 3 o EH •5 1-9 a. G. In schools Boarded out With friends At service In hospital In Oostley Training Institution In Blind Asylum, Auckland In School for Deaf- . mutes Under control of refuges or cognate institutions In lunatic asylums .. In gaol In Orphanage Cottagehome, &c. Absent without leave.. Reoeiving-home, Wellington Receiving - home, Christchurch 30 16 16 2 20 101 95 37 128 07 11 64 61 100 21 80 34 94 7 82 1 12 51 49 5 17 49 2 7 24 124 1 39 41 1 77 4 4 7 16 5 3 337 226 97 255 1 2 253 183 41 217 1 590 ! 409 138 472 2 2 1 208 393 76 348 1 2 382 16 62 123 1 8 3 i '2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 18 9 1 1 1 33 33 26 7 *8 3 3 3 1 3 3 8 "3 8 3 1 7 7 23 8 :-: 1 1 3 1 1 30 4 2 32 4 26 3 6 1 8 1 3 1 i 4 I Totals .. j 37 57 394 Il68 266| I228 13 72 82 213 94 24965 738 I 1,703 1,101 601 55 1 30' 1, '03 1, '03

Go r ernment Schools. Lvate Schools. All Schoo: Is. Admitted as Auckland. Burnharn. Caversham. St. Mary's, Auckland. ."a &S 8f co a St. Mary's,! Nelson. 43 g"a ag^ H CO CD >Ph a ■*="t3P tn B. G. B. G B. G. B. G. B. G. CO >, O s CO 3 15 4J O EH G. G. )estitute Segging .. r agrant jiving in disreputable places Incontrollable .ccused or guilty of punishable offences 4 2 18 11 1 1 8 11 11 3 6 5 2 39 34 1 3 19 2 4 73 1 14 36 13 55 3 1 1 4 1 1 1 4 4 4 33 i i i 7 3 3 2 5 1 6 2 1 1 2 11 17 11 51 *2 5 6 "l i Totals | 13 5 63 23 23 12 10 6 20 9 4 129 63 192 4 8f

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Discharges in 1900.

Government Schools. Private Schools. All Schools. Removed by Auckland. Burnham. Caversham. | t u^f ry | , Sα St^Mary's, ££ _ __. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. jG. G. B. G. j? 3 I Warrant of discharge .. .. f 4 27 1 20 10 2 2 4 32 I 9 82 30 112 Death .. .. .. .. ..11 .. 2 4 1 .. 1 1 I .. 5 6 11 To Costley Training Institution .. 4 2 .. 4 2 6 Reached age of 21 years .. .. 1! 1 8 3 5 .. 4 .. 1 .. 5 18 23 Marriage .. .. .. .. 1; .. 3 1 .. .. |.. .. 5 5 Totals ( 5 9 12 25 19 3 7 5 34 9 96 61 157 I ~~1l ~~41 44 10 43 ~~i57~" Numbers op 1899 and 1900 compared.

Inmates. 1899. 1900. Increase or Decrease. In the schools .. .. .. .. 590 590 Boarded out .. .. .. .. 417 409 _ 3 With friends .. ■ .. .. .. 138 138 At service .. .. .. .. .. 453 472 +19 In hospital .......... 7 2 -5 In lunatic asylum ........ 2 3 +1 In gaol .......... 4 3 -1 In Blind Asylum, Auckland ...... 1 2 +1 In Costley Training Institution .... 1 2 +1 Under control of refuges or cognate institutions.. 28 33 +5 Orphanage, Cottage-home, &o. .... 5 8 +3 In School for Deaf-mutes ...... 1 1 Absent without leave ....... .21 32 +11 In Receiving-home, Wellington .... .. 4 +4 In Receiving-home, Ghristchurch .... .. 4 +4 Totals .. .. .. 1,668 1,703 + 35

No. 4. MEDICAL OFFICERS' REPORTS. Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, Ist April, 1901. I now send you my report on the Auckland Industrial School for the year ending the 31st March, and am glad to be able to state that the children under my care have been free from epidemic disease during the past year. There are some cases of constitutional character which require attention from time to time, and of these the progress has been in the main satisfactory. One especially, a girl sent up from the South, has greatly improved. The new location of the school at Mount Albert has proved in every way beneficial to the inmates; but additional rooms are urgently required, and will, I trust, soon be provided. The laying on of an adequate supply of water, just about completed, will be an important advantage to the institution. It is to be hoped that the provision of gas may not be long delayed, inasmuch as the risk of fire from the use of kerosene much exceeds the risk from lighting by gas. I have, &c, Arthur G. Purchas, M.E.C.S., Eng., The Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. Medical Officer. Canterbury. Sir,— Ohristchurch, Ist June, 1901. I have the honour to report that no serious illness occurred in the Burnham Industrial School during 1900. The most important circumstance was the murderous assault made by H G , aged nearly sixteen, on the Manager, Mr. Archey, whom he stabbed with a knife in the base of the neck on the 30th August. Mr. Archey was in great danger for more than a week. C was tried at the Supreme Court and sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labour. Although he was sent to Burnham at the age of three, he was boarded out most of the time, so that the total amount of his residence at Burnham was only one year and two weeks. From October, 1897, to April, 1900, he was licensed to five different employers, all of whom reported him lazy and dirty in his habits. During this period he absconded five times from service. lam strongly

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of opinion that the history of (J , and of many other Burnham boys, indicates the necessity of a training-ship to teach them discipline. The facility of running away from Burnham is an incentive to absconding, and weakens the control of the attendants. I consider there is urgent need of separate buildings for classifying the boys, so that those addicted to bad habits may not contaminate the rest; also, that the well-behaved boys may have privileges. I recommend that a special attendant be engaged as night-watchman, to visit every ward every hour. I have, myself, visited the wards some nights every hour until 2 a.m., and am satisfied that it is necessary that the wards should be under such supervision. I have given a false alarm of fire unexpectedly at night, and seen the fire-drill efficiently and promptly carried out. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education. W. H. Symes, M.D. Medical Officer.

Otago. Sib, — Dunedin, May, 1901. In presenting my annual report on the Caversham Industrial School, I have to record the occurrence of five deaths during that period, despite the fact of the general health being good. I detail the circumstances of each fatal case below. 1. T H , nearly twelve years old, died in Dunedin Hospital, of phthisis, on the 29th April, 1900. When this boy returned to the school from being boarded out his emaciation was so extreme that I advised his removal, one month after, to the hospital, where he survived for six months. 2. E E , sixteen, died of meningitis on the 18th June. Her symptoms were obscure, and the cause of death was ascertained by post-mortem examination. 3. S J B , aged thirteen, died on the 22nd August, of double pneumonia. She was received from the Burnham institution on the 3rd May. A girl of delicate constitution. 4. C M. P , fifteen., was sent to the Dunedin Hospital on the 24th November, suffering from peritonitis. She died on the 11th December. 5. E- M- , an idiot, aged seventeen, was boarded out at Mornington with a private family, who treated her with every kindness. Her death was due to heart disease, on the 19th February. I think I have never had to record so many deaths in any one year, hence my entering into details. lam satisfied every attention was paid to each case. The average number in the institution for the year was eighty—forty-nine boys and thirty-one girls. Thirty-four children were received from Burnham —ten boys and twenty-four girls. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Robert Burns, E.E.C.S. Ed.

No. 5. EXAMINATION REPORTS. St. Mary's Industrial School, Auckland. Ponsonby Branch (Girls) (examined 29th November, 1900). Pass Subjects. —Presented : Standard IV., 5 ; Standard 111., 14 ; Standard 11., 17 ; Standard 1., 6 ; Preparatory, 14. Examined in Standards : Standard IV., 5 ; Standard 111., 13 ; Standard 11., 17; Standard 1., 6. Passed: Standard IV., 5; Standard 111., 10; Standard 11., 15; Standard 1., 6. On the whole the work done at examination was very satisfactory. Eeading was very fair in most classes, but comprehension of the subject-matter and of the meaning of words and phrases was weak. Spelling was good, and so also was writing. Composition was very fair in all classes. Arithmetic was very fair in most classes, although it was only moderate in Standard 111. Class-subjects. —Geography, weak ; drawing, satisfactory ; grammar, moderate ; history, weak ; elementary science, object-lessons, &c, fair; recitation, very fair; handwork, not taught. Additional Subjects. —Singing, needlework, drill and exercises, very satisfactory. Instruction of Preparatory Glasses. —The pupils of the preparatory classes did the work professed very satisfactorily. The tone, order, and discipline were commendable. E. C. Purdie, Inspector.

Takapuna Branch (Boys) (examined 30th November, 1900). Pass-subjects. —Presented: Standard V., 2; Standard IV., 9; Standard 111., 14; Standard 11., 13; Standard 1., 8; Preparatory, 20. Examined in Standards: Standard V., 2; Standard IV., 9; Standard 111., 13; Standard 11., 13 ; Standard 1., 8. Passed: Standard V., 2 ; Standard IV., 5 ; Standard 111., 8 ; Standard 11., 6 ; Standard 1., 7. The work done at examination in pass-subjects was only fairly satisfactory. Eeading was on the whole very fair, though it was weak in Standard 11. Comprehension of the meanings of words and phrases was only moderate. Spelling was very fair in most classes ;it was bad in Standard 11. Writing was very fair in most classes; it was weak in Standard I. Composition was very fair in Standards 111. and V., but was weak in Standard IV. Arithmetic was only fair_when taken on the average of the classes throughout. Glass-subjects. —Geography, fair ; drawing, satisfactory ; grammar, fair ; history, not taught; elementary science, object-lessons, &c, not taught; recitation, somewhat weak, wanting in force and expression ; handwork, not taught.

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Additional Subjects. —Singing, satisfactory ; drill and exercises, not examined, the instructor being absent. Instruction of Preparatory Glasses. —The preparatory classes did the work professed only moderately. They read well, but their writing was not good, and their knowledge of tables and sums was indifferent. Order, tone, and discipline were commendable. E. C. PuBDiB, Inspector.

St. Joseph's Industbial School (examined 13th August, 1900). Pass-subjects. —Presented : Standard VI., 5; Standard V., 2; Standard IV., 12; Standard 111., 15; Standard 11., 10 ; Standard 1., 13 ; Preparatory, 15. Examined in Standards : Standard VI., 5 ; Standard V., 1; Standard IV., 11; Standard 111., 15 ; Standard 11., 9 ; Standard 1., 13. Passed: Standard VI., 3; Standard V., 1; Standard IV., 11; Standard 111., 11; Standard 11., 9; Standard 1., 12. Beading and spelling good ; writing, letters well formed, but a tendency to backhanded forms ; school closed from February to Easter on account of epidemic of scarlet fever, but at other times the attendance is necessarily perfect, as the children are resident on the ground. Glass-subjects. —Geography, fair; drawing (freehand), satisfactory, a little scale done ; grammar, moderate; history, none; elementary science, object-lessons, &c, a little domestic economy and cooking done ; recitation, good ; handwork, none. Additional Subjects. —Singing, very good; needlework, industrial work substituted drill and exercises, satisfactory. Instruction of Standard VII. and Preparatory. —The lower class work is well grounded, and reading and spelling are well taught; the object-lesson work might be extended; the general management and instruction are satisfactory. Bobebt Lee, 1 Tncmpptors T. E. Fleming, f inspectors -

St. Maby's Industbial School, Nelson. Stoke Branch (Boys) (examined sth February, 1901). Pass - subjects. — Presented: Standard VI., 13; Standard V., 12; Standard IV., 13; Standard 111., 22; Standard 11., 24; Standard 1., 9 ; Preparatory, 3. Examined in Standards : Standard VI., 13; Standard V.. 12; Standard IV., 13; Standard 111., 22 ; Standard 11., 24; Standard 1., 9. Passed : Standard VI., 2; Standard V., 1; Standard IV., 4; Standard 111., 15'; Standard 11., 13; Standard 1., 3. Class-subjects. —Geography of Standards 11. and 111., fair—upper classes had not covered ground ; drawing, none ; grammar, very little done—time short; history, satisfactory ; elementary science, object-lessons, &c, and recitation, very little done up to date; handwork, none. Additional Subjects. —Singing, not examined ; drill and exercises, cadet corps in course of formation. Instruction of Preparatory Glass. —Only three beginners in preparatory class; but some of Standard I. should have been in this class. James H. Pope, ) T William W. BiBD,| Ins P ectors -

Nelson Branch (Girls) (examined 6th February, 1901). Pass-subjects. —Presented: Standard VII., 2; Standard VI., 6; Standard V., 14; Standard IV., 13; Standard 111., 8; Standard 11., 10; Standard 1., 8; Preparatory, 28 (9 boys in infant division). Examined in Standards : Standard VII., 2; Standard VI., 6; Standard V., 14; Standard IV., 13 ; Standard 111., 8 ; Standard 11., 10 ; Standard 1., 8. Passed : Standard VII., 2 ; Standard VI., 6; Standard V., 10; Standard IV., 11; Standard 111., 8; Standard 11., 10; Standard 1., 8. All the standards were examined by us with very little special reference to what the teachers had done, and we took pains to give our work a certain amount of organizing value. We have no doubt that the schedules show the present condition of the school with considerable exactitude. Glass-subjects. —Geography, Standard 111. very good, Standards IV. and V. satisfactory, Standard VI. very strong ; drawing, done with care throughout; grammar, Standard VI. decidedly good, Standards V. and IV. satisfactory ; history, Standard 111. very good, Standards IV. and V. good; elementary science, object-lessons, &c, Standards V and VI. satisfactory; recitation, Standard 11. very good, Standards I. and V. good, Standards VI. and IV. good ; handwork, none. Additional Subjects. —Singing, good ; needlework, very good ; drill and exercises, good. Instruction of Standard VII. and Preparatory. —Standard VII., two girls, very good. Preparatory, satisfactory, but none good enough for Standard I. Of the preparatory class nine were boys ; it is understood that these will go to Stoke when they are ready. James H. Pope, ) T , William W. Bm D ,) lnSpect ° rS -

Bubnham Industeial School (examined 14th September, 1900). Pass-subjects. —Presented: Standard V., 3; Standard IV., 14; Standard 111., 20; Standard 11., 11; Standard 1., 5; Preparatory, 3. Examined in Standards: Standard V., 3; Standard IV., 14; Standard 111., 20 ; Standard 11., 11; Standard 1., 5. Passed: Standard V., 2 ; Standard IV., 9 ; Standard 111., 7 ; Standard 11., 10 ; Standard 1., 4. The promotions have been granted on a sound basis of attainment in the subjects of primary importance. 3—E. 3.

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Class-subjects. —Geography, fair (of New Zealand and Australia, good); drawing, freehand very well taught, a few excellent; grammar, not taught for some months ; history, not taught for some months; elementary science, object-lessons, &c, science not taught for some months, lower classes object-lessons fair ; recitation, commendable ; handwork, a beginning has been made with cardboard work. Additional Subjects. —Singing, not recently taught; drill and exercises, not now under regular instruction. Taken daily, but not taught in the day-school. Instruction of Preparatory Glass. —One of the three pupils in the preparatory division is practically a beginner; the other two can read a little and write figures and letters on slates. L. B. Wood, Inspector.

Cavebsham Industeial School (examined 17th December, 1900). Pass-subjects. —Presented : Standard V., 13 ; Standard IV., 14 ; Standard 111., 17 ; Standard 11., 12; Standard 1., 9; Preparatory, 7. Examined in Standards: Standard V., 13; Standard IV., 14; Standard 111., 17; Standard 11., 12; Standard 1., 9. Passed: Standard V., 13; Standard IV., 14; Standard 111., 16; Standard 11., 12; Standard 1., 7. Head-teacher's passes in Standards I. to V. justified. Class-subjects. —Geography (of Standard II.), good (Standard V., very weak) ; drawing, Standard V. good, Standard 11. good; grammar, satisfactory in Standard V. ; history, fair in Standard V. ; science and object-lessons, good in Standard V., and satisfactory in Standard II.; recitation, satisfactory. Additional Subjects. —Singing, excellent; needlework, not shown; drill and exercises, excellent. Preparatory Class. —Only a short time in the school. Order, excellent; attention, very good ; manners, very good ; general results, satisfactory. W. S Fitzgerald, 1 T ,-, -D -o t Inspectors. C. E. Bichardson, j Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,625 copies), £12,

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