EDUCATION: INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-3, 1904.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1905 Session I, E-03

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1905. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-3, 1904.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. i. EXTRACT FROM THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. In December, 1904, the number on the books of all the industrial schools was 1,918, or 9 more than at the close of the year 1903. On the books of the Government Industrial Schools there were 1,387, an increase of 21 over the corresponding number for 1903, on the books of the private industrial schools there were 531, or 12 less than at the end of the previous year. The number in residence at Government schools was 299, and at private industrial schools 304, so that 603 was the total number of " inmates " actually in residence. The number boarded out was 548, 8 being from private schools and the rest from Government schools. There were 7 girls maintained in various corrective institutions, 2 girls in cottage homes, 3 boys at the School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner, and 9 boys at the Costley Training Institution, Auckland. The total number of inmates dependent on the schools for maintenance was therefore 1,172, or 37 more than the number at the end of 1903. The remaining 746, although still subject to control and supervision of the schools, were not dependent on them for maintenance. They may be classified as follows : Licensed to reside with friends, 178; at service, 494 ; in hospital,, 4 ; in lunatic asylum, 5 ; in the Costley Training Institution, Auckland, 3 ; in other institutions, 15 ; in gaol, 3 ; absent without leave, 44 namely, 29 from service, 13 from the schools, and 2 from friends. There were six Government industrial schools in existence in 1904, and the numbers of inmates on their books at the end of the year were as follows :—Auckland, 135; Receiving Home. Wellington, 195 ; Receiving Home, Christchurch, 236 ; Burnham, 231 ; Te Oranga Home, 63 ; Caversham, 527 : total, 1,387. Those belonging to private industrial schools were distributed as follows: —St. Mary's, Auckland, 135 ; St. Joseph's, ; St. Mary's, Nelson, 280; St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin, 47 : total, 531.

TABLE J1.—lnmates, 1903 and 1904.

1! 1! Icarded ol it. I l Residence. A t Service, <! ;e. 6 Totals. 111 S 2 " I ■ 8 § Spa 1! i * ~ s i I i i s is it v Q Q u Q 1 g I 1 I 1 6 v a Government Schools — Auckland .. •. 63 Keceiving Home, Wellington .. .. ■• 135 Te Oranga Home, Christchuroh .. Reoeiving Home. Christ- . church :. . : . 130 Burnham .. _ ... .2 Oaversham .. .. 177 Private Schools — St. Mary's, Auckland St. Joseph's, Wellington St. Mary's, Nelson .. 1 St. Vincent de Paul's, : Dunedin .. .. 4 i ; • ■ 31 .. 64 166 131 1 178 ■28 31 10 92 137 .. .. 28 40 1 .. ! 1 31 9 .. 40 25 2 8 J 99 7 .. 99 : 158 .. 14 123 208 5 78 48 6 28 46 7 .. 167. 130 3 3 '2 2 ■11 43 28 23 97 131 226 181 166 56 239 252 522 i 29 7 3 21 135 195 63 236 231 527 l ;■'... 18 5 83 34 160 9 67 41 110 131 80 291 4 135 ;69 280 2 1... 3 5 20 11 11 1 i .. 5 25 6 .. 31 12 j- _ I __ . „ 30 27 603 ' 797 i 1 11 41 6 47 Totals ... ..512 548 i 600 30 60 767 1,909 55 ■46 1,918 37 1

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The number of inmates who during 1904 ceased to be under the control of industrial schools was 182. Of these 129 were discharged by warrant, 40 reached twenty-one years of age, 5 were married, and 8 died. Of this total 132 were of good character, 6 fair, and 10 bad; 4 were weak-minded, 11 were missing, 12 were discharged under fifteen years of age (3 of whom were adopted), 6 under that age died, and 1 was sent to a school under a misapprehension. The number of deaths (8) shows a decrease of 5 on the number for the previous year The medical certificates show that of the three inmates who were in residence at the time of death, 1 died of meningitis, 1 of heart disease and tubercular pneumonia, and 1 of rheumatic fever and pneumonia. One boarded-out child died, the cause of death being syphilis. Two inmates died in the hospital, one from erysipelas and the other from cardiac failure. One infant died in a nursing-home of atrophy, and one girl living with friends died of tuberculosis of lungs and asthma. The number of admissions during the year (191) shows a decrease of 40 from the number for 1903. Of these 31 were sent from Dunedin, 44 from Wellington, 28 from Auckland, and 37 from Christchurch. Of the remaining 51 children, no one town sent more than 6 to the schools. From information taken from the Magistrates' orders it is found that the religious denominations in which the children who were admitted are to be brought up are : Church of England, 80 ; Roman Catholic, 58 ; Presbyterian, 38 ; Methodist, 14 ; and Baptist, 1.

TABLE J2.— Admissions, classified according to Parents' Circumstances and Character. 1904.

At the end of 1904 there was in the Post Office Savings-Bank on account o' the earnings of inmates of Government industrial schools a sum of £14,055 14s. lid., and on account of inmates of private industrial schools £3,312 19s. 6d. For inmates of Government schools a sum of £1,755 6s. Bd. was withdrawn during the year, and for inmates of private schools £70 13s. In Table J3 is shown the cost of the Government schools, in which is included the expenditure for the maintenance of inmates boarded out and the salaries of the

Preceden , Condii rion of in 190' Childn I in admitted Fathers, described as Mothers, described ae 2 I I 2 a II If 0) 3 u a o o D O 0 Is °^ O 3 4* g a on Total. a je h K Dead • • • Sick, lunatic, &c. Good Unknown .. Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. .. Good Unknown .. Bad Deserter Sick, lunatic, &c. .. Good Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. .. Good Unknown ,. Bad Deserter Dead S ck, lunatic, &c. .. Good Unknown Bad Deserter .. Drad Good Bad DeRerter Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. .. Good Bad 4 2 8 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 10 1 1 1 15 4 6 1 2 4 i 2 2 1 8 *9 3 4 i a i 2 1 19 1 2 1 1 2 a 4 2 IS 1 11 1 1 1 14 2 36 2 11 2 4 2 20 6 8 1 1 7 24 1 1 2 10 1 a 2 1 i Bad" .'. 1 3 1 1 1 3 5 4 14 Deserter 2 6 'i i 4 .. i Totals 77 22 34 10 45 191

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resident staffs and medical officers ; it also shows the cost of supervision of all inmates who are licensed to reside away from the schools ; and, further, the amounts of the recoveries from Charitable Aid Boards, from persons against whom orders for maintenance have been made, and from the sale of arm-produce, &C;

TABLE J3.—Expenditure on Government Schools, 1904.

Table J4 shows the payments made by the 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.

TABLE J4. —Government Expenditure on Roman Catholic Schools.

The other payments made by Government are shown in the following table: —

TABLE J5.-Summaby of Expenditure on other Institutions, 1904.

Government School. Coat of School. I Boarding out. Salaries. (Included in first (Included in first column.) column.) Eecoveries. Net Cost. Auckland 2,236 9 9 L vin 4-606 1 10 Btirnham .. .. ■• 6,043 6 4 Caversham .. .. •• 9,346 11 8 Te Oranga .. .. •• 1,815 .8 9 Receiving Home, Wellington.. 3,739 8 4 Receivii g Home, Curistchurcii 3,327 17 7 £ R. d. 2,236 9 9 4,606 1 10 6,043 6 4 9,346 11 8 1,315 8 9 3,739 8 4 3,327 17 7 £ s. d. £ s. d. ] 142 2 5 360 5 0 206 14 8 1,902 12 3 8,280 11 9 1,529 9 4 484 7 9 2,619 7 G 310 3 0 2/229 12 t 351 3 10 £ s. c 1,026 7 1 704 1 559 15 4,172 7 61 13 1 1,966 2 1,174 7 £ s. d. 1,026 7 11 704 1 5 559 15 4 4,172 7 4 61 13 10 1,966 2 8 1,174 7 1 £ s. d. 1,210 1 10 3,902 0 5 5,483 11 0 5,174 4 4 1,253 9 11 1,773 5 8 2,153 10 6 Totals .. .. 30,614 19 3 30,614 19 3 9,271 14 0 5,144 15 10 9,664 15 7 20.950 3 8 Salaries and expenses of Assistant Inspectors ai Travelling-expenses o{ managers and others Refund ot inmates' earnings Contingencies d visiting officers 1,839 4 3 112 19 8 101 6 3 113 9 7 Total net cost 23,117 3 5

Name of School. it. Mary's, Auckland it. Joseph's, Wellington it. Mary's, N> lson It. Vincent de Paul's, Danedin Totals Gross Cost. Recoveries. Net Cost. £ ». d. £ R. d. £ s. d. 1 204 15 0 130 19 0 1,073 16 0 828 0 0 57 6 10 270 13 2 1 137 1 9 379 8 0 757 13 9 81 3 6 26 7 0 54 16 6 2,751 0 8 594 0 10 2,156 19 5

Kotnan Catholic Schools. Government Schools. Auckland. Beceiving Receiving Te Oranga. Home, Home, \ Wellington. Cliristchnrch. Total. St. Mary's, Nelbon. Total. I Total. I Christchurch — Avon Pine Sanatorium Mount Magdala Rhodes Convalescent Home Nursing Hospital Salvation Army Maternity Home Gordon Street Refuge Mrs. E. Kuott's Home Miss C. Sloane'a Home Wellington — Levin Memorial Home Wanganui— Mission Home Auckland — Oostley Training It.sti tution Misc M. Duff's Home.. St. Mary's Home, Ota buhu £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 115 18 0 £ s. d. 80 14 1 £ s. d. 80 14 1 115 18 0 1 12 6 £ s. d. 13 0 0 £ s. d.j 13 6 0| £ c d. 80 14 1 |128 18 0 1 12 6 1 12 G '' 17 6 0 0 10 6 0 10 6 17 0 0 0 10 6 17 0 0 3 0 0 17 15 8 1 5 0 3 0 0 17 15 8 1 S 0 3 0 0 17 15 8 15 0 •■ .. 13 4 5 13 4 5 13 4 5 81 4 0 31 4 0 31 4 0 170 12 0 170 12 0 170 12 0 10 0 0 12 12 10 10 0 0 12 12 10 10 0 0 12 12 10 193 4 10 135 18 0 13 4 5 Total 101 17 9 444 5 0 44 4 0 44 4 0 488 9 0 I

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No. 2. ADDITIONAL STATISTICS. Inmates, 31st December, 1904.

Admitted during 1904.

DISCHARGES, 1904.

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Governmen Schools. Privat :e Scho< >ls. a: II Schoo >lg. i " | Inmates. rf S* r 5 'S J B.G.j B. a wj g ~ & i s I .Sal * 2a fl £ M g « En 5 I G. | B. G. B. G. B. G. I 117 99 40 94 29 59 74 57 1 .. 98 80 7 10 4 35 1 25 7 4 32 47 71 10 110 71 2 1 .. .. 2 .. .. 1 .. 1 .. 1 ,. . . Ofi .""a •- o si s Is |'B.G.| g. to d ° IS 'qj B. G. J3 §13 ~ d ® G. SO <» >» 11 o -S ffl O 15 o 2 ■ s o - ■J O o In the schools Boarded out With friends At service In hospital In lunatic asylums In School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner At Oostley Training Institution Under control of refuges or cognate institutions In orphanage, cottage home, &c. In gaol Absent without leave .. 28 .. 38 26] 107 2 2 6 8 22 5 38 2 8 30 48 28 5 8 19 18 20 22 30 5 18 110 57 1 2 3010 4114 1 1 1 1 57 2 10 14 1 1 31 5 7 4 334 319 113 280 3 3 3 269 229 65 214 2 1 603 548 178 494 5 4 3 270 487 89 351 3 2 2 333 61 89 143 2 2 1 ■■I 12 1 .. .... 1 .. 11 .. 1 5 .. 1 1 .. 1 .. 12 16 12 16 11 10 1 6 1 7 8 7 1 Totals .. j 79118 15 I 1! .. .. .. 3 ] 1 .. 19 .. 9 .. 77119117 231 63 339188 95 236 527 188 27 'o 5 .. .. 58[77j 69 58! B 192 i S8 47 3 42 1,113 '2 805 3 44 1,918 2 27 1,261 1 17 657 50 281 135 I 1,9:

Goeminent Schools. Private Schools. All Schools. Admitted a» s . o a 3=1 11 © a* o o a Kg 3 .2-2 ' g 'Si: B JS I « | © I X I SB o 0) a 3 A > 3 p fhfl fl 3 .» . If §§ nig eSg I 9 fl orT.5 a ce a 4* 01 B. G. G. li. G. G. B. .. .. 6 .... .. .. 5 2 .. .. .. .. 4 .... 7 G. CO >. o £ "3 0 Eh B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. Destitute Found beggiDg .. Vagrant Associating with disreputable persons Uncontrollable .. Accused or guilty of punishable offences By arrangement .. Transferred from gaol 4 15 I 8 1 .. 5 .. 6 7 2 6 1 16 9 i .. 1 6 30 74 1 4 21 21 34 i 4 1 3 'a | 'i 3 7 •2 1 1 1 .. 2 14 1 17 18 2 5 3 1 1 21 3 1 4 1 .. 1 i 8 37 3 11 7 44 1 1 1 2 1 11 .. 13 S 2 .. j 22 I 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 1 3 Totals .. \ 16 8 27 15 42 9 15 24 28 5 22 2 9 124 67 191 67

Government Ichools. ■ivate Schools. All Ichools. Cause of Discharge. {Auckland. Receiving Home, Wellington. Receiving Home, Christchurch. Burnham. § 2 CaverO o Bham - ©K Sh G. B. G. St. J Mary's, Auckland. .»" a ®a OS Si* St. Mary's, Nelson. §£fl a ts © j£n a S'« I 1 O Eh B. G. B. I G. B. G. B. B. I G. G. B. G. G. >. o « Warrant of discharge Death Reached age of 21 years Marriage Totals .. , 5 1 3 8 1 4 61 1 1 7 7 7 2 .. 3 ID 1 12 I 18 30 1 1 1 2 1 1 5 6 8 20 5 2 1 2 22 8 30 1 92 4 11 37 4 29 129 8 40 i i 7 8 .. ! l 1 1 3 14 5 5 1 ' 7 2 68 ' 9 11 1 75 182 107 8 17

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Numbers of 1903 and 1904 compared.

No. 3. EEPOBTS OF THE MEDICAL OFFICEBS. AUCKLAND. Government School. Sir, — Auckland, 7th April, 1905. I have again the pleasure to report that the health of the inmates and boarded-out children of the Auckland Industrial School has been fairly good. We have had no death, and no serious epidemic. The three cases of scarlatina which occurred in June, 1904, recovered without sequel®, and all che other inmates escaped infection. One case of serious illness in a little boy occurred at Awhitu. The patient was not brought to me by the foster-mother, but to another medical man, and was sent to the Hospital without ray knowledge on the 27th March. On the Ist April, at Miss Jackson's request, I visited him, but as on chat day a change in the medical staff took place, I could not obtain any information of diagnosis or treatment, but I saw no reason to be apprehensive about him, and I hear he is improving. Towards the end of last year, one of the elder girls, who is of somewhat feeble intellect, showed signs which made it undesirable that she should remain an inmate. On my advice the Manager removed her to a suitable home, and there is reason to hope that she will be benefited by the change. The house is much improved, but requires better lighting in the dining-room. I also recommend that one at least of the baths should be provided with a shower. The drainage-tank should also be covered. The management is in every respect most satisfactory. It is gratifying to see the change for the better shown by the children in a short time after their committal. I am, &c., A. G. Purchas, M.B.C.S. (Eng.), The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

St. Mary's (8.C.). Sir, — Auckland, 11th April, 1905. I have recently made a most minute inspection of the above institution, which is under the Sisters of Mercy, and I am happy to say the health of the children is excellent, and has been for some time. They are all well clothed. The dormitories have all been newly painted and fitted up with thirty new bedsteads. The drainage and lavatories are good, and the water-supply plentiful and excellent. The cooking is good, and the bill of fare very healthy and varied The buildings from end to end are well ventilated, and their cleanliness and tidiness are very striking. The situation is an ideal one. I have, &c, W. J. Darby, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Hon. Medical Officer. St. Joseph's, Lake Takapuna (8.C.). Sir, — Auckland, April, 1905. Since my last report there have been no epidemics among the inmates, and the general health of the lads remains uniformly good. There have been but few cases of illness during the past year, and these of only a minor nature. The usual scrupulous cleanliness of the school has been well maintained during the past year, the dairy, lavatories, &c, being models in this respect. The latrines are well kept, but one could wish for a water system to replace the present earth system. On two occasions during the past year I have vaccinated all the inmates, but the lymph supplied by Government was evidently sterile, none of the lads being successfully vaccinated. I miss the able co-operation of Sister Mary Alphonsus. I have, &c, J. A. Laing, M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer

At end of Year 1904. Increase or Decrease. Inmates. 1903. I I In the schools Boarded out With friends At service In hospital In lunatic asylum School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner At Costley Training Institution Under control of refuges or cognate institutions In orphanage, cottage home, &c. In gaol Absent without leave 601 513 195 489 7 3 2 7 21 10 5 56 603 548 178 494 5 4 3 12 16 8 3 44 + 2 + 35 - 17 + 5 - 2 + 1 + 1 + 5 - 5 - 2 - 2 - 12 Totals 1,909 1,918 + 9

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WELLINGTON. Government Ebobiving Home. Sir,— Wellington, 3rd April, 1905. During the year I have attended at the Eeoeiving Home and on the children boarded out in the City of Wellington. There has been a great deal of sickness, chiefly due to the bad feeding and neglected condition of the children prior to their committal to the Home. The management and discipline of the Home have been excellent, but the conditions under which the work is done are far from satisfactory. The accommodation is so limited that sick baoies are kept in the dining-room during the day, sometimes under suspicion of infectious disease. Fortunately there has been no illness of this class, and the attention and earnestness of the manage ment and attendants produce the best results under the circumstances. In the boarding-out department it has been a source of gratification to note how kindly and readily foster-mothers take to their new charges, even when sickness and hereditary or congenital defects would at first sight appear to make the infants objectionable. I think this reflects great credit on the care, tact, and judgment of the Manager in making her selection of homes. I have, &c, W. A. Chapple, M.D., M.E.C.S., D P.H.. The Secretary for Education. Medical Officer. St. Joseph's (8.C.). Sir,— Wellington, 12th April, 1905. I have the honour to furnish the annual report on St. Joseph's Industrial School, Wellington, for the year ending the 31st March, 1905. There were no cases of severe illness until the 11th May, 1904, when three girls contracted scarlet fever. These patients were immediately isolated and sent to the Wellington Hospital for Infectious Diseases. The dormitories, class-rooms, &c, were at once disinfected by the Health authorities. On the 15th May, 1904, two others contracted scarlet fever, and were at once removed to the Hospital. The Health authorities were busy disinfecting the Orphanage within two hours after their removal to the Hospital. No further cases of scarlet fever occurred until the 28th November, 1904, when another girl contracted it, and was at once removed to the Hospital. The Health Department again disinfected all the rooms with the utmost despatch. lam quite certain that only for the immediate isolation of the patients and the prompt attention of the Health Department we should have had a sharp epidemic, both in May and November, 1904. All these girls recovered at the Hospital without any complications. I have made a monthly examination of dormitories, class, dining, and work rooms, and found them all scrupulously clean and well ventilated, and the sanitary arrangements in first-class order. My annual examination was made on the 10th April, 1905, and I found the inmates in firstclass health —bright, cheerful, and happy—which fact reflects great credit on the Superioress, Sister Mary Alacoque, who is most untiring in her great kindness and attention to them. Sister Ambrose is deserving of great praise for hfr nursing capabilities during the illness of the children. It was owing to her being able to.take their temperatures that I was able to have them isolated before even the rash appeared. In conclusion, I may add that the greatest harmony prevailed in the institution, and the sisters were always pleased to carry out any suggestions I made to insure the good healths and happiness of the children under their care. I have, &c, F. Mackin, M.D., F.E.C.S., Ed., The Secretary for Education. Wellington. Medical Officer. NELSON. Stoke School (E.G.). Sir,— Nelson, April, 1905. There was no epidemic sickness throughout the year. The health of the boys, on the whole, was particularly good. One boy died from tubercular pneumonia on the 28th August 1904. Another boy was sent to the Nelson Hospital on account of pneumonia. He recovered completely. The other cases of illness were unimportant. I have, &c, Jas. Hudson, M.8., London, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. St. Mart's (8.C.). Sir,— No epidemic sickness occurred throughout the year. There was one case of chicken-pox, which did not spread. There were no deaths among the children, and the health of the children was very good. The cases of illness that occurred were unimportant. I have, &c, Jas. Hudson, M.B. (Lond.), The Secretary for Education. Wellington. Medica l Officer.

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CANTERBURY. Government School, Buknham. Sir, — Christchurcb, Ist June, 1905. I have the honour to report that the health of the boys has been generally very good during the past year, and no deaths have occurred The average number of boys in residence at Burnham was 10375 during 1904, while the average number on the books of the institution during the same period was 250-75. These numbers are very nearly the same as those for 1903. The number employed on the staff', in addition to the Matron and Manager, is now nineteen. The salaries of the staff have been increased all round, which has produced more contentment. The one great difficulty is the want of more facilities for classification. In my report last year I drew attention to the need for more cottages, of which we have only two, in each of which six boys are boarded. No fresh cottages have been built, and until this is done little if any improvement in classification can be effected. These cottages have an equally beneficial influence on both the boys and the attendants; the latter being able to marry, their wives greatly assist in improving the character of the boys, while the attendants take more interest in their work and settle down permanently to it, instead of constantly changing. I have much pleasure in reporting tnat on the whole difficult cases of degeneracy have been treated with a very fair degree of success. Nothing has yet been done to provide a dispensary, the need for which I explained in my last report. I am, &c, W. H. Symes, M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

Government Home, Te Okanga. Sir, — Christchurch, Ist June, 1905. I have the honour to report that the health of the inmates of this Home has been generally good during the past year. There were forty girls in residence on the 31st December, 1904 ; their ages varied from ten to twenty. Girls are admitted up to the age of eighteen, but I think it is a mistake to admit them after sixteen, because we find that reformatory treatment has very little chance of being effective unless commenced before sixteen, and older girls have a bad influence over younger ones. The present buildings admit of dividing the girls into two classes only ; but it is very desirable that a separate building should be provided for a third class, to include the worst type of girls and others requiring admission after sixteen. The intention to construct a gymnasium and tennis-court, alluded to in my last report, has been persevered with, and money is being collected by sales of work and donations, so that it is hoped a start may soon be made. The girls all practise manual exercise, and drill for half an hour every morning, and nearly all of them look healthy, strong, and well nourished. No work is done for purposes outsiue the Home, except a little clothes-mending for Burnham Industrial School. All the domestic work, gardening, and care of stock for the Home is done by the girls with a little assistance. I think a weighing-machine should be provided, and all girls in bad health should be weighed once a month, and the record kept. The girls all went for their annual fortnight's holiday to Quail Island, with the same benefit as before. In conclusion, I wish to testify to the excellent management of the Home, and the good results attained. I have, &c, W. H. Symes. M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

Government Receiving Home, Christchdrch. Sir, — Christchurch, Ist June, 1905. I have the honour to report that there has been no special illness amongst the children of the Receiving Home during the past year, and there has been only one death, that of an infant seven weeks old, not nursed by its mother. The average number on the books has been about the same as before, being 23375 for 1904, as compared with 23525 for 1903. The average number residing at the Home has been 6-66 per day for 1904. A most useful addition to the accommodation of the Home is the provision of two tents for the use of delicate girls with a tendency to tuberculosis. This tent-camp is already proving of great value. The extraordinary effect of tent-life on such cases can hardly be realised by those who have not witnessed it. Girls are constantly returning from their situations to the Receiving Home for rest and recovery of health. While in the Home they often spend several weeks in bed, taking medicine, &c, without much benefit, whereas, if they could be sent out of town, they would improve more in one week'than by one month's care and treatment in town. The foster-mothers who have the care of the boarded-out children appear to me to do their best for them ; but many of these children have incorrigible habits which require unending patience to deal with. This moral education is the most important training the child ever receives, and influences its character throughout life. For this reason I think greater efforts should be made

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to induce suitable ladies to visit the ioster-mothers regularly, so as to encourage them in their difficult work. The training of degenerate children is a much more serious matter than that of normal children. In conclusion, I wish to testify most cordially to the excellent training in domestic work which is imparted to the girls in the Eeceiving Home. I hear the same commendation expressed by all the ladies in whose services the girls are placed. I have, &c, W. H. Symbs, M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

OTAGO. (toveknment School. Sib, — Dunedin, 31st March, 1905. I have the honour to forward my annual report on Caversham Industrial School for the past year. With a total average number of 134 resident inmates—32 girls and 102 boys —we may consider ourselves fortunate in having so little sickness and no epidemic disease. I have one death to record, that of A.M., twelve years of age. The case was one of erysipelas of the leg. I had the boy removed to the Dunedin Hospital, where he died four days after. The greatest care is always observed to procure the best hygienic conditions and keep the drains flushed with the ample water-supply we now enjoy. The healthy looks of the inmates corroborate this. I often overhear remarks regarding the well-set-up carriage of the boys as observed in their march through town to their own music. It is part of my duty to look after the health of the boarded-out children in this district. I had occasion to give a death-certificate in one case where the child sixteen weeks old was seen for the first time by me a few hours before death. The infant had been detained longer than usual in the public institution where she was born. Her congenital debility was all along recognised. With the prospect of removal of the School to Horowhenua at no remote date I am happy to make a report so gratifying to myself, as it must also be to Mr. Burlinson, the Manager, and to the other officials in charge. 1 have, &c. Eobbrt Bubns, F.8.C.5.8., Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. St. Vincent de Paul's (R.C.). Sib,— . Dunedin, 7th April, 1905. I have the honour to submit the annual medical report of the Industrial School of St. Vincent de Paul, South Dunedin, for the year ending the 31st March, 1905. The health of the inmates has been excellent, no deaths and no cases of serious illness having occurred during the year. The ventilation of the rooms and the sanitary arrangements of the institution are all that could be desired. The children are clean, well fed and clothed, bearing testimony to the skilled management and care bestowed upon them by the Mother Superior and Sisters in charge. I have, &c, Eugene J. O'Neill, M.8., F.R.C.S.E., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. Approximate Coat of Paper. —Preparation, not given : printing (1,900 copies), £ 7 ss.

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