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is well known, spoke very warmly as to her good character aud her ability. She is held in the very highest estimation by parents whose doaf aud dumb children have been educated by her. Among these are Mr. James Green, M.H.R., and tho Rev. Mr. Bradley, of Akaroa. 2. In company with Miss Mitchell I inspected the building outside the Orphanage at Lyttelton, and found it utterly unsuitable. The building in itself i 3 worthless for tho purpose, and, even were it tolerable, its location would render it most unfit. 3. Hereto attached is an offer from the Rev. Mr. Bradley, conveyed through Miss Mitchell, of an acre of laud iv his beach paddock as a site for a deaf and dumb institution. It is across the harbour from Lyttelton, close by a never-failing stream of water. It seems altogether a most suitable sito. The only drawback which Miss Mitchell can suggest is that visitors to the school would have either to cross the harbour by steam-launch or boat, or ride a long way round. Ido not consider this any drawback at all. Miss Mitchell thinks Mr. Bradley would, if asked, be induced to mako his gift an acre and a half, and she states that by-aud-by more laud could be had by purchase when needed. Mr. Bradley has several deaf and dumb children, who were very successfully instructed by Miss Mitchell, and he makes the offer because ho is greatly interested in the education of deaf-mutes, and because his children were the first successfully educated in the colony. 4. Even though this site should be accepted by Government or by a society for the education of deaf-mutes, it would be necessary to rent a suitable house in tho meantime. I saw the house at Lyttelton (Home Villa) referred to by Mis 3 Mitchell, and I consider it well fitted for the purpose. I believe it could be rented at a moderate figure. 5. I believe there is a better chance of getting an association started at Lyttelton and Christchurch than anywhere else at the present time, because Miss Mitchell's success as a teacher of deafmutes is well known in the Canterbury District, and the subject has excited favourable interest amongst a number of the settlors there. I have, &c, The Hon. Mr. Ballance, Wellington. John Hislop.

Enclosure in No. 11. Miss Mitchell to the Hon. J. Ballance. Sib, — Home Villa, Lyttelton, sth April, 1879. I am requested by tho Rev. R. R. Bradley, of Charteris Bay, to say that, if Government choose to accept of it, he will give an acre of land in his beach paddock as a site on which to build tho institute for the deaf and dumb. It is just opposite Lyttelton, across the harbour, aud close by a never-failing creek from which an abundaut supply of water could be laid on, and in the country — no water-rates to pay. For a healthy situation Ido not know a better, aud, as it would bo close on the beach and in the country, the pupils could have all the advantages of sea-bathing, aud the establishment could be well and inoro cheaply supplied with butchers-meat, milk, and butter, than in town ; and as the school increased, if more land were required to extend the teaching of gardening and agriculture to the boys of tho institute, it could be obtained by purchase : indeed I believe Mr. Bradley would make his gift an acre and a-half at first if asked to do so. He makes the offer to Government as his children are the first deaf-mutes in the colony who have been taught at home. If Government think fit, the site could be looked at aud reported upon, but, if thought preferable to rent a place at first, there is a very convenient house in Port Lyttelton capable of accommodating from fifteen to twenty pupils, and to it there is attached a good-sized garden well-stocked in fruit and Homo trees — Mr. Hislop knows the house, Home A rilla, where he called upon me. Mr. Bradley also offers to do his part (on Banks Peninsula) in canvassing for subscriptions and donations; and I have also had letters from friends in Christchurch offering to do the same as soon as a committee is formed, or whatever arrangements are to be made completed; but, of course nothing can be done at present until the grant or subsidy oifered by Government is made public, and they have liberty to canvass for subscriptions. I enclose for perusal a letter I have just received from the Principal of the Victorian Institution for Deaf and Dumb. About six months ago the Committee of that institution engaged a teacher of articulation aud lip-reading as an adjunct to the mimetic or French system, and, as I was anxious to know results, I wrote to the master making inquiries. From his reply to me he evidently' thinks as I do, and the most eminent teachers of deaf-mutes with whom I have conversed express themselves similarly—that, when found practical to teach it, articulation is good as an accomplishment, but'not as a means of imparting knowledge to deaf-mutes. I have, &c, The Hon. Mr. Ballance, Wellington. D. G. Mitchell. N.B.—An objection to the site Mr. Bradley offers may be that visitors to the school would either have to cross the harbour by steam-launch or ride a long way round.—D.G.M.

No. 12. Mr. J. Hislop to Miss Mitchell. Madam, — Education Department, Wellington, 16th April, 1879. I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Education, to acknowledge tho receipt of your letter of tho sth instant, respecting the proposed institution for the education and training of deaf-mutes, and to inform you that he has perused it and your former letters on the same subject with interest and satisfaction. lam directed to say also, — 1. That Government are anxious to aid in securing to the deaf and dumb youth of this colouy the means of thorough education and training, and that, with this object, instructions were forwarded somo months ago to the Agent-General iv London to engage the services of a very competent teacher. 2. That Government belicvo that an institution for the education and training of deaf-mutes could be most satisfactorily established aud conducted by an association organized and incorporated for tho

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