E.—6a.

4

'' father deserted his family, the mother a low drunken prostitute of good education;" a boy, ten years old, " found in a brothel, father deserted his wife and family, mother a low drunken prostitute ;" a boy, ten years old, " father a convicted thief, father and mother both in gaol;" a girl, ten years old, " living in a brothel, father keeps a brothel in Christchurch, at present in gaol.;" a girl, six years old, " father a drunkard, keeps open house for prostitutes." Nearly every one of the mothers stated in the table to be of very bad character is described in the registers as a " low, drunken prostitute." Poemeb Inmates. At the close of 1880, the aggregate number of committed children placed out under license, whose terms of committal had not expired, was 235. The number of non-committed children at service or with friends, but still under the care of the school authorities, at the end of the year, was 43. The schools to which these children belong, and other particulars, are stated on pages 27 and 28 of the Education Eeport. The children, when placed out, are not lost sight of by the school authorities. In almost all cases friendly intercourse is kept up between them and the heads of the schools, as may be seen by a perusal of the many interesting letters which are received from the children by their former masters or teachers. The report from Mr. Titchener, master of the Oaversham Industrial School, refers to the frequent visits paid to the school by former inmates, many of whom are now men and women in respectable positions. In the same report, which is dated 7th February, 1881, Mr. Titchener says: "I know of but one case of any former inmate having fallen back into criminal habits, that of a boy who is now an inmate of the Dunedin gaol; as also is his father. The crime in this case would appear to be hereditary, both father and mother having been of the criminal class from Tasmania." Yet even this case does not appear to be an altogether hopeless one, and the good influences of the school do not seem to have yet lost their hold of this youth ; for in a recent communication Mr. Titchener reports as follows respecting him: "You remember the boy J G . He came out of gaol last Saturday evening, and came out to me on Sunday. He begged me to assist him, and said he was very sorry that ever he ran away from school. I gave him £2, and sent him up the country to a situation. He left here on Tuesday last." A brother of the same youth was formerly an inmate of the school. He conducted himself with credit, both while in the school and after he was licensed out to service. His term expired a year or two ago. In reply to inquiries recently made respecting him, the police reported that he is a steady, sober, and respectable young man, and earning an honest livelihood in an up-country district. The Minister has authorised the payment to him of the money he earned during his term of committal—£lß 18s. 9d.* The writer of this memorandum is able from personal knowledge to corroborate the statement made by Mr. Titchener, as to the general good conduct of the former inmates, and can bear witness to the maryellous transformation of character which, in not a few instances, has been effected through the many good influences which pervade the school. Eaenings of the Childben". Reference is made in some of the reports to the earnings of the children who have been placed at service. The practise is to deposit in the Post Office Savings Bank the balance of the children's wages, after defraying the cost of clothing and other expenses. The payment of the money, with accumulated interest, is contingent on good conduct. The boys usually receive theirs on reaching manhood, and on satisfying the school authorities that the money will be properly disposed of. The girls' money is usually paid to them on their marriage. Pour young women, formerly inmates of the Caversham School, were married in the course of 1881, and received in the aggregate from the savings bank the sum of £56 Is. 7d. A young woman, formerly an inmate of Burnham School, had to leave her situation recently on account of serious illness. She has been permitted to draw her savings (£l6 11s. Bd.) from the bank, to defray the cost of board, lodging, and medical attendance. Mr. Wallis, in his report on the Motueka Orphanage, shows the advantages to some of his former children of having deposits in the savings bank. At the close of 1881, there were 103 former inmates of the Caversham School who had deposits in the savings bank, amounting in the aggregate to £1,010. One young man had £79 2s. 9d. to his credit. Three young women had each deposits of upwards of £20. The amount to the credit of twenty-one former inmates of the Burnham School, at the same date, was £153 6s. 3d. Education Department, Wellington, 29th July, 1881. Jomr Hislop.

Enclosure A in No. 1. The Hon. the Minister of Education. I hate obtained very full information up to 31st December, 1880, respecting the inmates of the industrial schools, and. I am surprised at the very small number of children in whose cases orders for maintenance-money have been made against parents. Out of 124 children in the Burnham School, there are only 28 in respect of whom orders have been made. I know that in a large number of instances it would be impossible to obtain payment from parents even when their residence is known to the authorities; but most certainly an effort ought to be made to compel as many as possible to pay something towards their children's maintenance when in the industrial school.

* Since the above waB written, the following report has been received respecting these young men: " T ■ Gr called at the school yesterday. I handed him the sum of £18 18s. 9d. He was well dressed, and riding his own horse. He is still in the employ of the person to whom he was licensed in 1875, and is now getting 20s. a week, and found. He informs me that his brother is working as a miner at , and making £2 per week. You remember J ,he absconded from the school in 1876, and shortly afterwards received five years' hard labour. He called on me the first day after he came out of gaol. I gave him £2 to take him to his brother—which sum his brother duly paid yesterday."