E.—6a,
10
3. Extracts from Reports of the Inspector-General of Schools. I have visited the Auckland Industrial Home. It has lately been put under the charge of a new manager —Mr. Hogan —in whom the Committee place considerable confidence. I am sorry to find that the itch is not eradicated. I saw several young children in a sad state with it. Ido not think the health of the inmates can ever be very good until better arrangements are made for their diet. When I held an inquiry last year into the working of the institution, I found that, owing to defects in the kitchen-range, it had been for months impossible to cook a dinner in any other form but that of soup. Some little unsatisfactory repairs have been made, but still the daily diet is soup, and so it will be till a proper stove is obtained. The Committee say they are too poor to attend to this matter as it ought to be attended to. Can Government give them £15 towards getting a good range ? I believe £20 would do the work well, and £30 would suffice for range, hot plates, and a boiler that would supply the baths.* I have again pointed out the danger of letting children sleep exposed to moonlight for want of blinds, and have complained of the absence of pillows. Auckland, 24th May, 1881. Wm. Jas. Habens.
Howe Street Industrial Home. —l fear that the usefulness of the institution is considerably impaired by the recent determination to send out all boys above twelve years old, whether morally and educationally fit to go out or not. I have reported on this institution separately. 30th May, 1881. ______________ M- JaS- Habbns-
No. 4 St. Stephen's Oephan Home, Paehell. 1. Extracts from the Rules and Regulations. The object of the Orphan Home is to provide for the maintenance and education of orphans and destitute children. 2. The religious training of the children received into the Orphan Home shall be in accordance with the doctrine and discipline of the Church, of England, but children of all denominations are admissible. 3. The management of the Orphan Home, and the charge and disposal of the funds belonging to it, shall be vested in a Board, consisting of the clergy and parishioners' churchwardens of St. Paul's, St. Matthew's, St. Mary's, St. Sepulchre's, and All Saints', and six other persons to be elected at an annual general meeting of the subscribers. 13. No child shall be admitted into the Orphan Home, or discharged from it, except by the authority of the Board of Management. 14. If, upon application being made by any person for the removal of a child from the Orphan Home, the Board shall be satisfied, after due inquiry, that it will not be for the benefit of the child to comply with the application, the Board may retain the child in the Home until some eligible application for its removal be made. 15. No child shall be admitted under two or over nine years of age, unless in peculiar cases, to be decided by the Board of Management. 16. No child shall be admitted into the Home without a certificate from the medical officer to the effect that he or she is free from all contagious or infectious disorders. 23. A regular medical attendant shall be appointed by the Board of Management, whose duty it shall be to visit the Home from time to time, and to report to the Board of Management monthly as to the state of health of the inmates, and also to suggest any improvements from time to time that may seem to him necessary in the sanitary arrangements of the institution.
2.— Twenty-first Annual Report, Year ending %lst Ifarch, 1881. The Board of Management have again to congratulate the subscribers on the successful working of the Institution. During the past year the largest number in the Home at one time has been sixtyfour. There are now fifty-eight inmates, as against sixty-one at the commencement of the sessional year. One boy and three girls have been placed out at service, whilst six children have been removed by their relatives. The income for the past year amounted to £827 13s. 10d., and the expenditure to £938 13s. 3d., for particulars of which the subscribers are referred to the Treasurer's statement of account. The health of the children has been generally good. One child has been ill from fever, but prompt remedial measures fortunately prevented an extension of the sickness to any other of the children. The subscribers will be pleased to learn that one of the boys has, on the recommendation of the Bishop of Auckland, been admitted a pupil of the Parnell Grammar School, the Board agreeing to provide his board and lodging, whilst the Masonic Lodge Ara devote the interest of their Orphans' Fund towards his clothing and other requirements. The Board have pleasure in recording that two of the Bishop's prizes for this year to Sunday-school scholars have been awarded, in connection with St. Mary's, Parnell, to two late scholars at the Home. With a view to securing greater regularity and method in the Home, and a more complete visitorial oversight, the Board have recently revised the time-table and dietary scale (the latter with the approval of the honorary medical officer), and have defined more explicitly the duties appertaining to the office of visiting members of Committees. During the past year the sanitary condition of the Home has undergone a thorough and searching supervision. The Board believes that now the Institution will compare favourably in that respect with any similar one in the colony, The Board have also found it advisable to have the paddock thoroughly drained, ploughed, and laid down in good grass. This work is now nearly finished, under the able supervision of Mr. Barton Ireland, one of the members of the Board, who, in addition to bestowing a great amount of time and trouble in the matter, as also in the drainage of the Home, has very liberally given the sum of £20 towards
* Government has since granted a sum of £68 10s. to pay for cooking-range, fire-hose, and other articles reported by {he Committee as being necessary.