E.—6a,

12

No. 6. The Thames Okphanage and Training School 1. Prospectus. The Thames Orphanage and Training School has been erected for the reception and education of poor children who have lost one or both parents, and also of children neglected by their parents, or who are, from evil associates, likely to become vagrants and criminals as they grow older. It is anticipated that a residence and careful training for a few years in the institution will enable the boys at fourteen years of age to leave the Orphanage fitted in every respect for situations as farm servants; and the girls when fifteen years old will be well-qualified domestic servants, and, as such, will be readily received into families. , Children will be admitted at any age between two and twelve, and will receive a similar education to that given in the State free schools. The boys will learn gardening, field-work, the management of cows, and other out-door employment; while the girls will perform all household duties, including washing, cooking, and dairy-work, in addition to cutting out and making all clothes required for the inmates of the institution. It is proposed to maintain the institution by subscriptions and donations, in addition to grants of money from the Colonial Government and local bodies. Gifts of clothes, books, preserves, toys, &c, will be thankfully acknowledged. The Orphanage is erected in an exceedingly healthy position in the Kauaeranga Valley —the ground attached to the institution being twelve acres in extent. The management of the charity to be by a Committee of eight persons, consisting of the Mayor, and three persons elected by the Borough Council in September of each year, and by four ladies or gentlemen elected annually in October by subscribers of £1 and upwards yearly to the funds of the institution.

2. First Annual Report. The ladies and gentlemen forming the Committee of Management of the above institution have the satisfaction, when submitting their first report to the subscribers to its funds, to be able to say the charity has proved a success, and is doing good work in a direction not heretofore attempted in the district. The institution is dual in character; being an industrial school for the reception of neglected children, committed for various terms of years by the Magistrates, and also an orphanage, in which children who have lost one or both parents may be placed by their friends upon the payment of the small sum of £10 annually. The proofs of its success are the robust health of the children, their good conduct, their attention and progress in their studies and duties, and their respect and attachment to the master and matron. The Committee, through their officers, have aimed to inculcate a highly moral tone amongst the children ; a desire to improve themselves and conquer evil habits acquired previous to admission because they feel it is right to do so, and because the overcoming of the evil and the doing well give pleasure to the master and matron, who guide and lead them forward. There has been no flogging, and, although the grounds are without gates, no running away: they can be, and are, trusted to go on business of the institution considerable distances from its walls. The school of the institution is under the control of the Board of Education, Auckland, the studies being the same as those of all Government schools in the colony. In addition to the inmates of the institution, several of the settlers in the surrounding districts send their children for education, a practice that is encouraged and approved by the Committee. During the past year two girls and one boy have been admitted to the Orphanage, and one girl has been allowed to leave, for the purpose of residing with the family of a settler at Miranda; satisfactory accounts of this former inmate are received by the Committee. The cost of maintenance of each child in the institution has been 54d. a day, and their supervision, i.e., the salaries paid the master and matron, the secretary and the servant, the expenses of printing, advertising, stamps, and stationery, have added another s|d., making the daily cost of each lid. As the number of inmates increase, the cost of supervision will proportionally decrease. Considerable improvements and additions have been made to the outbuildings, the grounds have been laid down in permanent pasture, and a very substantial bridge erected over the Kauaeranga Biver. The Committee have many kindnesses to acknowledge. Mrs. Lush has placed the parsonage at their service at all times for holding sewing bees ; ladies and gentlemen have given dramatic and musical entertainments in aid of special funds; others have sent useful gifts ; many have given their time in sewing and assistive works ; whilst the names of the subscribers and donors show how warmly the efforts of the Committee have been seconded. Thames, 28th October, 1880. Louis Eheenfeied, President.

Income and Expenditure for "Year 1880. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... ... 255 10 8 Salaries and wages ... ... ... 152 4 8 Subscriptions ... ... ... ... 164. 1 3 Maintenance ... ... ... ... 202 13 4 Thames Borough Council ... ... ... 108 11 3 Buildings ... ... ... ... 150 16 1 Payments by parents ... ... ... 23 O O Ploughing, sowing, farm labour, &c. ... ... 70 4 0 Auckland Education Board ... ... 61 13 4 Sundries ... ... ... ... 696 Balance ... ... ... ... 30 8 11 £612 16 6 £612 16 6