17

E.—6a.

and that, in this inexpensive way, Dr. Prins's suggestion might be carried out. I think, however, that a much better plan would be to put these two cottages together for an infirmary, to build a house for the master between the main building and the new schoolrooms, and to appropriate the place that was built for an infirmary to the use of the infants, reserving one or two rooms as dormitories for some of the elder girls. The infirmary is now occupied as a dwelling-house by the master and his family. It is a great deal too far from the main building. The master ought always to be close at hand in case of emergency. The rooms intended for the master's use in the main building are inadequate to his reasonable wants. lam quite sure Mr. Maddison would do all he could to get such wort as I have suggested done at the least possible cost. He has made many repairs, alterations, and additions with his own hands, and it is good for the boys to see such things done, and to help as far as they can. Dr. Prins reported that the bathing accommodation for the girls was insufficient. Mr. Maddison has altered and enlarged a shed, laid on water, put down a concrete floor, and made a very convenient bathroom for them. He has also begun to alter the closets, improving them, and increasing their number —a work which Dr. Prins and Mr. March both spoke of as necessary. The boys' closets are not satisfactory, but they too wilL be altered. A good bathroom has been lately made for the boys. The master having asked to have an additional laundress appointed, in order that the washing might be done at the school instead of sending it to Addington G-aol, I was instructed to discuss the matter with him. I have no doubt it is best for the girls to have all the washing done in the institution. But, apart from this, it was urged that, when the clothes are sent out to be washed, they are not returned in time to be properly mended. I found on inquiry that the rule has been to have only two sets of clothing—one in wear, and one in the wash —and, further, that the separate garments have not been appropriated to individual children, but that any child has worn any garment that was of the right size. I strongly recommend that the rule be that the clothing be appropriated, and marked or numbered, and that there be always three sets instead of two. The cost will not be greater in the long run. Mr. Maddison has accepted my views on this subject, and within the last month has begun to act upon them. He tells me that he finds that the individual appropriation of clothing will save trouble, instead of increasing it, as he feared. lam sure it will promote self-respect. Probably the children will take better care of their clothes if they are their own. The mending will be more carefully done when there is a clear week to do it in. Mr. Maddison now agrees with me that it would be betterin view of the probability of having a separate building for the infants—to employ, not another laundress, but a nurse and needlewoman. With regard to the master's idea of having the boys taught boot-making, I suggested that as they would not learn enough to make tradesmen of them, and would probably not follow the trade, it might be better to teach them to make some of their own clothing, as the boys at Kohiinarama are taught. At my last visit I found that Mrs. Maddison had already began to teach them, and I consider it a very good thing to have them brought thus under her immediate influence in the evenings. lam told that they are very much interested in this new work. The management of the farm has been very unsatisfactory. It has been necessary to buy oats for the horses ; and presents of vegetables for the table have been thankfully received. During the last few weeks the master has had to travel long distances to identify sheep that have strayed in all directions. He has found sheep with three years' wool on their backs, and others that have been shorn by strangers. He tells me that it will not be necessary to buy oats again, and that there will be a plentiful supply of vegetables. The water supply is not satisfactory. During the past month it has been necessary to cart water from the Selwyn. There was at one time a windmill to raise the water from the well, but this is now out of use, and is, I understand, useless. The pumping is now done by hand. Mr. March told me that the pumping apparatus was very imperfect, and that the work of pumping was therefore very laborious and distasteful to the boys. I inspected it last Monday and found that it had been recently very much improved. I think it would be well to get the Clerk of Works (Mr. Hurrell) to report on the state of the machinery of the old windmill with a view to its re-erection, and to obtain competent advice as to the possibility of obtaining a better supply by sinking a deeper well. I have made careful inquiries as to the fitness of the older children for service. Some of them are wanted to do the work of the institution. For this purpose two girls are usually wanted for two or three days in each week, and about eighteen boys working half-time. My opinion is that it is not fair to the children to keep them back from suitable places to do the farm or house work in the institution, and that such work should be done by those who are not quite ready to be sent out. Fitness for service depends upon age and physical strength, on character, and on the educational progress of the child. In my judgment, there are none really fit to be sent out now. Since my visit of the 2nd and 3rd ultimo two boys and three girls have been sent out. [Ist boy (G.W.), 12 years old; 5 years an inmate: passed (Third Standard) in reading, spelling, and writing only. 2nd boy (H. 8.), 11 years old; 3Jyears an inmate: passed (Fourth Standard) in reading, writing, grammar, geography, and history ; failed in spelling, arithmetic, and composition; a well-behaved boy. Ist girl (E.W\), 14 years old ; 5 years an inmate : passed (Fourth Standard) in reading, writing, and grammar only ; a very good girl, and useful. 2nd girl (E.M.), 15 years old; 5 years an inmate: passed (Fourth Standard) in reading, writing, and grammar only. 3rd girl (J. McGr.), 15 years old; li years an inmate: passed (First Standard), in reading, spelling, and writing only.] I examined 21 boys and 7 girls above the age of 12 years. I do not consider that any of them are fit to be sent out yet. I have prepared a statement showing the position they took at Mr. Edge's examination, in October, and how they did before me. This statement, with papers written by the most advanced of them, is appended to this report. It may be useful to assist in determining whether any of these children shall be sent out to service. Mr. Edge's report shows that the numbers presented for examination in Standards 1., 11., 111., and IV., were respectively 27, 30, 22, and 10; and that all of them failed, except 13 in Standard 1., and these are said to be barely up to the requirements of the standard. Of the 73 children not presented in standards, Mr. Edge says: " Making but little progress; but due allowance must be made for poor 3—E. 6a.