23

E.—6a.

RETURN D.—CIECTTMSTAKCES UNDEB WHICH BOYS WEBB ADMITTED DUEINtt THE YEAK BKDIN& SIST MAECH, 1881. Residing with step-mother, 1; stealing and selling a crop of pumpkins, 5 ; father a drunkard, and undergoing sentence in gaol, 1; found in destitute condition, living with Maoris, mother a prostitute and great drunkard, 1; living with step-father, 1 ; father deserted, 1; larceny from a tent (two elder brothers sentenced to two months' hard labour same time) 1 ; stealing fruit and vegetables; has a step-mother, 1; larceny, 2 ; mother in lunatic asylum, 1; father deserted, mother sickly and destitute, 2 ; father deserted, boy sleeping in outhouses and begging his food, 1 ; run away from family with whom he was boarded by Benevolent Society, 1; beyond mother's control, sleeping out, 2 ; guilty of several acts of larceny, parents recently from Russia, 1 ; no information received, 8 : total, 30. Nine of the above 30 were committed under section 8 of the Act, 9 under section 9, 10 under section 10, and 1 under section 11. Their ages were as follows : 7 were ten years of age, 14 were eleven years old, 4 were twelve, and 5 were thirteen years.

RETURN" E.—Abscondebs. The following is an abstract of the return of absconders during the year ending the 31st March, 1881: 38 different boys absconded during the year, there being altogether 57 cases of absconding. One boy absconded six times, and was brought back by police ; the last time he was sent to gaol for larceny of a boat; one boy absconded five times, was twice brought back by police, and thrice returned voluntarily ; one boy absconded four times, was thrice brought back by police, and once gave himself up to school officer; one boy absconded three times, was twice brought back by police, and once gave himself up to school officer; three boys absconded twice, and were brought back by police ; two boys absconded twice, were once brought back by police, and once returned voluntarily; seventeen absconded once, and were brought back by police ; ten absconded once, and returned voluntarily; one boy absconded once, and is still at large; one boy who absconded was charged by police with larceny of a boat, but, on the ground that it was his first appearance, was let off and sent back to school.

2. Report of Medical Officer. Naval Training Ship and School, Sib, — Kohimarama, Auckland, 30th June, 1881. I have the honor to report that the general health of the inmates of the Naval Training School at Kohimarama during the year ending the 31st March, 1881, has been good. No death has occurred during that period. There has been the usual amount of sickness and accidents incidental to boys, and a number of surgical cases, mostly of a minor character, requiring operations. One boy, a half-caste, suffered severely from phlegmonous erysipelas, and subsequent disease of the bones of the leg, requiring very energetic treatment, and many surgical operations. Not being able to give this case the attention necessary, at the school, I removed him to the Provincial District Hospital, Auckland, to be more immediately under my supervision and treatment. He has nearly recovered, and returned to light duty at the school. In my last report I asked for permission to pursue this course in cases of emergency, but no answer was given. I again request it. During the year I paid sixty-four visits to the school, twenty-seven to patients in the hospital, and made three special visits in the night to Mr. Thompson, suffering from low fever and colic, one to a boy who had poisoned himself by using tobacco, and one to the cook (Newton), who was seized with serous apoplexy. This man subsequently suffered from chronic rheumatism, and was ultimately discharged from the school. The number of cases attended at the school was 295, and twenty-seven at the Provincial District Hospital, to visit the sick inmates of the school. Since the establishment of the isolating ward, and the construction of the furnace for disinfecting clothes and bedding, the itch has given little trouble, and is immediately checked. I have examined every candidate for admission, and made a stripped weekly inspection of every boy in the school, and was thus enabled to prevent the spread of skin and other contagious disorders. During the winter months the weather is occasionally so bad as to render landing from the Government steam launch, at times impossible, even if it were safe to make the passage down, which sometimes is not the case. I have, therefore, at these times, to avail myself of the services of a public conveyance to make my weekly visits, by the road. I have, consequently, to ask that the cabfare heretofore allowed should be granted on such occasions, and in cases of emergency. The roads in the winter are so bad as to render a journey in a light vehicle almost an impossibility. I have again to thank Captain Breton, who has been most kind, energetic, and successful in the treatment of emergencies, &c, and during my absence never spared himself, and immediately appealed to me in any case requiring prompt attention. The diseases treated consisted of: Injury to eye, laceration of cornea, &c, resulting in loss of sight; fractured forearm, &c, from fall; concussion of the brain, from fall; synovitis, knee-joint, from fall; tobacco poisoning; serous apoplexy (cook Newton); remittent fever (schoolmaster Thompson) ; ophthalmia; abscess and boils ; abscess in the ears; enlarged glands; laryngeal diseases; bronchitic diseases; sore throat; itch, Maori-pock, &c.; ringworm ; colic; coughs and colds; stone bruises, &c, &c. The number of the boys in the school was as follows :—1880: 30th April, 55 ; 31st May, 58 ; 30th Juno, 59; 31st July, 59; 31st August, 55; 30th September, 52; 31st October, 52 ; 30th November, 51; 31st December, 55. 1881: 31st January, 53 ; 28th February, 51; 31st March, 52. I have, &c, Chakles "E. G-oudsbeo, M.D., F.R.C.P., Medical Officer, Government Training Ship The Secretary for Education. and School, Kohimarama.