E.—l

XXVI

TABLE T.—Ages of the Children.

These figures show that 11"4 per cent, of the children are under 5 years of age, that 428 per cent, are between the ages of 5 and 10, and that 45-8 per cent, are over 10 years old. About 939 of the children were receiving day-school instruction, the numbers being as follows: Auckland Industrial School, 128; St. Mary's, Auckland, 35; St. Stephens, Parnell, 16; Thames, 17; St. Joseph's, Wellington, 19; St. Mary's, Nelson, 108; Motueka, 29; Lyttelton, 73; Eurnham, 275; Oaversham, 239. Those at the Thames Orphanage are included in the returns of "public school" attendance. Probably the changes of the greatest practical importance in the administration of the Industrial Schools effected by the passing of " The Industrial Schools Act, 1882," are those which relate to the boarding-out of the younger children with respectable foster-parents, and the extending of the period of the Manager's legal guardianship over the children till the age of twenty-one is reached. A very fair commencement has been made in the boarding-out of the younger children from the Burnham and Caversham schools. A Lady Official Correspondent and Lady Visitors have been appointed in connection with each school, and already (14th June) 53 children from Burnham and 67 from Caversham have been placed out. A Lady Correspondent and Lady Visitors have also been appointed for Auckland, but little progress has yet been made there. The scheme, so far as it has yet been tested, gives promise of success, but it would be premature to express a very decided opinion on the subject. The extending of the term of the Manager's guardianship over the children to the age of twenty-one years is likely to prove very beneficial, especially in the case of those who need protection from their own depraved and worthless parents or other relatives. Fuller information respecting the Industrial Schools and Orphanages is contained in a separate parliamentary paper (E.-3). GILCHRIST SCHOLARSHIP. The Gilchrist Scholarship, of the annual value of £100, and tenable for three years, is offered by the Gilchrist Trustees to residents in New Zealand between the of seventeen and twenty-two. The examination of candidates for the scholarship is the same as that undergone by candidates for matriculation at the University of London, and is held biennially. The first competition in New Zealand was held in 1880, when there was one candidate, Mr. W. 11. Herbert, M.A., of Canterbury College, Christchurch, who gained the scholarship with much credit. The second was held last July, when there were three candidates—-one from Canterbury College; one from the University of Otago; and one from Nelson College. The successful candidate was Mr. J. W. Salmond, M.A. of the University of Otago, who was placed by the examiners " equal with the first candidate in the original honours list" of all that were examined by the London University i& June of last year. Mr. Salmond has now gone to England to pursue his studies there. Institutions for Superior Education. The annual reports of the governing bodies of the University of New Zealand, the University of Otago, alid the Canterbury College, with correspondence, statements of accounts-, &c, are printed in separate parliamentary papers (E.—s, E.-6, and E.-7 respectively). An Act providing for the establishment of a University College at Auckland was passed by the General Assembly in the session of 1882, and an annual sum of £4,000 appropriated for its maintenance. Four profes-

Under 1 Year. 1 and under 2. 2 and under 3. 3 and under 4. 4 and under 5. 5 and under 7. 7 and under 10. 10 and under 13. 13 and under 15. Over 15 years. Total. Committed children Non-committed children Totals ... 4 ; 12 15 2 2 4 15 17 29 41 110 223 273 111 8 827 4 9 36 76 57 19 8 213 33 50 146 299 330 130 16 1,040 I