11

E.—3

I found everything about the institution, as usual, clean and orderly, and as comfortable as can be expected in the present state of the buildings, with the exception of the cooking apparatus in the kitchen, which is frequently out of order. The fence around the premises is so much broken as to be practically useless, and much annoyance is occasioned by the intrusion of trespassers. A. G' Purchas, M.B.C S Eng , Medical Officer, Auckland Industrial Schools. The Secretary, Education Department.

No. 4. Dr. Purchas's Beport on Kohimarama School. Sir, — Auckland, 14th May, 1884. I have to report that on the 29th March I visited the Kohimarama Industrial School, and carefully inspected the same. I have mislaid my note of the number present, but I believe there TOere 93 boys, one of whom was a visitor One boy was in bed suffering from a recent dislocation of the elbow, which I had reduced the day before. All the rest were in fairly good health, as far as I could ascertain, with the exception of one who has long had epilepsy, and a few who had slight sores. The dormitories, kitchen, and dining-room were all clean and orderly, though the first-named were too crowded for health. The privies were not as clean as they might be, owing, I think, to the want of keeping up a proper supply of dry earth. The lavatories are in great need of improvement basins are needed to replace the large wooden troughs in which a number of boys have to wash together, an arrangement which I can only characterize as filthy and loathsome. I recommend that a forcepump be fixed in the well, and a tank be erected at a height of a few feet above the level of the lavatories , and that pipes be laid from the tank to the lavatories, so as to give a supply to a series of taps for the basins I have recommended.* There are plenty of iron pipes on the ground to do all, and more than all, that is needed. The pump would only cost a few pounds. I Mr) Vf* CVp 'A. G Purchas, M.B.C.S. Eng , Medical Officer, Auckland Industrial Schools. The Secretary, Education Department.

No. 5. Dr Prins's Beport on Burnham School Sir, — Christchurch, sth June, 1884. I have the honour to report that the industrial school at Burnham has been kept clean and orderly. With the exception of whooping-cough and measles, from which they have all now recovered, the inmates have enjoyed good health. I append a list of those I had ordered into hospital; also a list of the children under the care of foster-parents I had seen during the last twelve months. The old closets, baths, and sheds have been replaced by new ones, on fresh sites and improved systems. The water-supply and drainage are now very complete. A swimming-bath is in course of construction, which will greatly conduce to the comfort and health of the inmates. The institution is now much overcrowded. The extra accommodation as provided on the plans laid before the Government will, I trust, be undertaken without delay. The band has gained much m proficiency by having the bandmaster now residing on the premises as one of the staff. The whole staff have taken every pams in working the institution efficiently, and the Master's engineering knowledge and military discipline have greatly added to his other qualities as a painstaking and efficient officer in the position intrusted to him. I have, &c, H. H. Prins, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Medical Officer.

* All these improvements had been recommended by the manager and had been authorized by the Government before the receipt of this report,