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this increasing nuisance, but orders are worse than useless when unsupported by properly-con-stituted authority for carrying them out. 7 Another prevalent [ crime in the colony is sheep-stealing. Though there has been a decrease during the year, the present high price of sheep renders it probable that the decrease is not likely to last long. In dealing with this class of crime the police find considerable difficulties. « Firstly, the robberies are not discovered and reported till long after they have been committed, as in many cases the flock-owners have no means of ascertaining their losses, 8 except at stated periods; and | before the police have information of the robbery, or any chance of capturing the offenders, the stolen sheep are killed, and all traces obliterated. The imperfect and entirely unsatisfactory methods of branding also hold out great temptation to the sheepstealers. There is an elaborate scheme of registration of brands, but it is its elaboration that makes it workable in theory and not in practice. The production of wool and frozen mutton 9 is of such magnitude in New Zealand that | the protection from losses by theft from those engaged in that industry becomes a matter of absolute necessity. The dastardly offence of arson, is, I regret to say, on the increase, and in many cases the sagacity of the detectives is baffled and the crime has to go unpunished. There have been practically no promotions in the Force during the past year, owing to the ranks of sergeants and first-class constables being overcrowded. As stated in last year's 1Q report | (c.) At the rate of 100 words per minute. Takes 5 minutes. With very great pleasure the trustees of this institution again meet you this evening with their annual report for the year ending the 31st December last. That pleasure, however, is ■considerably discounted by the fact that death has deprived them of the services of their late manager, Mr. Hawkins. He has been succeeded by Mr. Bamsay. The year has been an eventful one in other ways. For some months past a spirit of restlessness has manifested itself amongst a few of the lads, and, as a result, there are now several of them absent without 1 leave. The trustees have | endeavoured by every means in their power to ascertain the causes of this disaffection, but so far without satisfactory results. They trust that the year now entered upon may be free from unpleasantness of this kind. Of course it would be an easy matter to punish the escapees through the medium of the Police Court, but this, unless compelled, they prefer not to do. No doubt the illness of the late manager prevented his enforcement of that discipline which, in good health, he so efficiently maintained. The old workshop 2 having proved too limited for its purpose, a new brick one | has been erected, giving ample accommodation as well for a carpenters' as a blacksmiths' shop. The latter has been fitted up in modern fashion with the most improved implements, and is presided over by a competent mechanic. As heretofore, the carpenters' shop is also carried on under the guidance of a practical workman. These workshops are of inestimable value in teaching the lads the use of tools, even though eventually they do not follow either handicraft the elementary principles of which are being taught. The health of the inmates has been above the average during the year. 3 There have been |no deaths and no cases of serious illness. In addition to the boys, of whom there are twenty-seven on the roll, there are nine girls, the latter of whom are either in service or boarded out with respectable families. During the year Dr. Beale resigned his appointment as honorary medical officer, and Dr. Knight kindly assumed the office. With a few exceptions the lads are employed by various tradesmen in the city. Monthly reports are sent in by each employer, and on the whole such reports have been most favourable. Two of the 4 eldest lads, whose term in the | Institute has expired, have gone into lodgings. They are now employed as journeymen at the prevailing rate of wages, and have in them all the elements necessary to a prosperous and honourable career. Bearing in- mind the antecedents of many of these lads, it stands to reason that some time must elapse ere a new manager can successfully acquaint himself with the characteristics of each. We believe that in Mr. Bamsay we have a manager of high principle, who will guide and lead rather than and we trust, 5 under his management, to have a successful year. The religious training | Maori. — For Senior and Junior Civil Service. Time allowed: 3 hours. [Optional.] 1. Translate into English the following : — Me haere tenei i nga mahinga a Tawhaki. Ko Hema ka moe i a Urutonga. Ko Tawhaki, tona teina ko Karihi. Ko Hinepiripiri te wahine a Tawhaki. Ka haere ratou ko ana taokete kite hi ika i runga i te papa kohatu—tokowha nga taokete o Tawhaki, ka hoki tokorua kite kainga, ka haere a Tawhaki i a raua ; ka tata kite kainga ka patua, ka tanumia, ka haere atu raua kite kainga. Ka ki mai to raua tuahine, " Kei whea to korua taokete ?" Ka mea atu raua, " Kei te hi ano ratou." Ka whanga te wahine nei ki era tungaane ona; ka tae mai raua, ka via atu ano eto ratou tuahine, "Kei whea to koutou taokete?" Ka mea atu raua, "I haere mama hoki ratou." Ka mahara te wahine ra, kua mate ; haere ana kite whakataki ka kite ia c takoto ana, kua mate—kahore i mate rawa—waha ana c ia ki to raua whare, kahoroia ona patunga. Ka ki ake a Tawhaki, " Tikina he wahie moku." Ka haere te wahine ka mea atu a Tawhaki, " E kite koe i te rakau roa c tv ana, turakina ka amo mai." Haere ana te wahine, ka kite ite rakau c tv ana, ka turakina c ia, ka amohia mai; ka tae mai kite whare, ka tahuna roroatia eia kite ahi; koia i tapa ai c ia te ingoa o tana tamaiti ko Wahieroa. 4—B. la.