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illustrations how its principles are applied in the school at" Sumner. The distance of Sumner from an industrial centre is and always has been a drawback to the technical training of the pupils and to their witnessing industrial operations in factories and workshops ; but this drawback was in some measure counteracted during the year by availing ourselves on several occasions of the kind invitations received from the secretary of the Christchurch Poultry Show, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, from the Biograph Company, and the Canterbury Jubilee Exhibition. Their shows and exhibitions were, from an educational point of view, of considerable value and pleasure to the pupils. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. . G. van Asch.

No. 3. Report op the Medical Ofpiceb. Sib,— Christchureh, 18th July, 1901. I have the honour to report that the health of the pupils of the Deaf-mute Institute at. Sumner has been remarkably good during the year 1900. The only serious case of illness was that of a girl, aged ten, who returned from her home at Akaroa ill with typhoid fever iru February, and died at the Christchureh Hospital. The difficulty of promptly filling the vacancies caused by the retirement of attendants, especially female attendants, would, I think, best be met by admitting young probationers and training them. This system is found to answer admirably in hospitals. On the 19th September, 1900, I gave a false alarm of fire unexpectedly during the night. The result was satisfactory, as all the girls were outside their building in three minutes, and all the boys outside their building in five minutes. Various alterations of doors and windows have been made, so that no anxiety need now be felt for the pupils in case of fire at night. An important improvement required is better supervision of the dormitories at night. The present buildings are very unsuitable in that respect, and the arrangements proposed in the new buildings will enable better care to be taken of the pupils at night. I think the good health of the pupils lias been largely due to the kind and watchful care of the matron. On the 22nd February a party of six of the visitors attending the Medical Congress in Christchureh paid a special visit to the Institute, and the Director, Mr. Van Asch, kindly showed them his system of teaching. They expressed great admiration at the scientific method adopted, and said that the value of the Institute was not as well known as it ought to be. I am, Sir, &c, W. H. Symes, M.D., Medical Officer. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing; printing (1,675 copies), £2 12s.

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