E.—4.

To quote a few instances : W. T., carpenter, earns £3 a week, has £90 in bank, regular employment; J. H., coachbuilder, £2 15s. a week, regular employment; W. H., tailor, £3 15s. a week, regular employment ; E. H., picture-framer, £2 10s. a week, regular employment, £5 bonus, £100 in bank; N. H., dressmaker, £1 10s. a week, regular employment; O. L., farm labourer, £1 and found, £263 in bank ; D. N., wool-classer, £3 to £6 a week ; J. N., tailor, £3 10s. a week, regular employment; R. ML, painter and paperhanger, £3 a week, regular employment, £200 in bank, life insured for £200, acre section in Gisborne; G. 8., certificated engineer and draughtsman (wages not stated); A. H., pattern-maker, went to England last year and unaided obtained situation at Oxford at top wages. The thanks of the Director are due to the assistant teachers for the loyal and conscientious manner in which they have carried out their work during the year. The matron and other members of the domestic staff also deserve a word of praise for their efforts in seconding the work of the teachers and in promoting the welfare of the children in their home life. In conclusion, I wish to draw your attention to the desirability of opening a new school in some -other part of the colony. The experience of other countries has proved that it is not in the best interests of the deaf that they should be collected together in large institutions. By having two or more schools a proper scheme of classification could be carried out, the benefits of which would be incalculable. Such a scheme should be based on the hearing-powers and on the mental capacities of the pupils. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellingtov J. E. Stevens No. 3. Report.op the, Medical Officer, Sir,— Christchurch, 20th May, 1907 I have the honour to submit the following report on the Deaf-mute Institute for the year 1906 :— The health of the pupils has been generally good during the past year. Seven pupils were absent on account of ill health for varying periods, amounting in all to nineteen weeks. This does not include the case of J. Atkinson, who was sent home during the winter quarter as a precautionary measure. The only serious illness was that of H. Hooper, who had a severe attack of pneumonia, involving eight, weeks' absence from school. There were also thirty-seven cases of influenza in December, mostly of a mild nature. The year will be memorable for the opening of the new building, which provides excellent classrooms and dormitories, thus enabling the girls to be removed from their former crowded quarters at Beach Glen. I recommend the following improvements : (1) A small isolated hospital ward to which doubtful cases of sickness could be immediately removed; (2) a gymnasium; (3) the provision of showerbaths for all the pupils, with hot and cold water. Hot shower-baths have been introduced extensively into State schools on the Continent of Europe, and are now being introduced into London Board schools and other State schools in England. Nearly all State schools in Germany are provided with them. The showers are started at 95° Fahr., and the temperature of the water is gradually reduced to 55° Fahr. They have been found to exercise a remarkable effect on the nervous system and the general health of children, who much prefer them to others. Moreover, their use economizes both time and water. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education. W. H. Symes, M.D., B.Sc.

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