is.—4.

3

the assistance of several Stipendiary Magistrates in determining whal rales should be fixed, and it is felt that, while the cost of the institution is thus reduced, uo undue hardship has been laid upon the children's relatives. The Department acknowledges its obligation to the Magistrates for the trouble taken by them in this respect. Jubilee Institute for the Blind. Although this is not a Government institution, it yet forms an integral section of the educational system of New Zealand, and it is therefore fitting that some account of its work should be given annually in the general report on the state of education in the Dominion. The new buildings and outdoor equipment are now complete, and they are excellently adapted to the training of the blind according to modern methods. Thenis every indication that the school is pursuing a course that will lead to most satisfactory results. At the end of 1907 the Government was paying for 18 pupils between the ages' of seven and sixteen years, 7 „ sixteen and twenty-one years, and also for the tuition of 3* adults. At the close of last year the numbers were — 21 pupils between the ages of seven and sixteen years, 8 „ sixteen and twenty-one years, and for the tuition of 4 adults. Total paid for, 33. The expenditure by the Government in way of fees for pupils at the school amounted to £648 ss. 9d for the year 1907. For 1908 it was £705 ss. sd. The amount of parental contributions was £154 17s. 3d., an increase of £10 17s. In addition to this expenditure by the Education Department it is to be noted that a sum of £1,388 12s. sd. was paid during the year by the Department of Charitable Aid as subsidies at the rate of 245. in the pound on voluntary contributions towards the funds of the Institute. Details of the administration of the Jubilee Institute are given in the annual report of the Trustees for the year ending 31st March, 1909. Special School for Boys, Otekaike. This school has now been established. Its mission is to educate and train boys who, while unable, owing to mental feebleness, to derive due benefit from the ordinary school course, are yet capable of improvement by special educationsufficient in some cases to enable them to earn their living independently ; in others, with assistance, to maintain themselves by following some occupation in the outside world in circumstances where due allowance will be made for their infirmity, or a 1 the school in work that will be reproductive enough to cover, or partly cover, the cost of their maintenance. The Principal, Mr. George Benstead, was selected in London for the position by the High Commissioner for the Dominion, the Inspector-General of Schools, who was then at Home, and Dr. Shuttleworth, a distinguished specialist in mental Mr. Benstead took up his residence at Otekaike in April, 1908, and immediately entered upon the work of organizing the institution. For several reasons it was thought advisable, however, not to admit any pupils until spring was well advanced ; and then, following the example of other countries, to take only a very few to begin with. Thus, at the end of the year there were only 4 boys in residence. The present arrangements will not permit of the accommodation oi more than about twenty-two ; but the completion of the cottage home for special cases and other buildings now in course of construction will provide for nearly seventy. It is evident that the number of cases where training of this kind is necessary is large, for although no systematic canvass has yet been made, there are many applications fur' admission For the time being it has been decided to give preference to applicants of the compulsory school age—between seven and sixteen years.