R.— 4

8

Before coming to New Zealand we resided near the Institution for the Deaf at Langside, Glasgow, where, as you are aware, the fingering or sign and manual system is taught, and had many opportunities of observing the pupils there ; and I am convinced that they are terribly handicapped through life compared with the children taught by the oral system here. One great disadvantage, among others, is, I think, that they lack to a very great extent that self-respectTand self-confidence which the ability to speak to others and understand others' speech alone gives. You can imagine, as we often do, what a great difference it would have made to us and our children if they had been taught by the fingering and sign system only. Tarn sure you will agree with me that it would have handicapped them terribly, and to a great extent isolated them from us in the home life. I believe that if the education authorities at Home had an opportunity of seeing the oral system in operation here, and the beneficial results obtained, they would at once adopt it exclusively. In closing, T desire to thank and express our gratitude to you and your staff in the various departments for the manner in which our children have and are being educated ; and I feel sure that if A. and K. come home as well equipped as H. a 1 the end of their school career they will he well able to make headway and earn their living in the Dominion. Hoping this will find you all well. I remain, dear sir. Yours very sincerely. R. S. REPORT OF MEDICAL OFFICER. Sir.- Christchurch, 15th June. J 911. I have the honour to report as follows on the health of the School for the Deaf for the year 1910. There have been the usual number of slight ailments, and the only cases of consequence werp two very mild cases of enteric fever in November. A hospital or isolation building is much needed, as at present no means exist for isolating cases of illness. 1 have, (fee. W. H. Symes. M.D.. Medical Officer. The Inspector -General of Schools. Wellington, No. 3.—SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS. OTEKAIKE, OAMART7. REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL. Sir. Otekaike, 14th May. 1911. I herewith present my third annual report on the work of this institution for the year ending Slst March, 1911. Ldmissions, Discharges, amd Dkaths. In the school on Ist April. 1910 .. .. .. .. .. .31 Admitted . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .18 Discharged or left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Died .. .. . . .. .. . . .. .. .. 0 In school on 31st March, 1911 . . . . .. . . .. 47 Ages of boys in institution on 31st March. 1911 : From sto 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 .. 10 to 16 ' . . . . . . . . .80 . 16 to 21 .... . .. .. .. .. ..8 ( hrer 21 years .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Total . . .. .. . . . . .. .. 47 Ages of boys admitted during the year : Of those boys admitted during the year. 16 were between 7 and 16 years of age ; 2 were between 16 and 21 years of age : total, 18. Admissions. —The admissions classed according to mentality show—High-grade cases, 6 ; middle grade, 5 ; low-grade, 7. Of the admissions. 2 are epileptics. Discharges. —During the year two cases were discharged—one being removed to his home, the other transferred to Burnham Industrial School. Deaths. —It is extremely gratifying to be able to report for the third successive year that no death htis occurred, neither has there been any serious accident. General Hevlth. The general-health record of the year has been exceptionally good, and is a gratifying response to the precautions taken. In September of last year we had a virulent epidemic of influenza, which attacked both children and staff, and for several weeks the extra work thrown on those of the staff who kept well was very heavy. Several of the children and staff developed pneumonia, but, thanks to careful nursing and medical attention, no deaths occurred. 1 am thankful, for several reasons, that we have had no case of what is commonly called infectious disease, more particularly as we have no place where we could isolate a case if it occurred. A small inexpensive hospital for infectious oases