E.—4,

12

Deaths in Exempted Institutions. These, with other particulars, are shown in the foregoing table relating to exempted institutions. The following is a statement of the deaths during the five years in which a record of the deaths has been kept:— 1909 .. .. .. . . 66 deaths out of 749 infants = 8-81 per cent. 1910 .. .. .. ..63 „ 915 „ =6-08 1911 47 „ 899 „ =5-23 1912 36 „ 911 =3-95 1913 .. .. .. ..18 „ 984 ~ =1-82 Particulars of the deaths in these institutions during 1913 are given in the appendix. It is very satisfactory that this death-rate shows so marked a decrease. Adoptions. During the year 246 orders of adoption were made, and one order cancelling an adoption order. Forty-one of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 205 were without monetary consideration. The ages of the adopted children were as follows : — With Without Premium. Premium. Under 6 months .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 71 Between 6 and 12 months .. .. .. .. .. 9 32 ~ 1 ~ 2 years .. .. .. .. .. 6 20 2 „ 3 „ 2 19 3 „ 4 „ 12 4= „ 5 „ 8 „5„ 6 „ 7 6 „ 7 „ .. 1 4 „ o „ .. . . .. . . .... b , 3 O jj U j, . . . . . . . . .... V 9 „ 10 „ /... 3 „ 10 „ 11 „ .... 2 „ 11 „ 12 , 3 12 „ 18 „ 4 13 „ 14 „ .. .: 4 14 „ 15 „ 1 41 205 The adopting parents were, — Husband and wife jointly .. .. .. .. .. .. 232 Husband alone .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Wife alone .. .. .. .. . . . . .. .. 6 Widow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Spinster ~ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 The amount of the premiums ranged from £5 to £260. Illegitimacy. For its obvious relation to the intentions of the Infants Act the following table is given : — Number of Illegiti - Illegitimate m^ te 1 Provincial Distrusts. Births registered J-wclve Months during 1913. or less brought 6 under the Act during 1913. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 353 31 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 37 7 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .*• .. .. 48 4 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. 295 51 Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ 28 3 Westland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 1 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. .. 190 49 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ; 206 48 Totals for 1913 .. .. .. .. 1,180 194 Totals for 1912 .. .. .. .. 1,177 249 E. 0. Gibbes, Secretary for Education.