15

E.—4

The whole of the painting, decorating, and renovating of both the interior and exterior of all the buildings is carried out by our own staff and boys. During the year the kitchen, administrative block, laundry block, boys' lavatories, cottage, and Principal's residence have been painted and renovated where necessary. In addition to this the boys' dormitories and many of the staff bedrooms and sittingrooms have been redecorated. We have had an exceptionally successful year on our farm. The weather has been suitable, and good crops are assured. The farm crops this year consist of 40 acres of oats, 12 acres of potatoes, 6 acres of swede turnips, 7 acres of mangolds, 2 acres of carrots. The whole of the crops are looking remarkably well, and. we hope to have exceptionally good yields all round. There have been abundant supplies of all kinds of vegetables and fruit from the garden, and all the visitors to the school compliment us on the creditable state in which the garden is kept. In addition to the general institution garden we have this year laid out small school-gardens for the boys. Instruction in gardening is included in the school time-table, and the boys evince great interest in this work. The school-gardens show quite a creditable display of vegetables and flowers, and the boys appear keen to send part of their produce to the general kitchen or to decorate the various rooms. It is worthy of note that the elder boys devote a considerable amount of their spare time in tending their own patch of garden ; this keeps them interested, and is helpful in many ways. Seaside Camp. Thanks to the kindness of the, Mayor of Hampden, we were again able to arrange for our annual seaside camp for the boys who were unable to be sent home to their parents or friends. The change is very beneficial to the boys, and they eagerly look forward to their annual holiday. In connexion with the annual seaside camp, I would again draw your attention to the advisability of purchasing a few acres near the sea, so that it would be possible to erect a seaside home. This could be utilized for the annual camp as well as for the children who frequently during the year are needing a change after illnesses, which are often occurring with our children, who are all more or less physically as well as mentally unsound. Electric Lighting. This school is still lighted by means of kerosene-lamps. An installation of electric lighting is very desirable, and would minimize the risk ofjfire. I believe the power necessary could be'obtained from the Otekaike Eiver.' The Cottage System. In conclusion, it is interesting to know that the consensus of opinion both in America and the Continent coincides with the plan we have from the commencement adopted here—viz., of building our school on the "• cottage " system. 'Our new cottages about to be erected will accommodate about thirty-six children each. This number is as low as we can make it having due regard to initial expenditure and administrative charges. George Benstead, Principal.