H.— 20

27

Our main energies, however, have naturally been devoted to work on the farm, and the year has been a very successful one. Dairying is the chief industry, and the returns show an all-round increase over previous seasons. For the season ended 31st July, 1927, 168 cows were milked at the two dairies, giving an average butterfat production of 339-| lb. per cow, and, without counting the value of the milk used at the institution and on the farm, gave a revenue of over £3,500. At the new camp another dairy has been established with a small herd, and although a little late in commencing, the returns so far are highly satisfactory. The land taken over from the Mental Hospitals Department varies greatly in the stage of development, and much work remains to be done to bring the block into its full power of productivity, but it is hoped that there soon will be sufficient pastures ready at the northern end of the estate to establish another dairy. The results of our operations in the past indicate that this class of land is suitable for dairy-farming. Not only, however, does this choice govern our undertakings, but the training afforded the inmates in gaining experience and in studying dairying gives them perhaps a greater opportunity in being absorbed in the agricultural labour-market after leaving here. I may mention here in passing that there has been quite a demand locally for boys for farm-work from the institution, and quite a number of boys were placed in employment on farms, and in the task of rehabilitation will have the initial advantage of good homes and a healthy life. As a side line to the dairying the pig-raising industry has been further developed. In addition to the skim-milk from the dairies, artichokes and barley are grown for fodder, and with a number of sties and small paddocks now at our disposal the pigs can be changed around and their holdings kept fresh and clean. During the year 180 pigs were fattened and sold. Next to the dairying, and subsidiary to it, it is hoped to extend the sheep-raising industry, which as yet may be described as being in a stage of infancy. For the last season a sum close on £300 was realized for the sale of fat lambs, and it is estimated that the wool to be disposed of in February will bring £140. There are many encouraging possibilities in the development of this industry, owing to the ready markets here for the disposal of fat sheep and lambs, and the benefits derived from the sheep in consolidating the pasture-lands. The industry cannot be placed on the same educative plane as the dairying, as the number employed in the management of the sheep will be considerably less. The heavy hailstorms experienced in the early summer of 1926-27 had a spoiling effect on the apple crop, but over one thousand cases were disposed of in the year. The garden maintained a good supply of vegetables for the institution throughout the year, and surplus supplies were disposed of by sale. Tomatoes were not so extensively grown as in previous years owing to the difficulties experienced in marketing, but the crop produced was good, and through the firm prices ruling throughout the season over £100 was realized on the sales. From the crops harvested early in the year we obtained 100 bushels of barley, 120 tons of ensilage, 200 bushels of oats, while 64 tons of oaten sheaves were stacked. In addition we cropped 7 acres in maize, 6-|- acres in carrots, 12 acres in mangolds, 10 acres in soft turnips, and 75 acres in swede turnips for fodder for the cattle and horses. For the coming season our cropping is naturally heavier owing to the increased number in the stock we are carrying.' We have sown 255 acres in swede turnips, 16 acres in mangolds, 9 acres in carrots, 8 acres in barley, 80 acres in oats, 8 acres in soft turnips, 12 acres in maize, 5 acres in artichokes, as well as 15 acres in potatoes. During the winter months some twelve thousand trees were planted out around the farm. Further work was also done in connection with the draining and clearing of swamps and low-lying lands. One of the paddocks which has only been drained in the last few years from almost a swamp we have sown in oats, and the crop which is just being harvested is the best crop of its kind we have produced here. In the evenings the school classes for inmates have been continued on three nights per week, and drill classes are given two and three nights per week alternately. Early in the year we very fortunately enlisted the services of a well-known resident of Hamilton to assist us in providing lectures for the boys. This gentleman brought us in touch with the Workers' Educational Association and the newly formed branch at Hamilton of the Howard League. To Mr. Richmond of the association, and to several gentlemen associated with the league we are indebted for many interesting and instructive lectures on subjects of science and engineering, travel, books and authors, and social and international questions of the day, &c. At each of the lecture nights the league also presented several musical items, which were invariably enjoyable. I should like to record my appreciation and gratitude to the members of the Howard League for the services, gratuitously rendered. To travel by night over indifferent roads, and often in inclement weather, a distance of thirty miles, with a return journey of another thirty miles, week after week, to deliver these courses of instruction and to give entertainment to the boys is a matter of admiration and encouragement — admiration at the personal philanthropic effort and achievement over difficulties, and encouragement in finding so much real interest taken by public-minded citizens in endeavouring to uplift those fallen ones committed to our care. On the recreative side the Saturday afternoons have been given up wholly to sport. Early in the season many games of Rugby football were played—trial games at first to sort out and select a first fifteen, and then, after a little practice, the team engaged in matches with outside visiting clubs. As an experiment the venture was at first invested with some apprehension, ,but our team never caused the least anxiety in their games ; they played a clean, open game on every occasion, and although not every match was won they were invariably a fitter team thati their opponents towards the end of a game, which showed how physically fit they were as a~~result of their regular life and their own voluntary training. At such games the conduct of the spectator inmates was all that could be desired. With the advent of summer, cricket has claimed chief interest in the outdoor pastimes. Here also games have been played with outside clubs, and the general behaviour of the boys participating has been