H.—2o.

The foregoing instructive courses, provided by voluntary effort, have been of marked benefit. The more fundamental branches were given their due prominence in the evening school classes, conducted by trained teachers. The syllabus was adapted as far as possible to meet the individual needs of the learners. The work in English, while dealing with the main phases of the subject, gave special attention to reading and literature with a view to fostering a taste for the better class of books. The library, further enriched by contributions of reading-matter, was widely used, the books read often furnishing material for correlative use in the English studies. Mr. Wills has continued his capable tuition of the Institution Band, the frequent changes in the membership of which remains an unavoidable discouragement. The band instruments, which have seen many years of service, being second-hand when purchased for this Institution, need to be replaced. In the physical department of education we are likewise indebted to practical benefactors. Herein Mr. Page's enthusiastic training provides the fitting basis. He gives the same course of physical culture as he teaches at the Boys' High School and obtains a high standard of proficiency in the exercises, while the improvement in physique is notable. The 1931 season marked the fourth year of our entry into the football competitions organized by the Southland Rugby Union. Under the skilled coaching of Mr. Ellis Kelly the results were distinctly creditable, especially when one remembers the constant changes in the personnel of our three representative teams. The A Team, a close runner-up in the Third Grade Competition, played fourteen matches of which it won eleven, losing two, and drawing one. Points for, 246 ; points against, 73. The two Borstal teams which entered for the seven-a-side tournament both reached the finals, our A team eventually winning in a strenuous contest. Its members received silver medals from the Rugby Union. The good name won by our teams of previous years for their fine sporting spirit in victory or defeat was well maintained in 1931. Our cricket has gone ahead with increased interest and marked success, for which result we are indebted to Mr. A. E. Wish. For the second year in succession Borstal won the Washer Cup, and left a record including some outstanding individual performances with bat and ball. At the ceremony of presenting the trophy, representatives of various sporting bodies being present, the President of the Southland Cricket Association complimented the winning team on its decisive success, its greatly improved play, and its good sportsmanship. The sixth annual summer camp, which was held on the site of previous outings, was attended by sixty lads, who greatly enjoyed their privilege. That fortnight of free recreative and social activities, emphasizing the spirit and purpose of the Institution towards its inmates, will probably remain a pleasant landmark in their memories of their period of Borstal training. An unfailing standby, the Invercargill Rotary Club, has added another year to its record of good services to the Borstal. Every Thursday evening Rotarians come along and conduct an interesting instructive meeting for the association class. Included in the programmes were lectures that made a fine appeal. Marked appreciation, likewise welcomed entertainments given by the Orphans' Club, Church choirs, bands of the city, and numerous musical friends. Representatives of the local religious organizations have been unremitting in attending to the spiritual needs of the inmates. Divine services for the Protestants are held on Sunday morning while Roman Catholics have their service on Tuesday evenings. On the last Sunday in each month the Salvation Army conducts a special service. Throughout the year weekly Bible Classes have been conducted by Canon Lush, Ensign Montgomery, and Mr. A. McLean, City Missionary. Mr. McLean also visits the Institution regularly with a view to making personal contact with the inmates and making any provision necessary for them on release. On Anzac Day a special service was held in the morning, when addresses were given by the Rev. Mackintosh-Carter, 8.A., 8.D., His Worship the Mayor, Mr. J. D. Campbell, and the President of the Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr. J. Puckey. I desire to express my appreciation of the assistance given by the members of the Visiting Committee under the chairmanship of the Magistrate, Mr. E. C. Levvey, M.A., LL.B., of the kindly ministrations rendered by the Ladies' Committee to the lads in hospital, of the generous supply of Christmas dainties and other gifts received from the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society, the Rotary Club, the ladies of Invercargill, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the New Zealand Tobacco Co., and Messrs. W. D. and H. 0. Wills, Ltd. On the farm a hundred cows were milked during the year, a small portion of the milk-supply being sold to local milk-vendors, the balance being separated and the cream sold to the factory. Herd-testing has again been carried out throughout the year. The dairy cows, which finished their lactation period during the season averaged approximately 285 lb. of butterfat, which is considered very satisfactory for a Friesian cross herd under local conditions. The results of further tuberculin tests throughout the year showed a satisfactory improvement. The sheep did very well, although unfortunately the prices for both wool and lambs were the lowest for many years. All lambs were sold fat before the end of April. Seven hundred breedingewes were kept during the year, and over 100 per cent, of lambs have been marked. Fifteen bales of wool have been shorn from the ewes and the prospects at present are that a slightly better price will be received for it than was obtained for last year's clip. A large number of pigs have been fattened and sold at satisfactory prices, and a number of store pigs have also been sold. There was an abundance of grass early in the year, and approximately 230 tons of hay was saved. One hundred tons of hay was pressed and 44 tons sold at satisfactory prices. The turnip crop was very satisfactory, and, together with the hay, provided ample winter feed for the stock. Eighty acres has been sown in turnips, and give promise of being a good crop.

20