H— 20.

On the whole the health of the inmates has been exceptionally good. Eleven inmates were admitted to the Southland Hospital for treatment during the year, but, with one exception, the cases were not of a serious nature. Unfortunately, one of the lads who was suffering from heart trouble on admission to the Institution, died after a short period in the Southland Hospital. Before the funeral left the Institution, the Rev. Canon Lush held a service in the chapel, which was attended by all the lads. In motor ens furnished by the Rotarians, several representatives of the boys were able to pay the last honours to their deceased comrade and to accompany the funeral to St. John's Cemetery, where an allotment had been provided by the authorities of the Anglican Church. The internal economy of the Borstal has proceeded on the lines to which past experience lias guided. The house system, introduced the previous year, has further approved itself in fostering among the lads devotion to collective as distinct from individual purposes. This effect is more manifest in the sporting activities ; in these the emulation of contests is more immediate and the value of combination is brought home to players inclined to be self-rentred. In Rugby football the inter-house matches brought to every physically fit lad the experience of preparing for and taking part in n series of games that counted towards final honours. It was a new experience to many ; and a further stimulus resulted from the fact that the Institution's representative teams were picked on the merits shown in these inter-house matches. In cricket, the good effect of the house system came to light in a similar manner. The Labour Day athletic tournament, by bringing in the widest variety of sports, formed a comprehensive rally in which the incentive of each competitor was the success of his house in winning the silver cup trophy. A swimming tournament held early in the year went off with good zest under the same conditions. The special classes in agriculture and wool-classing have been conducted regularly throughout the year by the honorary instructor, Mr. T. Matthews, Agriculture Instructor to the Southland Education Board. Mr. Matthews reports as follows : — '■ Instruction in connection with the above classes was carried out throughout the year along similar lines to that of previous years, the standard of work on the part of the lads being well maintained. With a view to testing the progress of the classes, examinations are now held in both subjects at the end of each term, the marks allotted being taken into consideration in the awarding of prizes at the end of the year. With regard to the prizes, we have to again thank the Trustees of the Mackinnon Trust for their continued interest and practical help in donating a sum of money to provide prizes for both classes, the selecting of the latter being left to myself, and a number of useful text-books bearing upon both subjects were ordered. The classes have been well filled, attendance regular, and the discipline good." The special class carried on during the winter months under the auspices of the Southland branch of the Workers' Educational Association had a successful session under the leadership of Mr. J. Stobo, M.A., who reports as follows : — "For the 1932 session fourteen meetings were held, the average attendance being about fortyfive. The session was a most successful one, a particularly gratifying feature being the enthusiastic manner in which most of the class co-operate in the work. The syllabus for the session was drawn up by a committee from the class members under the guidance of the tutor, and consisted of a variety of subjects —lectures, debates, and play-readings, also a gramophone recital which proved highly instructive and elicited the fact that the members of the class possessed an intelligent appreciation of the better type <>f music. A very instructive evening was spent in listening to a lecture by Mr. George Hill, who, with the aid of a balopticon, described a world tour which he had recently undertaken. The first portion of each meeting was devoted to an explanation by the tutor of topics of world-wide interest. This was an innovation which was very successful." The Southland branch of the League of Nations Union again arranged for one of its ablest lecturers to deliver a series of addresses during the winter months. The Mr. A. R. Dunlop, M.A., who reports as follows : —■ " Lectures dealing with the League of Nations conducted under the auspices of the Invercargill Branch of the League of Nations Union were given at the Institution regularly during the winter of 1932, by Mr. A. R. Dunlop. These were attended by some forty-two boys, who followed the lectures closely and were thus encouraged to take a live interest in a vast organization and at the same time add to their knowledge of modern world affairs. The lecturer found his class adept and skilful questioners. This particular aspect was the most pleasing, as it indicated quite clearly that the subject was being given a studied interest. The booklet compiled by the Branch was used as a textbook, while a number of the class voluntarily kept notebooks in an effort to clarify their ideas. The classes were undoubtedly a success, and should, if possible, be carried on this year." The evening school classes are in charge of experienced and highly efficient teachers. Mr. J. S. McGrath, 8.A., who organizes the work, has as his colleagues Mr. L. J. Olapp and Mr. T. McFarlane. While the programme of work follows in general the syllabus of instruction laid down for the public schools, the courses of instruction are adapted to suit the needs of the students, special attention being given to individual pupils. The Institution band, under the tuition of Mr. A. R. Wills, has continued its regular practices, and has taken acceptabb part in the entertainments whenever called upon. Mr. J. Page, Physical Instructor to the Southland High Schools' Board, secures the responsive alertness and interest of the lads in their physical drill. The quality of the work done in this branch of training will compare favourably with that done in secondary schools. For the fifth year in succession we have entered a team in the third-grade competition conducted by the Southland Rugby Union. In this competition our "A" team played thirteen matches, of which it won six, lost six, and drew one. Points for, 134 ; points against, 128. Despite the constantly changing personnel of the team, our honorary coach. Mr. Ellis Kelly, has kept up the morale and the efficiency of the players. The matches between the difference houses have already been referred to.

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