EDUCATION: THE COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTION. ("THE COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTION ACT, 1885.") [In continuation of E.-3a, 1900.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1901 Session I, E-03a

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1901. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: THE COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTION. ("THE COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTION ACT, 1885.") [In continuation of E.-3a, 1900.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

At the annual meeting of friends of the Costley Training Institution held at the Institute, Richmond Road, Auckland, on the Bth March, 1901, the following annual report was read :— The trustees, in presenting to the people of Auckland their report of the work and progress of the institute during the year 1900, must commence by expressing their great regret at the loss of two of their number, who have found it necessary to retire from their duties, after long periods of honorary service. Captain W. C. Daldy has since the year 1869 been a steadfast worker for this and other societies which have been formed for the rescue and benefit of the neglected and destitute children of this district, and his long experience, sound judgment, and untiring energy have been of the greatest assistance, while his benevolent care for the poor and needy has never failed. The institute owes a debt of gratitude also to Mr. W. Thorne, who, besides serving on the managing councils and other philanthropic societies, has for many years acted as honorary secretary to this institute, and, by his legal acumen, business capacity, and unwearied zeal, has rendered it material and most valuable assistance. Messrs. George Powlds and C. J. Tunks have been appointed trustees by the Government in the place of the above-named gentlemen, and their well-known capacity and benevolence are a guarantee that the interests of the institute will not be neglected, and that the main object of the Costley bequest, viz., to give advantages to the orphan and destitute which could not reasonably be provided from public funds, shall be faithfully carried out. There are at present twenty-six lads in the institute in Richmond Road, eleven of whom are attending the nearest public school, being too young or too backward to be apprenticed ; the other fifteen are working at various trades in town, and there are two more employed in the country. Two boys have died during the year ; one was killed accidentally by the kick of a horse he was looking after, and the other, a very promising lad, was attacked with a malignant haemorrhage, and was sent to the hospital, where he lingered for a short time, but his case was hopeless from the first. There was one case of measles, but precautions were taken, and the disease happily did not spread. The warmest thanks of the trustees are due to Dr. A. O. Knight for his readiness to render gratuitous medical assistance whenever called upon. The funds of the institute are intended for the benefit of girls as well as boys, but there has been a difficulty in obtaining anything like an equal number of the former, for those who have charge of the industrial home to which the children are in the first instance committed believe that domestic service is a better occupation for girls than work in factories and suchlike places, and are not anxious to hand ordinary cases over to the institute ; and there are but three now who are under our charge, two of whom are boarded out, and the third is in domestic service. Only fourteen girls have been on the rolls, as against eighty boys. As several persons have applied for the admission of their children, and there are many of our citizens who are hardly aware of the existence of the institute, it is as well to repeat what has appeared in former reports—that children cannot be taken charge of unless they have been committed by a Magistrate as neglected and destitute. From these only the trustees may select such as appear likely to profit by their care. After a medical examination they are admitted on a month's probation, but none are taken who have been criminally convicted; and it has been a primary object, both with the trustees and the inmates, to maintain a good moral tone and reputation for the institute.

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Mr. and Mrs. Hendre continue to give entire satisfaction. As might be expected, they found it difficult when first appointed to maintain the necessary discipline amongst a parcel of lads, some of them nineteen or twenty years of age; but their remarkable capacity for such a task was soon apparent, and, by kindly patience and firmness, they have not only established their ascendency, but have secured the confidence and goodwill of their charges. The place is open for inspection on any day of the week except Sundays. The trustees would be glad to see many more visitors, and much more public interest taken in the institution, which is doing a truly good work, and, they believe, in a satisfactory manner. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Ranfurly visited the Institute on the sth May, and were received with a gymnastic performance under Professor Carrollo. They inspected the buildings, and expressed themselves as much pleased with the order and tidiness of the various rooms. His Excellency took the boys apart and conversed individually with them, and showed much interest in the specimens of their work. The next day he sent them a handsome present of eighteen volumes of books for the library. A few days afterwards their Excellencies drove again to the Institute, and left a couple of volumes of engineering works for a boy who had attracted their attention by constructing in his spare hours a working model of a steam-engine. It was this poor lad who died in the hospital a little later on. There have been five entertainments during the year —three concerts and two limelight exhibitions —and the lads had a most enjoyable week at the Kawau, where Mr. Ross most kindly placed a cottage at their disposal, and supplied them with milk and other necessaries, and in other ways endeavoured to make their trip a pleasant one, for which the trustees offer him their hearty thanks. The Church of England lads regularly attend Divine service at All Saints' on Sunday mornings, and go there for Sunday school in the afternoons, where they are instructed by Messrs. Tayler and Stewart. Both Canon and Mrs. Calder are much interested in them, and have great influence over them. Lads of other denominations attend their respective places of worship, and are well looked after. Sunday evenings are spent in learning the lessons for Sunday school, and in singing hymns, &c. The balance-sheet shows a deficiency of £160 on the year's working, but one principal cause of this has been an unusual expenditure for repairs and other items, which are not likely to occur again to the same extent; and there has also been a falling-off in the amount received as interest on investments, consequent on the lower rates that are now prevailing, and it is evident that the strictest economy must be observed to bring the expenditure within the receipts. The assets are still £1,110 in excess of the original bequests of Mr. Costley and Mrs. Rebecca Hodge, proving that there has been no extravagant waste of funds, and that due care has been exercised in their investment.

THE COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTE. Balance-sheet on 31st Deoembeb, 1900. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Costley bequest .. .. .. 12,150 0 0 j Buildings, land, &o. .. .. .. 4,067 6 9 Rebecca Hodge bequest .. .. 672 3 9 ; Mortgages and interest due .. .. 9,654 0 0 Trust Account, boys' .. .. .. 200 0 0 I Piano .. .. .. .. 35 0 0 Trust, Savings-bank .. .. .. 45 10 0 Manager's cash ... .. .. 12 5 4 Revenue Account .. .. .. 1,110 17 5 : Savings-bank .. .. .. .. 45 10 0 Bank of New Zealand.. .. .. 364 9 1 £14,178 11 2 £14,178 11 2 Revenue Account foe Yeab ending 31st Decembee, 1900. Dr. £ s. d. I Or. £ s. d. Maintenance.. .. .. .. 869 19 11 | Interest .. .. .. .. 488 0 0 Boys' allowances .. .. .. 18 12 0 Boys' earnings .. .. .. 294 9 5 General expenses .. .. .. 55 2 6 Balanoe (loss) .. .. .. 161 5 0 £943 14 5 £943 14 5 £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance .. .. .. .. 161 5 0 Balance, 31st Deoember, 1899 .. .. 1,272 2 5 Balance per balance-sheet .. .. 1,110 17 5 £1,272 2 5 £1,272 2 5 I have examined the above balance-sheet, together with its accompanying Revenue Account, compared them with the books and vouchers, and found them correct. lam of opinion that the balance-sheet presents a true and correct view of the affairs of the institute as on the 31st December, 1900. Auckland, 21st January, 1901. O. B. Waymouth, M.C.A., Auditor. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,375 copies), £1 7s.

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