EDUCATION: SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1912 Session II, E-04

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Session 11. 1912. NE W ZEALAND

EDUCATION: SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION.

[In continuation of 8.-4, 1911.]

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

CONTENTS.

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Page I Page 1. Extract from the Annual Report (E.-l) of the Infant-life Protection— continued. Minister of Education— Foster-homes — Afflicted and Dependent Children.. .. 2 Rates of Payments to Foster-parents by Children under State Guardianship .. 3 Parents or Guardians.. .. ..15 Infant-life Protection .. .. .. 4 Exempted Institutions .. .. .. 15 School for the Deaf, Sumner .. .. 4 Deaths .. .. .. .. .. 16 Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland .. 5 Adoptions .. .. .. ..16 Special School for Children (Boys) of Feeble Illegitimacy .. .. .. 17 Mind, Otekaika .. .. ..5 | 5. School for the Deaf, Sumner— 2. Industrial Schools— Report of the Director .. .. .. 17 Financial Tables .. .. .. 6 Report of the Medical Officer .. .. 19 Statistics respecting Inmates .. .. 7 Reports of Medical Officers cf Sohools •' .. 10 ' „ . , _ . . , „..,, ;T) , . ,» ,. e 6. Special School for Children (Boys) of Feeble „ „ ., „ . . T ... .. Mind, Ofcekaike — 3. OosUey Training Institution- Report of Principal 19 Statement of Accounts .. .. ., 13 r r 4. Infant-life Protection— Appendix— Report of Secretary for Education .. 14 Infant-life Protection— Statistics respecting Infants in Licensod Particulars of Deaths in Foster-homes and Homes .. .. .. 14 Exempted Institutions .. 24

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No. I.—EXTRACT FROM THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. SPECIAL SCHOOLS. Afflicted and Dependent Children. The total number on the rolls of schools for afflicted and dependent children was on the average 2,819 during the year 1911, an increase of 233 in the number for the previous year ; and the expenditure decreased from £51,922 to £47,272, . of which sum the outlay in connection with the purchase of property, erection ol buildings, and carrying out other new works amounted to £6,762. The following statement gives a comparison between the years 1910 and 1911 as regards the numbers of children belonging to the various institutions and the cost to the Government: — Number under c Control. 1910. 1911. 1910. 1911. £ £ Under Industrial Schools Act .. .. 2,419 2,632 39,280 36,841 School for the Deaf .. .. .. 97 98 4,087 3,651 Jubilee Institute for the Blind .. 39 35 721 405 Special School for the Feeble-minded .. 31 54 7,834 6,375 The feature of the work connected with special schools that demands the most urgent attention at the present time is that of making provision for the large number of boys and girls of feeble mind whose disabilities preclude their receiving due benefit from instruction in ordinary schools, but who are capable of being improved under special tuition. Six years is fixed by the Education Amendment Act, 1910, as the age at which young people of this kind shall come under instruction, and, unless previously exempted by the Minister of Education by reason of ill health or through having developed sufficiently to enable them to earn their own living, the instruction must be continued until they are twenty-one years old. When an inmate of the School for the Feeble-minded reaches that age, and it is considered that he has not the capacity to guide his life either in his own or the public interest, he may, on the order of a Magistrate, be kept under control for a further period of four years ; and by similar procedure extensions of the currency of the order may be made from time to time, thus securing lifelong guidance where deemed advisable. It is to be noted that at such proceedings counsel appointed by the Magistrate and paid for by the Government appears on behalf of the pupil. The number of children in the Dominion who are suitable for this training in such schools cannot be accurately determined at present, but it is undoubtedly very large—almost certainly not less than 300 —and, as the parents of very few of them are in a position to pay for efficient tuition privately, a heavy expenditure must be incurred to provide for them in special schools. The increase of mental deficiency which is so alarmingly evident in older countries is already shown plainly in New Zealand. Here, however, if energetic measures are taken, the danger to society can be eliminated, as the circumstances are very favourable for doing so. A careful watch can be kept to prevent persons of feeble mind from coming in from outside countries ; our population is small, and, by detaining those adults who are mentally incapable of taking up the duties of citizenship advantageously, the propagation of their class will be kept at a minimum. The subject is of the first importance, and, although the cost of establishing and maintaining schools of this kind is heavy, their work will undoubtedly be a strong factor in restricting the expenditure in connection with destitution and criminality. The number of children brought under the operation of the Industrial Schools Act during the year was 389, an increase of 99 over the number for 1910. In 195 of these cases vagrancy, lack of control, or being charged with offences constituted

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the reason for action. Children who have drifted into bad habits of this kind are often found to be not suitable for boarding out with foster-parents, and for that reason have to be kept in residence at the industrial schools at a heavier cost for maintenance. An examination of the causes underlying the admission of so many young people shows that in somewhat more than two years 225 boys between ten and sixteen years old were sent to industrial schools for the above-named reasons. In 93 of these cases the evidence showed that both parents were of good character ; in 43 additional cases the character of the father was described as good ; and in 38 others the mother's was good. Thus, out of these 225 boys who got out of hand, there were 174 cases in which one or both of the parents were of good character. This seems to show that the trouble lies more in the weakness or laxity of parental control than in the bad character of the parents or in the fault of the children ; and the need for the admission in many cases might be obviated if, when the Magistrate was satisfied that want of judicious guidance was the cause of the trouble, the child were placed by the direction of the Court under the friendly and helpful oversight of an officer who had the experience and other qualifications needed to obtain a good influence over him, and thus direct his life into a proper course. Such a system as this is in operation in other countries, and it is claimed that many children who would otherwise have to be removed from the parental guardianship and placed in institutions, are encouraged, by this means, to do well; further, the natural tie between parent and child is maintained, and expense to the State is substantially reduced. This important matter is now engaging the earnest attention of the Government. Children under State Guardianship. The number under the control of industrial schools at the end of 1911 was 2,617, an increase of 163 during the year. Of this total, 868 were resident in the institutions, 246 being in the private (Eoman Catholic) industrial schools, 856 were boarded out with foster-parents, and 893 were earning their living in situations, placed with friends on probation, &c. The numbers of children on the books at the end of the years 1910 and 1911 respectively whose maintenance was a charge against the public funds were as follows :— 1910. 1911. Boarded out from Government schools .. .. .. 792 855 Boarded out from private schools .. .. . . .. 2 1 Number resident at schools .. .. .. .. .. 805 868 At other institutions .. .. .. .. .. 30 37 Total .. .. .. .. .. 1,629 1,761 1910. 1911. £ s. d. £ s. d. The amount of parental contributions was .. 5,575 8 6 6,969 6 6 Rate per head for children maintained .. 3 8 5 3 19 1 Details respecting the number of children on the books of industrial schools at the end of the year are given in Table 15. The net expenditure on account of industrial schools during the year showed a decrease of £1,217 os. 4d. as compared with the preceding year. The following statement gives particulars :— 1910. 1911. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cost of maintenance of schools.. .. .. 17,960 8 2 23,630 3 0 Boarding out (exclusive of cost of administration, inspection, &c.) .. .. .. .. 13,962 16 5 14,844 15 2 Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 8,816 2 2 10,466 19 1 New buildings and works, and purchase of property 10,330 6 2 3,082 2 9 Salaries, travelling-allowances, and expenses of certain departmental officers (Inspectors, visiting officers, &c.) .. .. .. .•. 1,458 19 i 1,396 3 3 Sundry payments .. .. .. . . 107 711 108 14 2 Gross total .. . . .. .. .. 52,636 0 2 53,528 17 5 Eecoveries . . . . . . .. . . 15,701 5 2 17,811 2 9 Net cost .. .. .. .. .. £36,934 15 0* £35,717 14 8* (* Including for 1910 £3,225, and for 1911 £1,660, paid from National Endowment revenue.)

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Further details of the expenditure on industrial schools during the year are contained in Tables II and 12. Payments by Charitable Aid Boards for mainten- 1910. 1911. - ance of children who came into Government . " schools owing to indigence (included in the total sum recovered) .. .. .. £9,336 19 6 £10,681 5 4 Number of children at the end of the year belonging to Government schools who were so paid for .. 678 713 Number maintained at the expense of Charitable Aid Boards at private industrial schools . . 98 106 The amount paid by the Charitable Aid Boards on account of children sent to the private industrial schools as indigent is not stated here, as the managers of these schools make their claims upon the Boards without reference to the Education Department. At the end of the year the amount in the Post Office Savings-bank held in trust in the names of inmates and former inmates of industrial schools was £29,769 10s. 9d., the Government schools accounts having £26,228 18s. lid. to credit, and the private (Roman Catholic) schools £3,540 11s. 10d. The total sums withdrawn from these accounts during the year were £2,753 9s. sd. and £433 Is. respectively. These moneys represent the earnings of boys and girls in situations away from the schools, or of those in residence under training, whose services are worth more than the cost of their maintenance. According to law it is at the discretion of the Minister of Education whether payment (with interest) is eventually made to these young people or not. In practice they do receive payment where there is evidence that the applicant's record after the control of the school has ceased has been good, and that ne has a proper investment for the money. In exercise of his discretion the Minister may order forfeiture of the money where a former inmate proves his unworthiness to receive it. In such a case the amount is credited to the Public Account. The following figures are taken from Tables 12 and 13 : — £ s. d. Government expenditure on private industrial schools . . 1,036 0 0 Government expenditure on special cases at other institutions . . 87 0 0 Infant-life Protection. At the end of the year the number of foster-homes licensed under the Infants Act was 738, and the number of children maintained in them for the whole or part of the year was 1,183, of whom 454 were under one year old. The total number of deaths was 13, equal to TO9 per cent. The report of the Secretary for Education gives detailed information as regards the various phases of the work. The expenditure for the year, amounting to £1,156 3s. Id., is accounted for as follows : — £ s. d. Salaries of Visiting Nurses and local representatives . . . . .. 791 15 1 Travelling-expenses of District Agents, Visiting Nurses, and local representatives . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 224 6 7 Payments to foster-parents for board of infants . . . . . . 92 5 3 Medical attendance .. . . .. . . .. . . 9 10 Office expenses (including rent) and sundries . . .. . . 67 7 8 Less recoveries .. .. .. . . .. 28 12 6 School for the Deaf. Number of pupils who returned to the school in February, 1911, after the summer vacation .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 91 Number admitted during the school year . . .. .. . . . . 11 Number who left during or at the end of the school year . . . . . . 5 Number remaining on the roll after the close of the school year .. 97

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The cost of the school for the years 1910 and 1911 respectively was as follows :— 1910. 1911. £ s. d. £ s. d. .Salaries .. .. . . .. .. 2,958 12 6 3,380 6 7 Maintenance of pupils and sundry expenses .. 1,697 3 5 1,446 7 1 Maintenance of buildings and water charges .. 367 16 5 276 19 10 Less — Amount collected from parents by way of maintenance contributions .. . . 893 11 2 887 13 3 Amount collected from Charitable Aid Boards 35 9 0 563 8 7 Sundry other recoveries .. .. ..' 7113 170 Net expenditure on the institution . . .. 4,087 0 11* 3,651 4 8* (* Including for 1910 £540. and for 1911 £235, paid from National Endowment revenue.) It has been found necessary to erect additions to the main buildings. These will provide more class-rooms, an infirmary, larger quarters for servants, and other rooms needed for the more efficient working of the school. Jubilee Institute for the Blind. During the year the Government contributed towards the cost of training-thirty-three pupils of this institution, the net amount expended being £405 (including £50 from National Endowment revenue) as against £721 (including £99 from National Endowment revenue) for the previous year on account of thirty-five pupils. Maintenance payments by parents and guardians decreased from £272 7s. 6d. in 1910 to £238 Bs. during 1911. For the two past financial years the revenue from the National Endowment Reserves Account amounted to £149. The sum payable by the Government as subsidy to the Board of Trustees during last year under the provisions of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act was £2,173. The amount paid by Charitable Aid Boards towards the maintenance of pupils was £269 13s. lid. Special School for Children of Feeble Mind. 1910. 1911. £ s. d. £ s. d. Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 1,564 10 8 1,985 311 Maintenance of pupils .. .. .. .. 1,115 7 6 1,750 3 2 Maintenance of buildings .. .. .. 239 18 0 418 13 3 Farm and stock .. .. .. .. 318 8 9 226 5 5 Additional buildings, water-supply, drainage, fencing, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 4,984 0 8 2,983 15 6 Sundries .. .. .. .. .. 178 19 6 Less — Amount collected from parents by way of maintenance contributions . . . . 371 0 1 559 5 1 Amount collected from Charitable Aid Boards 57 16 2 294 17 0 Sundry other recoveries .. .. .. 138 12 6 135 9 1 Net expenditure on the institution .. .. 7,833 16 4f 6,374 10 If (f Including for 1910 £440, and for 1911 £235, paid from National Endowment revenue.) The existing accommodation of the school is fully occupied, the number of resident boys being 57 ; but it is proposed to make provision immediately, by means of cottage homes, for a much larger number of pupils than there are at present. The power given to a Magistrate under the Education Amendment Act, 1910, to extend the period of control, if he is satisfied upon a pupil's nearing his majority that his mental state precludes his being free from the school's guidance, was exercised in respect of four youths. They consequently remain under control until they attain twenty-five years of age, when their cases will be reviewed again.

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No. 2. — INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

Table 11.—Expenditure On Government Schools, 1911.

Table 12.—Government Expenditure On Private (Roman Catholic) Schools, 1911.

Table 13.—Summary Of Expenditure On Special Cases at Other Institutions, 1911.

Number of Inmates Government belonging at Schools. 31st December, 1911. N I U nm b ates 0f Cost of School, neLTgfnfat j^S^&a trltr o»orTs d (10 (2.) Boarding out. (Included in column (2).) Salaries. (Included in column (2).) New Buildings and other Works. (Included in column (2).) Recoveries from Parents and others, and Sales from Farms, &c. (6.) Net Cost. (1.) (30 (4.) (8.) (7.) Luckland .. 179 Joys' Training 348 Farm, Weraroa teceiving Home, 467 Wellington Soys' Industrial j 190 School, Stoke 'e Oranga Home! 97 leceiving Home,l 368 Christchurch iurnham .. 252 'averBham .. 339 179 348 £ s. d. 3,525 10 8 10,785 9 9 £ s. d. 1,393 11 10 40 12 9 £ s. d. 664 9 8 2,251 13 4 £ s. d. 411 13 9 1,755 1 10 £ s. d. 1,197 5 5 2,261 18 11 £ s. d. 2,328 5 3 8,523 10 10 467 8,576 4 3 6,065 19 6 801 14 0 5,268 9 7 3,307 14 8 190 5,875 1 10 1,302 4 8 134 6 0 930 5 11 4,944 15 11 97 368 2,683 17 4 6,446 10 10 4,237 14 11 1,047 5 7 714 9 6 617 16 9 314 14 2 3,475 15 10 2,369 3 2 2,970 15 0 252 339 8,769 17 10 5,361 7 6 10 11 0 3,096 5 2 2,811 7 1 873 15 3 163 4 5 888 13 0 3,473 19 11 7,881 4 10 1,887 7 7 Totals 52,024 0 0 *14,844 15 2j 10,466 19 1 3,082 2 9 17,811 2 9 ialaries, travelling-allowances officers, &c.) Jrant to Postal Department ii tefund of inmates' earnings 1,396 3 3 ;, and expense is of oertain lepartmental officers (Inspec ctors, visiting l connection wi ith payments f i >r children boarded out .. 100 0 0 8 14 2 Ti ital net cost 35,717 14 8f * Exclusive of cost of administration, inspection, &c. t Including £1,660 paid from National Eudowmen revenue.

Name of School. Gross Cost. Recoveries. Net Cost. St. Mary's, Auckland St. Joseph's, Wellington St. Mary's, Nelson St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin £ s. d. 1,286 4 3 197 13 3 228 8 6 109 17 0 1,822 3 0 £ s. d. 497 19 3 75 8 7 187 4 11 25 3 6 785 16 3 £ s. d. 788 5 0 122 4 8 41 3 7 84 13 6 Totals .. 1,036 6 9

Government Schools. Auckland. I Te Oranga Home. Caversham. Total. Luckland—■ " Door of Hope " Institution Orphan Home, Papatoetoe St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu .. )hristchurch— Mount Magdala lunedin— Salvation Army Home Presbyterian Social Service Association £ s. d. 21 0 3 18 4 0 5 17 11 £ s. d. 39 12 11 £ : s. d. £ s. d. 21 0 3 18 4 0 5 17 11 39 12 11 1 0 0 0 17 0 1 0 0 0 17 0 Net Cost 45 2 2 39 12 11 1 17 0 86 12 1

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Table 14.—Inmates, 1910 And 1911.

Table 15. —Inmates, 31st December, 1911.

ioar< Led oi tt. Res: idence. At Service, &c. Toi ;als. d r-l cj CD 0 CD [tfi d (D U o a i—i CD m crj <D U O CD o ri O Ol en ej 6 01 CD O Q CD T. A CO rl CI a hi • a « „ S d <d « P P s « i a a a '1 a o 3 o o O 2 » 4) p S P P © Gi <s p d 3 tD 8 a <0 cS « th © CD p 5? « CD P Government Schools — Auckland (Mount Albert) 84 .. Boys' Training Farm, We- 4 raroa Receiving Home, Welling- : 323 22 ton Boys' Industrial School Stoke Te Oranga Home, Christchurch Receiving Home, Christ- | 208 46 church I Burnham .. .. 2 .. Caversham .. .. 171 12 Private Schools — St. Mary's, Auckland St. Joseph's, Upper Hutt St. Mary's, Nelson St. Vincent de Paul's, 2 .. Dunedin Totals .. .. 794 ! 80 22 11 4 73 345 254 35 180 12 85 65 12 2 4 42 3 2 37 180 16 127 68 10 68 142 80 74 28 100 6 26 26 1 4 11 69 168 106 63 29 104 182 326 415 159 93 320 22 52 31 4 48 3 179 348 467 190 97 368 2 183 129 24 21 10 150 34 122 122 ■20 102 122 253 317 ■22 1 252 339 127 34 52 50 2 21 106 36 51 53 52 29 23 20 15 67 28 19 16 179 63 75 72 6 173 64 70 70 i i 3 1 1 4 4 i 5 2 18 805 87 24 868 855 893 180 17 2,617 856 78 40 2,454

Go' tnt Schools. Privai Schoc lis. All Schoc >ls. cernnn 1 tm • !.g 1 rags 3 <» w fc> -* i>i ko » I B.I G. j B. j " 9 Soi-2 g§-S =1 hi &X Tai 2 mi A W . a o ga °B a a -S .3 ei s 'nop SB 2 O j B. G. I 5 g : Si 3 : s « 1 5 b. b. a. 1 -°"° ha s I S3 co h "ha* S ° as CS to ?: 2 sS a ca 0 i, 4 1 3 O -M O Inmates. 3 +-> to Q -1-3 O h 0 j B. G. B. G. 1 B. G.l G. I I B. G. G. [n the schools .. Boarded out With friends It service Jnder guardianship other than that of Manager Craining-ship !n hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. in mental hospitals U School for the Deaf \.t Special School for Feebleminded Boys .. Under control of refuges or cognate institutions Under oontrol of orphanage, cottage home, &c. [n gaol.. Absent without leave, or whereabouts unknown 38 '.) 8 6 37 35 12 22 180 22 125 j 6 204 31 20 10 141 27 18 127 22 33 1 68 4 18 3 143 10 24 9 7 111 13 361 li 150 28 31 1 1 101 24 25 12 33 82 21 30 6 57 5 21 49 4 26; 36 5 21 26 25 5 14 53 1 8 8 550 186 151 287 29 318 370 99 193 7 868 856 250 480 36 466 752 178 335 33 402 104 72 145 3 I • • 1 0 1 7 1 5 2 1 1 1 '2 '2 'i 1 1 4 3 7 5 2 •• 1 1 1 1 1 a| 2 1 9 9 8 1 24 24 16 8 1 5 6 4 2 10 30 11 58 11 61 7 47 4 14 19 4 3 1 1 1 3 3 70 760 Totals H 115 348 265| 202 190 97 j 197 171 252 1651 174 87 86 64 26 !l4 1,594 1,023 2,617 1,857

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Table 16.—Admissions In 1911, Classified According to Cause Of Admission.

Table 17. —Admissions In 1911, Classified According to Parents' Circumstances And Character.

—f*. Government Schools. Private Schools. All Schools. Admitted as i | I McS I •9 2 lace cc3 d Hi* "g,S I && i (D a . o a B° a.S SS cDt> OpCD C5 "3 eo c a_-)-H o i - o £^ 11 72 6 a o W d be 5 ' rH O I o cd" 3a O o Kg vnA A hi >.s '© Sjl o A s° I 3 A A a u a a S3 CD > O rV ■ . CJ -1* Crj* j £ i i i - | xi o i co 1^ CD CO fl.«r.s <d;-t3 o n cd a cs a **5 s B. G. B. _ Destitute .. ,.65 8 Vagrant .. .... j 1 2 In disreputable .. ; .. 1 associations Not under proper 2 3 7 control (complaint of police) Uncontrollable (com-... 4 6 plaint of parent) Accused or guilty of 2 .. 48 punishable offences By arrangement .. ; .. Transferred from gaol I Totals .. 10 13 72 G. B. ! GI B - G. o m co «g I "3 S? « -g O -rH O ffl 0 | trl B. G. B. ! G. G. B. i B. B. G. G. G. )_ 8 ! 1 3 I 15 4 9 20 ! 5 .. I .. | 3 .. 7 .. ; .. 11 11 15 3 5 4 1 1.2 64 ' 57 |l21 10 ! 2 12 17 22 39 6 6 .. 1 7 1 2 4 3 .. 6 25 21 2 1 2 3 44 35 79 .. I .. .. ! 1 8 ! 5 13 1 1 2 1 .. .. ! 27 1 5 1 4 89 2 91 .. 17 .. 30 26 9 1 1 .. .. | 12 36 : 43 18 1 19 12 3 I 15 262 127 389 34 43 12 23 10 6 6 12 1 3

Preceden Conditi ion of Children dmittei in 1911. Fathers described as Mothers described as co to s g A £ s 3 CD CD .93 HH CS St co h f. U CD a o C-i ■h'S Sa V, 3 go O CD* 3 cd O O O CD 3 «-( rjj O CD A ID <=° Q as ■aa CD w CO—H t3 a CD 3 0 CD 3 CD co a A tM IH < t», ra a o w 'u r\ a o u Total. 01 re CO CO 9 a A H CD ■ cd > Dead Mentally unfit Good Questionable . Bad Deserter Unknown .. Dead .. j Good .. Questionable .. Bad . . Deserter .. . . Mentally unfit . . Good . . Dead Physically unfit Mentally unfit . . Good Questionable . . j Bad . . i Deserter .. . . ' Unknown Dead Mentally unfit . . Good Questionable . . i Bad Deserter .. Unknown .. Dead . . Good . . , Questionable .. I Bad .. ; Deserter .. I Unknown .. Mentally unfit .. Good .. i Questionable Deserter .. Dead .. Mentally unfit . . Good .. Questionable .. i Bad Deserter .. Unknown .. 2 3 2 7 2 1 1 17 6 1 3 2 o ■' 2 4 1 2 1 2 4 1 5 1 2 1 1 8 5 3 1 10 3 1 8 1 12 1 2 2 1 3 9 4 1 2 i 1 i l 37 3 4 2 1 1 6 1 2 1 8 1 9 1 | 1 9 3 14 • 7 12 1 3 2 26 1 3 75 20 9 3 3 15 5 9 20 8 12 1 8 14 1 15 1 4 6 10 2 4 4 8 ■ 9 14 13 1 23 1 3 1 5 i 12 i 3 9 1 l 1 1 1 3 6 6 1 3 2 ■ 8 7 10 10 1 1 1 1 1 2 i i l 1 3 l 3 1 i 3 17 Totals 121 12 ! i 39 79 13 91 19 15 389

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The admissions for the year (389) show an increase of 99 on the number for the previous year. From the four chief centres of population 239 of these children were admitted, 17 from Nelson, and 9 each from Riverton, Greymouth, and Timaru. In no case were more than 8 children sent from any --of the other smaller towns. The records show that, of the total number received, 28-8 per cent, were known to be illegitimate. When children are before the Courts the Magistrates, after hearing evidence, direct in what '-. religious denomination they are to be brought up. The orders made in 1911 show the denomination to be as follows : Church of England, 216 ; Roman Catholic, 90 ; Presbyterian, 54 ; Methodist, 24 ; Baptist, 3 ; Plymouth Brethren, 1 ; Church of Christ, 1. The number of inmates over whom the control of the schools terminated during the year was 226. Of this number, 143 were then of good character, 7 fair, 9 bad, 6 were of weak mind, 5 were married, 24 were discharged under the age of fifteen years (11 of whom were legally adopted). In 21 cases information as to character cannot be given, the whereabouts of the inmates who were absent without leave being unknown at the time of termination of the period of control.

There were 11 deaths, particulars of which appear in the following table : —

Table 18. —Discharges, 1911.

Table 19.—Inmates: Numbers Of 1910 And 1911 Compared.

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Age at Death. i Status at Death. Certified Cause of Death. School to which belonging. i Years, j i Months. 4 3 16 4 10 5 7 li H 2| 2i 10 I 3 5 1 54 At Karitane Home At board In hospital In residence At board With friends In residence In hospital Acute general tuberculosis and exhaustion Diabetes mellitus; coma Meningitis Gastro-enteritis and exhaustion Croup ; congestion of the lungs ; convulsions. . Psoas abscess; pyaemia Bronchitis ; syncope Tuberculous meningitis; heart-failure Acute pancreatitis.. Marasmus Acute appendicitis and peritonitis Caversham. St. Mary's, Auckland. St. Vincent de Paul's. Wellington Receiving Home. St. Mary's, Auckland. „ Nelson. Christchurch Receiving Home. At board Caversham. :i I, ■ •

Govei •mnent Schools. Pri ivate Schools. All Scho. lis. Cause of Termination of Control. Boys' TrainAuckland. F^ Weraroa. B. G. B. Receiving Home, Wellington. CC.-H 3 2 nj O . SB cS 2f . Rece 3§ Ho o§ <? ffl HI chu living irne, ristirch. a nl A a h 3 pq Cashi r eriiii. Mai Auclt It. ry's, eland. W -tS3 Xi s gffl CO iH O CD c-s ft hJ ft tap St. Mary's, Nelson. a » d ©P-i C ce © • CO JO o -a M © B. G. G. i B. G. It. G. G. B. | G. G. o E15. G. B. B. I Warrant of discharge Death .. Reaohed age of 21 years Period of control beyond age of 21 years terminated Marriage Written off the books 26 7 10 19 14 4 41 3 1 6 5 1 117 32 149 6 2 1 i 13 1 1 3 26 1 8 3 1 1 1 1 3 .. 1 1 5 28 6 31 11 59 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 5 5 1 Totals j 29 8 11 19 19 15 8 8 3 | 1 4 4 151 75 226 1 I 11 67 4 7 .2 13 11 15

At End of Year Increase or Inmates. ►ecrease. 1910. 1911. In the schools Boarded out With friends At service .. Under guardianship other than that of Manager Training-ship In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. In mental hospitals At Sohool for the Deaf At Speoial School for Feeble-minded Boys ._. Under oontrol of refuges or cognate institutions Under oontrol of orphanage, cottage home, <feo. In gaol .. • • • • • • • • Absent without leave, or whereabouts unknown 805 794 260 473 3 8 8 2 4 24 1 6 66 868 856 250 480 36 1 7 7 1 9 24 6 11 61 + 63 + 62 - 10 + . 7 + 36 - 2 - 1 1 1 + 5 + 5 + 5 - 5 Totals 2,454 2,617 4- 163

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BEPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS. Auckland Industrial School. Sra,— Auckland, 24th February, 1912. I beg to report that the health of the children at the Mount Albert Industrial School has been excellent during the last twelve months. What few cases of illness have occurred have been slight, and the children are all happy and contented. I am, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. A. Challinor Purchas.

St. Mary's Industrial School, Auckland (Girls' Branch). Sir,— Auckland, 19th March, 1912. During the year March, 1911, to March, 1912, the health of the children in the Girls' Branch of St. Mary's Industrial School, Auckland, lias been good. One girl, a mental defective, was committed to the Mental Hospital. There has been one sporadic case of chicken-pox, and two sporadic cases of measles. The fact that neither of these diseases spread to the other children speaks well for the care and attention of the Sisters. Four of the girls have suffered from bad tonsils and adenoids, which were causing deafness, and during the course of the year these four children were operated upon. At present the children are housed in a dwelling next to the old buildings, which have been pulled down. The premises are only temporary, but they have been kept clean, and the children have been well looked after, and the very best has been made of the limited space available. Within the next fortnight the new buildings at Northcote will be open, and the children will be removed there. I consider that as an institution the place is well looked after, and the children all look well and are scrupulously clean. The Mother Superior, Sister Mary Frances, takes a great interest in each of her charges, and does everything in her power to see that the children under her care thrive. I have, &c, E. H. B. Milsom, M.D., B.S. (Lond.), The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

St. Mary's Industrial School, Auckland (Boys' Branch), Takapuna. Sir,— Devonport, 31st March, 1912. In reference to the Industrial School at Takapuna, I have the honour to report that there have been no serious cases of illness during the period I have been in attendance, and the boys appear happy. On the 24th March I visited and inspected the buildings, &c, and saw all the pupils, who were very well. The dormitory accommodation is excellent, and the ventilation leaves nothing to be desired. There were ninety-two boys in the institution on that date. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. C. H. Wheeler, M.D., D.P.H.

Boys' Training-farm, Wbraroa. Sir,— Levin, 27th February, 1912. I have the honour to present the annual medical report on the Boys' Training-farm. The number of boys in the institution is about 200. There has been a good deal of sickness, chiefly of a minor character, during the last few months. In the spring influenza was very prevalent, and recently an epidemic of mumps, which is likely to become general, has started. In addition to this, there has been a succession of scarlatina cases, and it will be difficult to stamp out the disease until an isolation ward is provided for infectious diseases. At present they have to be put into the Hospital ward, which is most inconvenient. There should also be a consulting-room for the Medical Officer, who at present has to see his patients in the storeroom. High-pressure water has been recently installed, and this cannot fail to be beneficial to the general health ; also, arrangements have been made for improving the septic-tank treatment of sewage. I would like to add that the institution is run with the smoothness of a machine ; the boys seem generally happy and contented, and the food is good and abundant —too much so in some cases. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Henry A. Dαvies, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.

St. Joseph's Industrial School (Girls'), Upper Hutt. Upper Hutt, 2nd March, 1912. This is to certify that I have this day inspected St. Joseph's Industrial School, Upper Hutt. The general state of the school is quite satisfactory, and the health of the inmates excellent. I have, &c, Frederick W. Kemp, M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

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Wellington Receiving Home. Sir,— Wellington, 21st February, 1912, I have the honour to inform you that during the past year I have attended the children of the Wellington Receiving Home when ill, and also visited the Home at intervals. There has been very little illness among the children during the year, which I attribute to the care exercised in the selection of foster-parents and the absence of the usual spell of hot weather this summer. I have, &c, Donald McGavin, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.S., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. Boys' Industrial School, Stoke. Sir,— Nelson, 26th January, 1912. During the year I have paid twelve monthly visits of inspection, and in addition have had cause to visit the institution at odd times on account of sickness of some of the boys. Taken as a whole, the health of the inmates has been excellent, and I am glad to say there has been no epidemic of any sort. Two boys have been sent to the Nelson Hospital for operation for hernia, and have returned to Stoke with satisfactory results. One boy was sent to the hospital with rheumatic fever, and he also returned cured. One boy is still in the hospital with tubercular disease of the knee, and his prospects of permanent cure are not good. Two other boys were sent with intractable skin-diseases, and have returned much improved. During the year about twenty boys have been reported to me as " wetting their beds "at night. Under treatment this number has been considerably reduced. I should advise that any persistent cases be circumcised. In an institution that contains a large number of boys like this I would suggest that every boy under the age of thirteen years be circumcised. The operation in itself is not dangerous (beyond the usual danger of an anaesthetic), and the result is beneficial in the highest degree. It reduces the tendency to self-abuse in a remarkable way, and is, in my opinion, an essential to clean living. A certain number of the boys suffer from adenoids. I propose to operate on the worst cases next month, with the permission of the authorities. The effects of these growths is to retard the development of the boy, both mentally and physically, and it is essential that the growths be removed when it is manifest the boy is not doing as well as might be the case after an operation. The average number of boys is about 129. Age, from twelve years to seventeen years. I inspect the punishment-book every month, and am satisfied that the punishment inflicted is not too much. A strap is used for the purpose, and chastisement is always administered by the Manager in the presence of a witness. Each boy has a hot bath once a week. During the summer months bathing is indulged in once or twice a day, under the supervision of one of the masters. The food is excellent. I have from time to time inspected the kitchens, and have taken advantage of finding the boys at meals to inspect the food, and am satisfied that it is of good quality and of sufficient quantity. There is an excellent supply of vegetables, and meat and pudding are served, with two kinds of vegetables, every midday. Porridge and milk, with bread, butter, or treacle, forms the chief article of diet at breakfast; and the working-boys receive meat and vegetables at tea-time, in addition to the ordinary bread, butter, and jam. The milkers rise at 5 a.m., the others at 6 a.m. Workers work from 8 a.m. to noon, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. School hours (for boys under fourteen), 9 a.m. to 12, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Bed-time is 7.30 p.m., and lights are out at 8 p.m. The cooking department is excellent in every way. There are two dormitories, the front room being 75 ft. by 36 ft. by 15 ft., and contains sixty-four beds. There are twelve large windows, giving plenty of ventilation. The other dormitory is rather larger, and contains sixty-five beds. The dormitories are kept beautifully clean and fresh, but the beds are too close together. The remedy for this is to either reduce the number of boys or build another dormitory. Ido not approve of beds less than 4 ft. apart. There is a night lavatory, flushed by water, and close to the dormitories. This is altogether, insufficient, and it is not reasonable to expect a small boy to visit this in the dark. I would suggest that a portable urinal be placed in eacK dormitory at night and removed in the morning. There are two day lavatories on the trench system, and well flushed by water. The lavatories are excellent in themselves, but at least two more are urgently needed. The evil effects of having to wait too long for relief are easily seen, and I would strongly urge the immediate erection of two more lavatories on the same system as the present ones. There is one day urinal and one night urinal: these could well be augmented by the building of two or three extra ones. I have never yet had any fault to find with the sanitary arrangements as regards offensive smells, but I must urge the immediate attention to the lack of accommodation in this respect. The dairy is insufficient and out of date. One wall is not match-lined, and the floor is of wood. I would urge the erection of a new dairy as soon as possible. In conclusion, I would wish to thank the manager and staff for the courtesy they have always extended during my visits, and to compliment them on the splendidly efficient manner in which they have conducted the institution. Taken as a whole, the management of the boys (from a health point of view) has been excellent. There is one point I would like to bring vp —the want of accommodation in case of an epidemic such as scarlet fever. The Nelson Hospital could not accommodate more than five or six patients, and might very easily be overtaxed already. There is no part of the building reserved as a hospital, and in the event of serious illness the patient has to be taken to the town. In the event of an epidemic

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the position would be very awkward, and the only remedy the erection of large hospital tents. I would therefore urge the early consideration of a scheme for building a small hospital, to hold six to ten beds. This could be used for other purposes when not required for sickness, and might easily be the means of saving considerable expense and even loss of life. To sum up, I would urge^ —(1) The erection of a new dairy ; (2) the erection of three or four new latrines ; (3) the erection of a small hospital-room ; (4) increased bed room in the dormitories. I have, &c, Phil. Andrew, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. St. Mary's Industrial School (Girls'), Nelson. Sir,— Nelson, 31st March, 1911. I beg to hand you herewith the report on the St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson. During the year ending 31st March, 1912, the health of the children at the Convent, Nelson, has been on the whole very good. In June measles appeared and rapidly spread through the institution. The type was on the whole mild, but two young children died, both of complicating broncho-pneumonia. These were C S , aged four, and J H—■ —, aged three. N D , aged ten months, died in convulsions in August, 1911. The management of the Convent and the care bestowed on the children are together admirable, and the whole of the arrangements of the institution are in a satisfactory condition. I have, &c, P. G. Bett, M.8., M.R.C.S. Te Oranga Home (Girls' Reformatory). Sir, — Christchurch, 21st February, 1912. I beg to submit my report on the Te Oranga Home. The health of the inmates generally has been particularly good during the year. A sporadic case of mild typhoid occurred, and another inmate had to be sent to the Mental Hospital. She has now recovered and returned. The recent changes in the staff have caused no interruption in the efficient working of the institution. I am, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Jessie C. Maddison, Medical Officer. Christchurch Receiving Home. Sir,— Christchurch, 26th February, 1912. I beg to submit my report on the Christchurch Receiving Home. The health and condition of the children have been satisfactory. Occasional overcrowding of the Home caused difficulties last year, and, as usual, the health of the staff suffered somewhat during the winter months." I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. J. C. Maddison, Medical Officer. Burnham Boys' Reformatory. Sir,— Christchurch, 27th May, 1912. I have the honour to report that the health of the boys and staff at Burnham Industrial School has been fairly good during the year 1911, and there has been less sore throat than formerly, in consequence of some improvement to the drainage, which, however, is still imperfect. The principal trouble with the boys has been with those of a tubercular constitution, causing multiple ulcers of an intractable nature. The only satisfactory treatment for such cases is for them to sleep in tents, which are infinitely better for them than the dormitories, besides preventing the infection from spreading. These cases have seldom done well when sent to hospital; besides which the Hospital has not room for such chronic cases. But they require the care of a trained nurse ; and it is very necessary that a trained nurse should be added to the regular staff. Also the present large number of boys at Burnham, about 150, and the distance from town, about twenty miles, seriously calls for such an arrangement. The number of boys on the sick-list varies from fifteen to thirty or forty, and slight accidents are of almost daily occurrence. One bad accident occurred to G-. P— —, while working the fire-engine, when the stables were burned down : his hand was badly crushed in the engine, and his recovery took four months. There were two severe cases of goitre and epilepsy. The percentage of boys discharged who have behaved well, as far as we know, is 84 per cent.; but some of those discharged at twenty-one are likely to transmit serious hereditary defects, and it may be worth considering whether means should be adopted, such as X-ray treatment, to prevent the transmission and multiplication of such evils. I am frequently asked by country people to get a Burnham boy licensed to them, on the ground that those boys are so much better behaved and trained than any others available in the country. This is, I think, good evidence that the cost of Burnham is remunerative, and that the stafi there is efficient and successful. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. W. H. Symes, M.D., Medical Officer. Caversham Industrial School. Sir,— Dunedin, 24th February, 1912. In presenting the annual report of the above school I have pleasure in stating that, on the whole, the general health of the inmates has been good. Functional nervous diseases have been rather

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prominent this year, and have taken the following forms —viz., one case of pricking the arms and the backs of the hands with a pen and injecting ink, thereby producing curious-looking sores ; two cases of functional nerve-disease of the eyes, diagnosed and treated at the general Hospital; one case of marked hysteria, threatening to take carbolic acid ; one case of premature greyness of the hair and deafness ; three cases of functional incontinence of urine (two of these were improved at once by moral suasion, the other one has given considerable trouble, being weak in intellect). The girl with tubercular knee had an acute attack of swelling, and was removed to the Hospital, where a piece of dead bone was removed. She is now much better. One child had post-nasals removed at the Hospital, and one required circumcision. There has been no epidemic or other illness in the building. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Emily H. Seideberg, M.8., L.R.C.P.I. St. Vincent de Paul's Industrial School (Girl's). Sir,_ Dunedin, 6th May, 1912. 1 beg to submit my annual report on the St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage, South Dunedin. The health of the inmates continues uniformly good. One death, that of a delicate infant., from gastro-enteritis, occurred during the year. The Rev. Mother and the Sisters exercise the greatest care with regard to the feeding, clothing, and personal hygiene of their charges. The sanitary arrangements of the institution are all that could be desired. I have, &c, Eugene J. O'Neill, M.8., F.R.C.S. Eng., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

No. 3.— Costley Training Institution.

Balance-sheet for Year ending 31st December, 1911. Liabilities. Assets. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Jostley bequest .. .. .. 12,150 00 Mortgages— lebeoca Hodge bequest .. .. 742 3 9 Kidd .. .. 1,200 0 0 Soys' Trust Account .. .. 12 0 6 Wilson .. .. 500 0 0 tevenue Account .. .. .. 1,608 12 11 Bond .. .. 700 0 0 McDougal .. .. 700 0 0 Stanton .. .. 250 0 0 Hogg .. .. 1,350 0 0 St. Barnabas . . .. 550 0 0 Carpenter .. .. 500 0 0 Nurse .. .. 2,000 0 0 Peach .. .. 550 0 0 Wallace .. .. 600 0 0 Woolcott .. .. 800 0 0 Dawson .. .. 900 0 0 Codlin .. .. 700 0 0 Reynolds .. .. 2,400 0 0 13,700 0 0 Accrued interest .. .. .. 164 12 1 Jackson and Russell .. .. . . 609 15 4 Bank of New Zealand 38 9 9 £14,512 17 2 £14,512 17 2 Revenue Account. £ s. d. £ s. d. "o Expenses (office rent, £25) .. .. 39 10 2 By Balance as per last account .. 932 4 2 Maintenance of boys 36 15 0 Interest received .. .. .. 752 13 11 Balance as per balance-sheet above .. 1,608 12 11 £1,684 18 1 £1,684 18 1 C. Hudson, F.S.A. N.Z., Auckland, 17th January, 1912. Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. Examined and found correct. —R. J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.—4/3/1912.

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No. 4.—INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION. ■_ - Education Department, Wellington, 31st May, 1912. The Hon. the Minister of Education. I submit the following report on the work of the Department in respect of infant-life protection for the year 1911. It will be seen that the bulk of the infants were in foster-homes—that is, with women who have the motherly capacity, and the time and accommodation necessary to satisfy the Department's requirements for the license prescribed by the Act. The remainder were in various benevolent institutions, of which particulars are given below. Numbers. The number of infants in licensed foster-homes on the 31st December was 707, which is 27 more than there were at the beginning of the year. The individuals changed to a much greater extent than those figures indicate, however ; the total number of individuals dealt with in connection with-foster-homes during the year, by admissions, withdrawals, transfers, &c, being 1,183. The number, placed in foster-homes was 48 more than in the previous year, and the number removed from the homes was 27 less. In the institutions there were 427 at the end of the year, making in all a total of 1,134 infants being dealt with under the Act on the 31st December, 1911 —an increase of 32 over the number on the books a year previously. The following table exhibits the transactions of the year in respect of infants in licensed fosterhomes :—

Particulars of Admissions to And Removals From Licensed Foster-Homes During 1911.

Foster-homes. The 707 infants in foster-homes at the end of the year were distributed as follows :— In 460 homes each having one . . .. . . .. .. .. 460 In 76 „ two .. .. .. .. .. .. 152 In 21 „ three .. .. ..63 In 4 „ four . 16 In 2 „ five .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 In 1 „ six .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 564 707

w I to u % 2" .*» a si o 3 11 I CM T3 a e3 . -I g — CD ■+» I * a ce . CM S © £ 1* -tP I •a a ce . «o S2 rt A S3 ffl © £ © H*l a HO ■o a ce . th g a | ffl pH 9 HH» I CD I to" to a s .9 co * • <D- a ! eS^nS | ■ ° fc 3 tered o; the B( whs. In the books at the beginning of the year 'laced in licensed homes during the year Ldopted with premium (exclusive of those already on the books) 56 83 150 136 94 63 60 38 680 246 60 76 39 30 15 24 490 8 1 1 1 1 1 13 Total 310 144 227 176 124 79 85 1,183 With Irawn frt ym and i remaining on the 92 53 i Books. lemoved from foster-homes by parents or guardians Deaths Adoptions from licensed homes without premiums n homes to which exemption was granted 3rought under operation of the Industrial Schools Act (Vritten off the books for various 41 42 48 16 21 10 323 6 3 2 5 4 5 4 3 3 1 i 13 24 1 4 2 2 2 2 2 15 , ■ 1 10 1 ' 5 3 3 10 11 10 4 * 1 48 91 causes )n the books at 31st December, 1911 73 87 151 110 270 182 108 79 59 40 707 Total .. 128 150 165 105 ; i 84 99 1,183

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Thirty-five of the homes were those in which children under six were boarded out by Charitable Aid Boards. m, ; The total number of licensed homes was 738, so that at the end of the year there were 174 licensed homes in which for the time no infants were boarded. Rates of Payments to Foster-parents by Parents or Guardians. An account of the rates paid is given in the following statement: — 2at the rate of 2s. 6d. per week. 13 at the rate of 9s. per week. 1 „ 3s. „ 504 „ 10s. 3 „ 4s. „ 1 „ 10s. 6d. 1 „ 4s. 6d. „ 3 „ 11s. 16 „ ss. „ 26 „ 12s. 8 „ 6s. „ 41 „ 12s. 6d. 3 „ 6s. Bd. „ 1 „ 14s. 51 „ 7s. „ 9 „ 15s. 95 „ 7s. 6d. „ 1 „ 20s. 62 „ Bs. „ 1 „ 21s. 11 „ Bs. 6d. Generally the relations of the infants provide clothing in addition. The following comparison of the rates paid during the last three years shows that the usual payment is about 10s. a week : — 1909. 1910. 1911. Under 7s. .. .. .. .. .. ..45 36 34 7s. and under 10s. . . .. .. .. ~ 193 224 232 10s. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 351 448 504 Over 10s 77 97 83

Exempted Institutions. From the provision that " it shall not be lawful for any person in consideration of any payment or reward to receive or-retain in his care or charge any infant for the purpose of nursing or maintaining it apart from its parents or guardians for a longer period than seven consecutive days unless such person is licensed as a foster-parent," the Minister may grant certain exemptions, and under this authority exemption has been granted to the institutions set forth in the following list, which shows also the numbers dealt with and the deaths. The conditions of the exemption provide for inspection, and for removal of the infants only with due formality.

(1911) Admissions. leaths. I On the Boc |31stDecemb iks at er,1911. Name of Institution. si 01 A 3 3 rH 'a HJ o H EC Xi T3 -g fl • § *S ■§ Is § ffl si V A a s 13 +3 o Sri 05 A s o a CD u CI ■0 a 0 13 !* CO is a cs ga ©--I . I CO •S a s a £ CO c3 U ° l ■a n . cd co a 0 ffl o *s H^CtS! on ffl The Orphan Home, Papatoetoe, Auckland St. Mary's Maternity Home, Otahuhu, Auckland The Door of Hope, Auckland Salvation Army Maternity Home, Auckland St. Mary's Orphanage, Ponsonby, Auokland St. Joseph's Orphanage, Takapuna, Auckland Children's Home, Remuera, Auckland Children's Home, Ponsonby, Auckland St. Vincent de Paul's Foundling Home, Auckland Mission House of the Order of the Good Shepherd, Auckland .. Leslie Presbyterian Orphanage, Remuera, Auckland Cook County Women's Guild Creche, Gisborne Wanganui Orphanage, Wanganui .. Children's Home, Palmerston North St. Joseph's Orphanage, Upper Hutt, Wellington Salvation Army Children's Home, Wellington The Levin Memorial Home, Wellington Home of Compassion, Wellington Presbyterian Orphanage, Wellington St. Mary's Orphanage, Nelson Sacred Heart Orphanage, Mount Magdala Children's Convalescent Cottage, New Brighton Salvation Army Maternity Home, Christchurch Nazareth House, Sydenham, Christchurch St. Saviour's Home, Shirley, Christohurch St. Mary's Orphanage, Dunedin St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage, Dunedin Karitane Home, Dunedin Presbyterian Orphanage, Dunedin .. Salvation Army Maternity Home, Dunedin .. Salvation Army Cnildren's Home, Middlemarch Victoria Memorial Home, Invercargill 5 13 29 1 8 7 33 13 3 29 6 2 7 9 2 75 1 17 7 32 5 20 12 i 9 61 4 42 3 15 25 1 15 1 13 i 2 3 .. i 13 ' 5 3 | .. 2 .'. 2 '.'. 2 4 i 1 1 7 26 16 2 4 11 3 18 39 3 11 5 5 7 10 6 77 6 36 9 5 9 18 23 2 23 11 7 12 5 11 "i 9 1 6 7 8 31 11 22 12 3 12 11 4 1 4 1 j .. 1 1 '3 '2 ; '.'. '3 51 2 10 6 1 6 38 4 2 2 13 2 I 'i 1 7 4 Totals for 1911 474 195 66 47 62 63 29 7 427 48 48 Totals for 1910 493 190 47 10 422 36 48

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Deaths in Fostek-homes.

Out of the 1,183 infants under six years of age that were at one time or another on the books of the foster-homes during 1911, 13 died —that is, l - 09 per cent. Of these, 9 died in the foster-homes, and 4 in hospitals or nursing-homes to which they had been removed for treatment. Nine of the 13 were under the age of twelve months, and all were of illegitimate birth. The following is a comparison of the number of deaths in foster-homes during the last four years :— 1908 .. .. .. 26 deaths out of 1,017 infants =, 2-56 per cent. 1909 . .. ..25 „ 1,181 „ =2-11 1910 26 „ 1,183 „ =2-19 1911 .. .. ..13 „ 1,183 „ = 1-09 The percentages are given merely for illustration, for in dealing with such small numbers a percentage may, of course, have a very misleading appearance. These rates are only very slightly above the normal death-rate of the Dominion for children of the same age, and the result therefore reflects great credit on the District Agents, their assistants, the Local Visitors, and the foster-parents. Particulars of the 13 deaths are given in the appendix. Deaths in Exempted Institutions. These, with other particulars, are shown in the foregoing table relating to exempted institutions. The following is a statement of the deaths during the last three years : — 1909 .. .. .. 66 deaths out of 749 infants = 881 per cent. 1910 .. .. .. 63 „ 915 „= 608 1911 47 „ 899 „= 5-23 Particulars of the deaths in these homes during 1911 are given in the appendix. Adoptions. During the year 221 orders of adoption were made, and one order cancelling an adoption order. Thirty-two of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 189 were without monetary consideration. The following shows the ages of the adopted children :— With Without Premium. Premium. Under 6 months .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 58 Between 6 and 12 months .. .. .. .. 5 20 ~ 1 ~ 2 years .. .. .. .. .. 3 26 „ 2 „ 3 „ 3 22 „ 3 „ 4 „ 1 16 „ 4 „ 5 „ 1 11 5 „ 6 „ .. .. .. .. ..1 12 6 „ 7 „ .. .. .. .. .... 5 7 „ 8 „ .. .. .. .. .... 3 8 „ 9 „ .. .. .. .. .... 3 „ 9 „ 10 „ 2 „ .10 „ 11 „ 2 „ 11 „ 12 „ 2 „ 12 „ 13 „ 1 „ 13 „ 14 „ .. .. .. .. .... 4 „ 14 „ 15 „ .. 2 32 189 The adopting persons were, — Husband and wife jointly .. .. .. .. .. .. 211 Husband alone .. .. •.. .. .. .. .. 2 Widow .. .. .. •. .. .. .. .. 6 Widower .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Spinster .. .. .. •. .. .. ~ ~ 1 The amount of the premiums ranged from £10 to £160.

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Illegitimacy. For its obvious relation to the intentions of the Infants Act the following table is given : —

No. S.—SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, SUMNER. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. glß _ School for the Deaf, Sumner, 20th April, 1912. I have the honour to lay before you my report for the year 1911. The number of pupils who have been under instruction during the year is shown in the following tabulated statement :- Pupils of the previous year who returned to school .. .. 53 36 89 Admitted at or near the beginning of the year .. 3 6 9 Admitted later .. .... .. • • ' ! * ? Absent during the year, but retained on the roll .. .. 1 .. 1 Total number on the roll .. . . •••• . . 58 43 101 Left before the end of the school year .. .. .. 2 Left at the end of the school year .. .. . • .. 2 .. 2 Sent to Ruakura Experimental Farm for training .. .. 1 .. 1 Pupils expected to return to Sumner in 1912 .. .. .. 53 43 96 The total number on the roll was the same as in 1910—viz., 101. Of these, 27 came from the Auckland District, 1 from Taranaki, 7 from Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, 26 from Wellington, 1 from Nelson, I from Marlborough, 2 from Westland, 20 from Canterbury, and 16 from Otago. During the early part of the year, owing to lack of accommodation at the school, 6 boys were boarded out but in July this number was reduced to 2, several of the boarded-in pupils then becoming day pupils ' During the latter part of the year 6 boys and 4 girls attended as such, and it is anticipated that next year all those children whose parents reside in the vicinity of the school will be able to attend in the same way. The horizon of a deaf child is necessarily very limited, and every opportunity of extending it should be welcomed. In the case of a day pupil the incidents of the daily journey to and from school are very effective in developing his faculties of observation and m creating self-reliance. The development of his powers of speech and, by consequence, of his reflective powers is furthered by the same means. Daily at the end of his journey he has something fresh to say ; at school to his teachers or schoolmates ; at home, to his friends or relatives. By frequent intercourse with the normal the child becomes at last almost normal himself, and displays fewer and fewer of those characteristics which, in the case of a boarded-in pupil, are at once a condition and a consequence of his too constant association with others similarly afflicted. . _ The health of the pupils during the year was exceedingly good. There were no cases of serious, illness, and what interruptions there were in the school-work on account of illness among the children

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Provincial Districts. Number of ChildIllegitimate ren aged 12 Monthi Births registered or less brought during 1911. under the Act during 1911. ' Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland Canterbury .. .. 293 35 57 263 15 40 10 , 170 195 29 3 13 60 6 66 46 Otago Totals 1,078 223 Totals for 1910 1,162 211 During the year 122 registrations were effected under the Legiti imation Act. E. 0. Gibbes, Secretary for Education.

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were not of great importance. The health of one of the teachers, however, was unable to stand the strain of the work, and she was obliged to obtain leave of absence for a month. ' There were some changes in the personnel of the teaching staff during the year. At the beginning oi June Miss B. E. Tosswill was appointed to go into training to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Miss H. B. Anthony at the end of 1910. In November Mr. J. S. Hilson, who had been a member of the staff since March, 1907, was transferred to the Special School for Boys at Otekaike, and in the same month Miss E. Kinloch Paul, a lady who had been trained as a teacher of the deaf in England, and who had had considerable experience in teaching there, became a member of our staff. The progress made by the pupils during the year was on the whole very satisfactory. In most cases the results obtained were highly encouraging, and only in one or two instances were they disappointing. It was particularly gratifying to observe marked improvement in the case of some of the more backward pupils. The great majority of the pupils passed with credit through the ordeal of the Inspector's annual examination held in December. Of the ten new pupils admitted during the year, all but one made good progress. The exception was a boy whose mental and physical development was considerably below normal, and whose progress was necessarily much slower than that of the other beginners. Two of these were girls of nearly twelve years of age, who should have been admitted at least five years previously, but had been kept away owing to ignorance. Neither of these girls was stone deaf, and each on admission was able to say, more or less distinctly, a few words. They were able to copy writing, but without comprehension of the meaning of the words copied, and were quite incapable of being educated along with ordinary hearing children. These two cases resemble others that we have had in the past, and emphasize the importance of teachers and other persons notifying the Department of cases of deaf children coming under their notice. This is especially necessary in the case of partial deafness, as the ability of a child to utter a few words is extremely likely to mislead its parents as to the nature of its affliction, and to prevent them from making inquiries in the proper quarter. Another case admitted was that of a girl of fifteen, who was able to speak distinctly, and who had been educated as far as the Third Standard, but whose hearing had become so defective that she could no longer be taught efficiently at the public school she had been attending. Another case was that of an adult, a lady who had become almost completely deaf, and who required training in lip-reading. By the end of the year she had become fairly proficient in the art, although prevented by ill health from attending regularly. Inquiries as to the utility of and the possibility of learning lip-reading are frequently made by deaf persons residing in the Dominion. There is no doubt as to the value of the art to those deaf people who have been able to acquire it. It can most readily be learned by attendance at a school for the deaf, but, unfortunately, in the case of business people, this is seldom possible. In such cases it is necessary to enlist the services of a teacher who has knowledge of the principles of articulation and elocution. Facility in the art demands considerable and regular practice, and depends more on the pupil than on the teacher. The looking-glass is a useful aid, and the deaf person who can get a friend to converse with him for half an hour or more daily will obtain gratifying results in a comparatively short space of time. Information as to methods is difficult to convey by means of writing, but can always be obtained on application at the school. At the end of the year a Maori boy of seventeen, who had been a pupil here for nine years, was transferred to the Government Experimental Farm at Ruakura, to be trained there as a cadet. This course was considered advisable in view of the fact that the boy was an orphan, and the possessor in his own right of about 100 acres of land, which, it is hoped, he will one day be able to farm for himself. On leaving this school he had obtained a fairly good general education, and was able to make himself readily understood by strangers. He was able to read the daily papers, and could express himself fairly well both in speech and in writing. He could milk a cow, and could use a spade, a scythe, and a hay-fork, and also the ordinary carpenter's tools. In addition, he could play a fair game of cricket or football, and could swim well. The acquirements of the four boys who left at about the same time were somewhat similar. None of the girls was sufficiently advanced to be permitted to leave the school. It would be of advantage if it could be arranged for the teeth of the pupils to be periodically inspected and attended to by a qualified dentist. This would, no doubt, result in the mental and physical tone of the pupils being improved, and in their instruction being rendered more efficient, as ■it is evident that children suffering from decayed teeth or from indigestion caused thereby cannot. be satisfactory pupils. The eyesight of the pupils is also a matter of great importance, and I have to thank Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Terras Bell, of Christchurch, for their great kindness in examining and prescribing for those of our pupils who have defective sight. The common belief that when one sense is lacking Nature strengthens the remaining senses in compensation is an erroneous one. By many people it is supposed that the eyesight of the deaf and the touch of the blind are preternaturally acute ; but experiments have shown that this is a popular fallacy, and that where one sense is deficient the others are likely to be more or less affected also. The carrying-on of the work of the school will shortly be greatly facilitated by the erection of a new wing and of an additional story to the servants' quarters at the main building. A contract for the erection of these has been let, and at the time of writing the laying of the foundations is well under way. When these additions are completed the present overcrowded condition of the schoolrooms and of the girls' dormitories will be relieved, and it will be possible to provide for the isolation and the treatment of sick cases. A suitable workshop should be provided at the Boys' Home, so that technical instruction can be carried on better than is possible under present conditions. The rebuilding in brick of the Boys' Home itself is a matter that should also be considered. The present building is an old wooden one, and •cannot be expected to last many more years. Great precautions have to be taken in the use of it to

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avoid danger from fire. It would, no doubt, be safer if electrically lighted. Should the erection of jr«a new Boys' Home be decided on, it should not be designed so as to accommodate a greater number of boys than the present building. I have repeatedly stated my conviction that the school in point of view of numbers is already too large. There is every indication that the number of deaf children in the Dominion will continue increasing, and to provide for this increase a preparatory school for young deaf children should be established in the near future. To it children might be admitted at an earlier age than under present conditions is desirable. After two or more years at the preparatory school they should be transferred to the main school, which would then contain no pupils unable to spoak. Thus the tendency to resort to signs on the part of the pupils would be largely diminished. In previous reports I have pointed out other benefits that would be derived from the establishment of such a preparatory school. Instruction in it should be carried on as much as possible in the open air, and abundant use made of kindergarten methods. The appearance of the school-garden during the year reflected credit on the gardeners, and the educational value of an aesthetic environment was apparent. The grounds are artistically laid out and planted, and contain a large and varied collection of trees and shrubs, as well as flowers. Thus plenty of opportunity for nature-study is provided, and has been made use of in open-air lessons. Even the little children evince considerable zeal in learning the names of and in distinguishing the different kinds of trees and flowers. The names of many common flowers present difficulties in articulation, which provide excellent and agreeable practice for deaf children interested in nature-study, and by their selection necessary articulation lessons may be relieved of much of their drudgery. The annual picnic of the school was held at Diamond Harbour, and our thanks are due to the Lyttelton Harbour Board for kindly granting the use of their tug to convey our party from and to Lyttelton, and also to Miss Stoddart for the use of her grounds on the occasion. The school is also indebted to the members of the Canterbury Automobile Association for their kindness in taking the pupils for a most enjoyable outing to Rangiora. We have also again to thank Messrs. Fuller and Sons, of the Colosseum Pictures, for their kindness in admitting us to their matinees. The pictures have been greatly appreciated by the children, who have derived much profit as well as pleasure from them. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Schools, Wellington. J. E. Stevens, Director.

REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER. Si R) _ 28th May, 1912. I have the honour to report that no serious illness occurred in the School for the Deaf at Sumner during the year 1911. But we have had rather more than usual of the chronic tubercular ulcers and tubercular bone-disease. We badly want more tents for these cases, as also for isolating any other infectious cases. It is desirable that one member of the staff should be a trained nurse. Openair classes have been instituted by the Director with great benefit to some of the pupils. The food is excellent, besides being varied judiciously and well cooked ; and all the domestic arrangements reflect credit on the Matron. Most of the pupils seem very bright, happy, and healthy, and much attached to their teachers, who are devoted to their work.% We are indebted to the Borough Council for the recent erection of dressing-shelters on the beach, so that the pupils have now much more facility for sea-bathing, from which they have derived great benefit. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education. W. H. Symes, M.D. No. 6.—SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS, OTEKAIKE, OAMARU. REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL. Sir,— . Otekaike, 30th May, 1912. I beg to submit the following report of the administration of the affairs of this school for the year ending 31st March, 1912. Admissions, Discharges, and Deaths. Number of children in the school on Ist April, 1911 .. .. .. 47 Admitted during the year .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Discharged during the year .. .. .. . • .. .. 4 Died .. •• •• •• •• ■• •■ •• 1 In the school on 31st March, 1912 .. .. .. .. .. 67 Ages of boys in the institution on 31st March, 1912 :— From sto 10 years .. .. .. . • • • ■ • .. 8 „ 11 » 16 n 39 „ 17 „21 „ 14 Over 21 years .. .. .. .. • • • • ■ • . . 6 Ages of boys admitted during the year :— Between 7 and 16 years .. .. .. • • • • .. 18 „ 16 „ 21 „ 6 Over 21 years .. .. ■. .• •• •• ..1

4—E.' 4.

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20

Admissions. —During the past year 25 children have been admitted to the school. Of the 67 children in residence on the 31st March, 1912, 33 children hail from the North Island and 34 from the South Island. Discharges. —During the year 4 children have been discharged from the school. The reasons for the discharges were as follows :— (1.) A hemiplegic deaf-mute was transferred to the Nelson Home for Unimprovable Cases, as, after a considerable period, it was found that he was unimprovable. (2.) This boy, who had been admitted temporarily for observation, was allowed to return home. (3.) This case was over the compulsory age when the Education Amendment Act of 1910 came into force. As the Education Department had no legal jurisdiction over him, he was allowed to return to his parents. (4.) This case was of a weak-minded lad, just over twenty-one years of age, who had been sentenced for breaking into and entering, but who had been allowed out on probation on certain conditions. These conditions were not fulfilled, and eventually he came to me to be under observation. He remained at the school till the end of his probationary period, and had improved considerably, but, as we had no further hold over him, he was free to take his discharge. The short term of training he had with us was undoubtedly beneficial to him, and I am sorry we had no legal power to keep him longer, as he is essentially one of these weak-willed individuals who could be urged on by the stronger will of some unscrupulous person to commit some anti-social act, so that, in all probability, he will again be heard of in the prison records. Deaths. —There has been one death during the year : A B died on the 4th December, 1911—sudden heart-failure. This is the first child we have lost during the four years the school has been in existence. It is interesting to point out at this stage of our history that the death-rate among the children has been remarkably low. Taking the average number of children resident during the past four years, the average death-rate works out at the remarkably low figure of 065 per 100, or 6-5 per 1,000. Mentality. —The admissions classified according to mentality show —High-grade cases, 6 ; middlegrade cases, 11 ; low-grade cases, 8. Of the admissions, one boy is an epileptic. There are now four epileptic boys in residence. General Health. The general health of the children during the year has been good. In the early spring we had two very serious cases of pneumonia among the boys and one amongst the female staff. All three cases, thanks to the careful treatment received, fortunately recovered. We have again been fortunate, as far as infectious diseases are concerned. We had one case of cutaneous erysipelas, which was promptly isolated, and fortunately did not spread. During the year we have had three cases of tubercular trouble among the Mongol type of children. All, however, have done well, and only one of these cases is at present at home for treatment. In the other two cases there is at present no active mischief. During the very cold portions of the year the Mongol section of our children suffer severely from chilblains. These children generally suffer from abnormal heartaction, with enfeebled circulation, the cyanosed condition of their extremeties being very marked during the cold winter months. Great care is taken, however, before the winter sets in to ensure that these children are as physically fit as their abnormal physical condition will allow, so that they may the better withstand the cold of the winter months. In connection with the various illnesses to which our children are subject, I would call your attention to the faithful work performed by our nurses, who are untiring in their care of the sick children. Regarding the question of the health of our children, I would again point out to you, in view of our increasing numbers and the extensions contemplated in the immediate future, the urgent need for providing hospital accommodation at once. A small, inexpensive hospital for infectious cases, and a general hospital or infirmary where the many ordinary ailments common to our children may be satisfactorily dealt with, and where tie children who are recovering from an illness can be carefully tended during convalescence, are necessary. The whole of our dormitory accommodation is at present occupied, so that, should any serious outbreak of illness occur, our resources for providing proper attention to the sick would be totally inadequate. I submit this question to you for your consideration as one of great urgency. Scholastic and Industrial Training. The school-work, as a whole, has been carried on along much the same general lines as in other years. The smaller children, who now comprise about one-half of our school population, have made good progress during the year as far as both scholastic and manual instruction are concerned. With the low grades, who are incapable of any book-learning, the entire day is given to manual training ; and, recognizing the truth of the maxim of Froebel that the " working hand makes strong the working brain," some branch of manual instruction is given throughout the school. The younger division of our school is now divided into four classes of the following grades : (1.) A kindergarten for low-grade children ; (2) a kindergarten for middle-grade children ; (3) a middle-grade class of boys promoted from the kindergarten ; (4) a high-grade class who are capable of receiving benefit from scholastic instruction. It is exceedingly difficult work with the three lower sections of this part of our school. The development through the hand with the lower grade, and the awakening of the senses through the

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stimulation of the emotions under tie fascination of having done or made something is the only true road to development. Many are the disappointments for the teachers of this section. Some ailment, "some sign of physical or mental strain and fatigue, as evidenced by the child's loss of appetite and loss of weight, overtakes many of these little, frail beings, and I have to take the child out of school entirely for a time so as to build him up and make him fit to make another attempt. When I return him again to the school, after maybe a few weeks, I know too well it means commencing again in a lower division. While dealing with the younger section of the children in this division of our school—the special difficulty of the work and the need for experienced and specially qualified teachers for carrying on the work successfully—l would venture to quote the words of an expert in this work. In speaking of the awakening and training of mental defectives, Dr. Bucknell says this must be done " first by teaching him the use of his senses and of his muscles ; by teaching him to speak and, as far as may be, to converse ; by teaching him to sit, to stand, to walk, and to play, thereby teaching him to love and trust, and not to hate and fear ; by replacing dull inanity or sullen moroseness with sociable attachment to others ; by training and examining all the conditions of mind—however imperfect mind and body may be —towards wholesome, useful, and agreeable activities in the place of chill, torpid inertness, or the dull ache of helpless discomfort." Again, Mrs. Burgwin, the pioneer of and Superintendent of Special Instruction in London, in speaking of the work of teaching feeble-minded children, says, " It will readily be seen that from such difficulties as these [she has been enumerating the difficulties of dealing with feeble-minded children] that only teachers of the highest training and intelligence should attempt to teach feeble-minded children." This opinion is supported by nearly all the leading experts both in England and America. If, then, it is the general opinion that our best teachers — " those with the highest training and intelligence " —are needed to carry on successfully the training of our feeble-minded children, it is only reasonable to assume that the work of training mental defectives successfully presents special difficulties which have only to be experienced to be fully recognized and appreciated. The upper section of the school consists of two divisions—(l) The low-grade older children, (2) the high-grade older children. In connection with the training of the first group, which consists mainly of children bordering on fifteen years and upwards, though they are showing considerable improvement in manual work, it must be remembered that these children are those who were admitted to the school at an age when the period which experience shows to be the proper period for training— viz., from seven to fifteen years —was almost past. Moreover, prior to their admission they received no training at all. The results attainable with this section of our school-children are not nearly so great as may be hoped for with those children who come to us at an earlier age. The group of highgrade boys have made really good progress in all branches of scholastic work. To carry on our work successfully we must in the immediate future strengthen our teaching staff by the inclusion of at least two lady teachers who have had experience at Home in schools for feebleminded children. They must be fully qualified trained teachers, possessing the higher Froebel certificate, and specially capable of teaching physical exercises, singing, and drawing. Our teachers must possess full knowledge of the kindergarten methods, and, seeing that our children so easily tire and become apathetic or restless, each teacher should be qualified to take her own class at intervals for singing, musical drill, and games. The drawing qualifications in our teachers is much more necessary than with the teachers in schools for normal children, seeing that, in every lesson, it is so necessary to illustrate by crayons or chalk on blackboard, paper, &c, so many points which our children, through lack of observing-powers, are unfamiliar with, but which a normal child learns unconsciously and automatically. We are now also sufficiently advanced with our school-work to engage a teacher for Sloyd work. The Sloyd room is always one of the most attractive departments in schools of this kind. I would also recommend the engagement of a lady teacher from. Home who has had experience in teaching gardening to feeble-minded children. Nature-study in all its branches is of great service in the training of our children, seeing that it essentially calls into play the observing-powers. In my first report on the school in March, 1909, I mentioned the question of a nature programme and its connections. After giving an example, I remarked, " This practically is known as an ' environment programme.' If with a normal child it is necessary to "sliow the connection between the essential elements of a child's environment and his own life, it is doubly so with a feeble-minded child." To have a qualified lady teacher to teach the younger children horticulture, and to teach such expression lessons as drawing, colouring, painting, modelling, brushwork, cutting, &c, as correlated subjects, would be a great gain educationally. Typical Cases op Improvement. The following extracts from letters which I have received during the year indicate a feeling of satisfaction on the part of those who have noticed marked improvement in the mental and physical condition of their children who are being trained at this school: — From the Headmaster, Public School. " Dear Sir,— " 29th February, 1912. " I feel it incumbent upon me to inform you of the very great —I had almost said startling— improvement that I noticed in the lad when I met him casually the other day. I found him attending School when I took charge of it some years ago, and was informed that to teach him anything was impossible. My own experience with him made it quite evident that, with the ordinary methods, this view was correct. When I met him the other day, I had time for a short conversation only, but I was amazed at the improvement in his general intelligence and bearing. That this is the outcome of your labours admits of no doubt whatever, and I offer you my sincere congratulations on their result. —Yours faithfully, ."

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" 12th July, 1911.—1 duly received the letter you sent me written by my son, and I feel I must write you a line of congratulation on the success of your methods of teaching. When the boy came to you I "really thought that you were'attempting a hopeless task, and that neither you nor any one else would be able to educate him. However, time has proved me to be mistaken, and I assure you that lam very pleased to have to admit the fact. My opinion at the time was also the opinion of others, "and it is therefore very much to the credit of your system that you have been able to achieve such results —results which have astonished and at the same time pleased me." " 14th February, 1912. —I was pleased on his return home to see him looking so well. I noticed also that he had improved greatly in a number of ways —he does not seem to be half so awkward in his movements, and I thank you very much for your care and patience with him." " 13th February, 1912. —We are very pleased with the improvement shows, and the doctor who had attended him since birth is much more hopeful of him than he was a year or two ago. He considers that he has made such progress as to warrant the belief that he is capable of learning a good deal more than we expected of him at one time." " 11th February, 1912.—1 find a great improvement in his speech, and he does his exercises wonderfully." " 14th February, 1912. —I am very pleased with the progress he has made, and thought on his return from school he looked much stronger." " 29th January, 1912. —I asked my doctor if he would examine him. He has had him under observation, and he was quite pleased to hear him count and say his letters. He told me there was certainly a great improvement in every way, and that there was great credit due to you for the way in which he had been taught." " 20th February, 1912.—He showed a marked improvement generally; his realization of objects and events was more logical. He was pleased to go back to school, and the meeting at the railwaystation between him and his teacher was to us indeed gratifying. A smile of pleasure came over 's face when he shook hands with his friend and tutor, which told the tale of kindness." " 15th December, 1911. —Mrs. and myself indeed feel grateful for the care bestowed upon him to prevent the cold he contracted from leaving any injurious effects, and for your general care of the boy. Yours is a trying position, but we may all feel content with our boys under your protection and care." Such letters encourage us to make the greater efforts to promote the happiness and well-being of our children. Additions to Buildings. The opening of the new kitchen administrative block, with the children's dining-room, staff sitting-rooms, store, &c, has not only afforded much better accommodation for boys and staff, but has also allowed us to use two of the large rooms in the main building for the boys. One of these rooms is now used as an additional schoolroom, while the other is utilized as a play-room for the boys. The steam cooking plant now in use will further add to the efficiency of the domestic arrangements. The old kitchen in the main building can be easily converted by our own staff into a spacious needleworkroom, and the scullery in the same block, now no longer needed for this purpose, will be converted into a surgery, so much needed in a school of this description. Farm and Garden. A greater difference in the climatic conditions obtaining in this district between last year and this could not well be imagined. Most of our crops last year were below the average, owing to the prolonged drought. This year we have had an abundance of rain, and, but for a shortage of the usual hot, sunny days, our farm and garden crops would have been extraordinarily good. On the whole, however, we have had a good year. Four years ago —the first year of the school's existence —we were able to secure a large crop of hay, which has been of great service to us for feed for the stock during the winter months. This year, though we were unable to lay aside as large an area owing to the increase in our stock, we have secured four large stacks of hay —approximately the same quantity as that stacked four years back from an area about 15 acres greater in extent. The Department of Agriculture has this year undertaken an extensive system of co-operative field tests with a view to ascertaining the most suitable varieties of cereal, root ; and other crops for the various districts. Feeling that this would be of value to ourselves, as well as to the farmers of the surrounding district, it was decided to carry out on our property, under the conditions laid down by the Department of Agriculture, experiments with potatoes, mangolds, turnips, swedes, carrots, chou mollier, Buda kale, Soya beans, cow-peas, maize, and millet. It is unnecessary for me to give details as to the results of these experiments, seeing that the quantities of the various crops produced per acre will be published in the Journal of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture. Speaking generally, I may say that the experiments have been successful in every case with the exception of maize, millet, Soya beans, and cow-peas. Apart from the experimental interest in the above tests, 1 would point out that the institution has benefited largely, inasmuch as we have, as the result of these experiments, secured an ample supply of winter feed for our stock. Our potato crop this year is undoubtedly the best produced, and we shall, in addition to supplying the wants of the institution, in all probability have a considerable quantity available for sale. Even though the past season was not suitable for fruitgrowing, I may mention that we have produced from our gardens and orchard sufficient preserved fruit and jam to carry us through till the next season's fruit is available. Many of the older Doys are becoming very useful on the farm and in the garden, and two of the boys assist with the milking of the cows.

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Unsoundness op Mind, Public Health, Education, and Eugenics. All the intelligent and thoughtful members of any community who are anxious to ensure (1) the physical, mental, and moral progress of the race, (2) the elimination of all taint tending towards the deterioration' of the race, will feel more than a passing interest in such important questions as the public health arid education. Dr. Cloiiston, in his recent work entitled " Unsoundness of Mind," states : " Mental unsoundness should be looked at not as an isolated fact in the history of mankind, but as one of the results of naturallaw breaking—sometimes wilful, but more frequently through ignorance or want of the means of healthful living—on the part of former generations of mankind. If one-tenth of the thought and one-twentieth of the effort that has been wasted on political discussion and on unhealthful amusements were, for a few generations, given to health knowledge and the upbuilding of a " health conscience " among mankind we might make more progress. We need a genius and a few fiery enthusiasts to compel the attention of men and women to such questions." And again : " Soundness of mind is the master key to all human effort and progress." If, then, we are more,than casually* interested in the progress —mental and moral—of the race, and if we would attempt to eliminate" all that which tends towards the degeneration of the race, our first duty is to help to develop or build up? a " health conscience " among mankind. If mental unsoundness is the result of " natural-law breaking " or " want of tlie'means of healthful living " on the part of former generations—that which, through ignorance largely, we have had bequeathed to vs —is there any reason why now, in the twentieth century and in thisjenlightened young country, this state of darkness, these sins of ignorance, should be handed on to future generations ? Our first duty, then, clearly is to disseminate knowledge of the laws of health as widely as possible, and to point out the penalty Nature imposes on posterity when her laws are broken or unheeded. We establish mental hospitals for the insane, schools foremen tally deficient, reformatory schools and prisons for the vicious and criminal imbecile, but to hope to stem the tide of national degeneracy we must go further back —we must begin with the child yet unborn, if possible, by spreading the knowledge to the parents that all forms of mental abnormality or mental unsoundness are not an isolated fact in the history of mankind, but one of the results of natural-law breaking. A dissemination of such knowledge as will tend to lessen the chances of production or reproduction of unsoundness of mind in future generations, and the formation of a public opinion which will create a sense of responsibility in all matters pertaining to human parenthood, are questions of national importance, and demand the serious attention of not only eugenic education societies, but of our Public Health Departments. The definition of the new science of eugenics is " the study of agencies under social control that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations, either physically or mentally." All thoughtful people are, consciously or unconsciously, eugenists. It has been proved over and over again that the most fruitful cause of mental degeneracy is heredity. Mental degeneracy in all its forms—insanity, idiocy, imbecility, feeble-mindedness, epilepsy, criminality, inebriety, &c. —is closely allied to the question of our public health. If that is admitted, is it not a question as to whether it is not the business of the State to set up a Department where such work as is now undertaken by eugenic societies could be dealt with ? The State rightly interests itself now in " nurture," but by far the most important question is that of " nature." The education of the normal portion of our people is of paramount importance, seeing that our theory of education is now founded on a system which aims to bring the whole organism to such perfection as it is capable of, to train the brain-power in accordance with its capacity so as to avoid the straining of any power or faculty. Our trend now is to conduct the whole of our educative processes in such a way as to conduce towards general organic health. The ultimate aim of our educational system is to produce a healthy, moral, intellectual, and strong race. This, of course, is as it should be, but at the same time we should consider it our first duty to set on foot a scientific movement —which in time will become of true social value —to scientifically inquire into the questions of production or reproduction of those blots on public health and well-being —insanity, idiocy, imbecility, feeble-mindedness, &c. —which are now treated by separate Departments, but which are clearly portions of one vast question of national importance. Extension op the Period of Control. The -Education Amendment AcC 1910, which came into operation last year, provides for the compulsory education of afflicted children— i.e., blind, deaf, feeble-minded, and epileptic—between the ages of six and twenty-one years. Prior to the passing of this Act the education of such children was only compulsory up to the age of sixteen years. This of course meant that when a child of feeble mmd reached the age of sixteen years he was free, despite his mental incapacity, to go forth into the world, where his presence would be a standing menace to the community, inasmuch as it would probably mean a perpetuation of the unfit. This extension of the period of legal control in the case of afflicted children up to the age of twenty-one years was clearly a step in the right direction, but had the framers of this Act hesitated at this point the gain to the community would have been but very small. The Act, however, wisely provides that when " a feeble-minded or epileptic child who is or is apparently twenty years and six months of age and is through mental or physical defect or otherwise not (in his own or the public interest) a proper person to be free from guidance and control in a special school," then an application may be made to a Magistrate for an order directing that the said child be kept under guidance and control for a further period. Such period of further detention may not exceed four years. If found to be necessary in the interests of the child and the community, further proceedings may be taken to again extend the period of control, and so on. During the past year it has been found necessary to propose a period of further detention in five oases (four boys and one girl), who are pupils of this school and who have now reached the

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age of twenty-one years. An order for a further period of control for four years was made in each case. Thus a beginning has been made by the Government of this young Dominion of New Zealand towards checking the multiplication of the unfit. In the future all those children who by reason of their mental incapacity are unable to control their own lives, and are also incapable of contributing to future human progress, or are even 'incapable of standing the stress and strain of present-day conditions, will be carefully trained to become useful members of a colony where it is possible to brighten their lives, and render them more or less efficient workers, and so make it possible for them to offer a contribution of service in return for their guardianship and maintenance. The fundamental point in this scheme is prevention. We can feel justly proud in this young country that the Legislature has taken this bold step of ensuring the detention of all those feebleminded children whose liberty would be a menace to the well-being of the race. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Schools, Wellington. Georcse Benstead, Principal.

APPENDIX.

Particulars of Deaths in Foster-Homes during 1911.

Particulars of Deaths in Exempted Institutions during 1911.

Locality. Date. Sex.; Age at Death. Birth. Time in Foster-home. j Foster- Under home. Control. Cause of Death. Remarks. Christohurch 1911. Feb. 2 Mar. 6 A! M Y. M. 0 2i 0 7 Illegitimate Y. M. D. 0 0 13 0 18 y. m. d. 0 0 13 0 6 8 Gastro-enteric toxaemia Broi chitis and heartfa lure Mara-mus .. Br mchitis and pneumonia Z\motic diarrhoea Pneumouia Inquest. * Wellington Curistchurch April 20 21 M F 0 1| 1 5 0 10 0 11 0 0 1 0 0 11 0 No inquest. Auckland Wanganui Onehunga Ctiristohurch Dunedin .. Gisbnrne Christohurch Duaedin .. 28 May 8 June 11 12 26 27 Aug. 5 Oct. 2 M M M M Jl F V M 1 0J 1 H 0 9| 0 2| 0 1J 0 1 0 1J 0 1| 0 11 28 1 3 26 0 6 13 0 1 10 0 14 0 0 21 0 0 22 0 0 23 0 11 28 1 3 26 0 6 13 0 1 10 0 14 0 0 21 0 0 22 0 0 23 Acute bronchitis Natural causes Bronchitis .. General wasting; marasmus Meningitis .. Inquest. No inquest. Inquest. No inquest. Invercargill Dec. 28 F 6 0 5 7 28 5 7 28

Date of I s Death. ! 8<HC ' I Age at Death. I Birth. Time in Institution.! • Cause of Death. Inquest or not. St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu. 1911. Y. M. D. Y. M. D. April 26 .. M. 0 8 16 Illegitimate | 0 2 26 | Gastro-enteritis; collapse .. | No inquest. St. Vincent de Paul's\ Foundling Home, Auckland. Feb 2 .. M. 0 5 0 Illegitimate 0 3 14 Acute enteritis Sept. 20 .. M. 0 5 0 Legitimate 0 0 10 [ Gastro-colitis; broncho-pneumonia .. Oct.' 7 .'. F. 0 3 0: Illegitimate 030 Marasmus: enteritis Oct! 31 .. M. 0 10 0 Legitimate 0 3 0: Pneumonia; heart-failure.. Nov. 20 .. i M. i 0 2 21 Illegitimate 0 2 14 Marasmus .. j No inquest. • • I »i " Door of Hope," Auckland. May 27 F. I 0 0 25 Illegitimate 0 0 25 Premature birth; atelectasis pulmonum June 6 !! M. i 0 3 0 „ 0 3 0 Enlarged thymus gland .. _ .. Oct. 8 .. i P. | 0 7 0 Legitimate 10 0 1. Otitis media; cerebral thrombosis .. No inquest. Inquest. ■ • t »»

8.—4

25

Particulars of Deaths in Exempted Institutions during 1911 — continued.

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Date of Death. Sex. Age at Death. Birth. Time in Institution. Cause of Death. Inquest or not. Home of Compassion, Wellington. 1911. Jan. 3 „ 26 „ 29 „ 31 Feb. 8 » 12 Mar. 5 ,. 17 „ 29 April 24 May 1 1 2 „ 13 „ 15 „ 23 June 18 July 1 3 ., 18 „ 20 Oct. 16 Y. M. D. Y. M. D. .. I M. \ 0 3 0 Legitimate 0 2 0; Gastro-enteritis; exhaustion .. .. No inquest. .. ! M. | 2 0 0 Illegitimate 2 0 0 j General tuberculosis; exhaustion .. .. „ M. ; 0 3 0 Legitimate 0 1 0 ! Chronic gastro-enteritis .. .. .. „ . . M. 2 0 0 Illegitimate 1 0 0 Chronic gastro-enteritis; exhaustion .. M. 0 2 0 „ 0 10 Diarrhoea; wasting .. M. | 0 11 0 „ 020 Premature birth; malnutrition .. .. „ F. ' 0 2 0 „ 0 10 Dermatitis exfoliativa (Rubra); marasmus .. „ M. 0 110 Legitimate 0 0 1 Gastro-interitis .. .. .. .. „ .. F. 0 2 0 Illegitimate 0 1 14 Congenital heart-disease; wasting .. M. 0 114 „ 0 0 14 j Gastro-enteritis; general tuberculosis .. „ F. 2 0 0 Legitimate 1 6 0 j Tubercular meningitis .. .. .. „ . . F. 10 0 Illegitimate 0 2 0 Tubercular meningitis; wasting .. .. „ .. F. 0 9 0 „ 0 2 0 Tuberculosis; tubercuUr meningitis .. ,, M. , 0 2 0 Legitimate 0 0 14 Tuberculosis; tubercular meningitis .. „ F. I 0 5 0 Illegitimate 0 1 14 Congenital heart disease; haematemesis .. „ .. F. ! 0 1 21 „ 0 0 19 Tuberculosis; tubercular meningitis .. „ .. M. i 0 8 0 „ 0 2 0 Phthisis; heart-failure .. ■ M. 0 5 0 „ 0 4 0 Bronchial pneumonia .. .. .. „ .. M. 0 4 0 Legitimate 0 2 0 Measles .. F. 0 6 0 „ 0 3 0 Measles; congenital idiocy .. .. ,, .. M. 0 3 0 Illegitimate 0 2 14 j Marasmus .. .. .. .. „ . . F. ' 0 0 8 „ 0 0 6 J Mar. 22 July 24 „ 29 Aug. 4 St. Mary's Orphanage, Nelson. .. i M. 0 1 25 Legitimate 0 0 11 Marasmus; exhaustion .. .. ..No inquest. .. M. 4 10 „ 2 7 9 Bronchitis; syncope .. .. .. „ .. M. 1 3 0 13 „ 0 6 12 Broncho-pneumonia; syncope .. .. „ .. I M. 0 10 14 j Illegitimate 0 9 6 Convulsions; coma .. .. .. ; „ Nazareth House, Christchurch. Feb. 16 F. 3 1 0 Legitimate ! 0 10 0 I Tubercular meningitis; coma .. .. ! No inquest. Salvation Army Maternity Home, Dunedin. Oct. 2 3 .. | M. 0 1 12 Illegitimate 0 1 12 Marasmus .. .. .. .. | No inquest. .. ' P. ! 0 0 12 „ 0 0 12 Prematurity, asthenia .. .. .. I Karitane Home, Dunedin. Feb. 2 28 Mar. 12 May 6 ,i 17 Nov. 13 M. 0 0 29 Legitimate 0 0 4; Gastro-stenosis; starvation .. .. ; No inquest. .. M. 0 1 12 Illegitimate 0 1 0 i Prematurity; malnutrition .. .. „ M. 0 0 .18 Legitimate 0 0 18 I Acute summer diarrhoea; vomiting,. .. ,, . . M. 0 10 Illegitimate 0 0 17 Prematurity; malnutrition .. .. „ F. 0 5 0 Legitimate 0 5 0! Meningitis .. .. .. .. „ .. M. 0 15 „ 0 0 3| Congenital heart-disease; collapse „ Feb. 20 April 15 iStf. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage, South Dunedin. .. | P. ] 2 6 0 1 Illegitimate 1 9 0 I Tubercular meningitis .. .. .. j No inquest. .. i P. I 0 2 6 | „ I 0 1 5 | Gastro-enteritis; exhaustion .. .. | „ Victoria Memorial Home, Invercargill. Nov. 12 .. I M. 0 4 7i Illegitimate | 0 4 0 j Congenital cardiac disease.. .. .. | No inquest.