E.—3b

1900, NEW ZEALAND.

STOKE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, NELSON (REPORT OF ROYAL COMMISSION ON, TOGETHER WITH CORRESPONDENCE, EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX).

Laid upon the Table by Command of His Excellency.

Sir, — Wellington. 28th August, 1900. We have the honour to hand you herewith, for presentation to His Excellency the Governor, our report on St. Mary's Industrial School at Stoke, together with the evidence and an appendix. We have pleasure in expressing our satisfaction with the manner in which Mr. Pope, of the Education Department (who acted as our secretary), performed his duties. The commissions (20th July and 6th August) with which we were honoured are returned herewith. We have, &c, R. Bush, H. S. Wardell, The Right Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Commissioners.

EEPOET. To His Excellency the Right Honourable Uchter John Mark, Earl of Ranfm-ly, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. May it please your Excellency, — We, the Commissioners appointed by your Excellency's commissions of the 20th day of July and the 6th day of August, 1900, to inquire into and report on the management of the Industrial School for Boys at Stoke, and the treatment of the inmates therein within the last five years, and into any matter or thing which might be preferred in writing or otherwise brought before us in any way relating to or arising out of the premisses, have now the honour to submit to your Excellency this our report. In pursuance of the objects of our commission we proceeded to Nelson, visited the school at Stoke, and, after due notification to all persons concerned, and publication of your Excellency's commission of the 20th July, sat at the Supreme Court Building at Nelson on the 25th day of that month, to receive any complaints that might be preferred against the management of the school, and hear any evidence produced in respect of them. The supplementary commission was published on the 10th of August, after previous notification, and further evidence taken subsequently. The school at Stoke, known locally as " The Orphanage," is a branch of the Roman Catholic institution established in Nelson by the Rev. Father Garin in 1874, and which was subsequently recognised by " The Industrial Schools Act, 1882," as a private school under that Act, by the name of " St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson." The approval of the Rev. W. J. Mahoney, as Manager, was gazetted in 1884, and he continues to hold that position. I—E. 3b.