E.-30,

1900. NEW ZEALAND.

STOKE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, NELSON. MEMORANDUM FROM THE SECRETARY, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, TO THE RIGHT HON. THE PREMIER AND THE HON. MR. W. C. WALKER, MINISTER OF EDUCATION, ON THE SUBJECT OF ST. MARY'S INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS, STOKE, NELSON.

Laid O7i the Table of both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

Wellington, 31st August, 1900. Stoke Industrial School. No written statements, signed, sworn, or otherwise, by inmates or ex-inmates of the Stoke Industrial School were handed to me or shown to me by the Chairman of the Nelson Charitable Aid Board, or by any other person, at any time. I had an interview with Mr. Eout, the Chairman of the Charitable Aid Board, at his house on the evening of the 26th June. He had in his hands certain papers, out of which he read extracts. I saw nothing but the back of those papers. The matter read to me was similar to that obtained by me on the following evening from five inmates whom I saw at Mr. Bout's office—-i.e., on the 27th June. The inmates did not even then state anything more than is referred to in my report of the 2nd July, attached; they were not sworn, nor were there any statements written out or signed. My report gives, I consider, a fair summary of what was elicited from them. No notes were taken on that occasion by Mr. Eout, the only other person present. I took rough notes to guide me in framing my report. The only questions excluded by the five-years limit were the two serious ones of the use of chains and of a criminal offence. In regard to these, when the question of extension from two years to five years was under consideration I asked Mr. Eout whether five years would bring in what he considered material evidence. He said it would. Thereupon I telegraphed the Minister ' of Education advising extension to five years. The use of chains, although outside the five-years limit, was admitted. No evidence, except hearsay evidence, which could make even a primd facie case was brought under my notice in regard to the criminal charge. If it had been, I should at once have brought it under the notice of the Commissioner of Police. Bight Hon. the Premier. Geobge Hogben.

(Memorandum.) . Education Department, Wellington, 2nd July, 1900. St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, Stoke, Nelson. On Monday, 25th June, I made a surprise visit to the school, arriving there about 9.30, and spent three hours and a half in the institution. I may say that I found everything in order, but the standard of life as to cleanliness and comfort not high. Many of the arrangements are very primitive. The rooms downstairs were rather dusty; the dormitories were clean. Counterpanes, blankets, and bedding were fairly clean; sheets had evidently not been changed for more than a week. They did not seem in worse condition than one would expect under such circumstances. Being only rough-dried, they would never look neat, but they should be changed every week. Most, but not all, of the pillows had slips on them, and they were in the same condition generally as the sheets. There is not sufficient means of ventilation in the dormitories ; not enough baths for the number of boys in the institution. There should especially be better provision for hot baths. The only means of getting hot baths is by employing the washtubs in an open shed used as a laundry. This provision is very rough and insufficient. Out-buildings are rough. Closets and urinals are difficult to keep clean. Their condition under the circumstances (it was thawing when I arrived) was passable, but they should be floored with asphalt or concrete. Most of the class-rooms had not been used since the previous Friday, and were rather dusty. At the time of my visit they had not yet been prepared for school, which I—E. 3c.