E.—3

2

The number of inmates who during 1905 ceased to be under the control of industrial schools was 244. Of these 174 were discharged by warrant, 58 reached twenty-one years of age, 2 were married, and 10 died. Of this total 173 were of good character, 11 fair, and 7 bad ; 5 were weak-minded, 20 were missing, 18 were discharged under fifteen years of age (4 of whom were adopted), and 9 under and 1 over that age died. The number of deaths (10) shows an increase of 2 on the number for the previous year. The medical certificates show that of the six inmates who were boarded out at the time of death, 1 died of syphilis, 1 of bronchitis, 1 of congenital debility, 1 of hereditary syphilis, 1 of stomatitis and enteritis, and 1 of convulsions. One resident inmate died, the cause of death being marasmus. Two inmates died in the hospital, one of pneumonia and the other of asthenia pneumonia and intestinal influenza. One young man who was absent without leave was accidentally killed. The number of admissions during the year (279) shows an increase of 88 on the number for 1904. Of these 41 were sent from Auckland, 58 from Wellington, 54 from Christchurch, and 42 from Dunedin. Of the remaining 84 children, no one town sent more than 7to the schools. Of the children admitted (279) 30-12 per cent, were illegitimate. From information taken from the Magistrates' orders it is found that the religious denominations in which the children who were admitted are to be brought up are : Church of England, 129 ; Roman Catholic, 86 ; Presbyterian, 28 ; Methodist, 26 ; Church of Christ, 4 ; Baptist, 3 ; Congregational, 1 ; Jewish, 1 ; and 1 to be brought up as a Protestant.

TABLE J2.—Admissions, classified according to Parents' Circumstances and Character, 1905.

During the year the urgent need for removing the resident boys of the Caversham Industrial School from the very old and even insanitary buildings that they were occupying near Dunedin caused the Government to decide to enter into occupation of the Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa, in the Wellington District, although it was recognised that for a time the accommodation would be very limited. The boys arrived from Caversham at their new home on the 2nd November, and already there is evidence that they will quickly settle down to the new conditions, which undoubtedly will be in almost every way a distinct advance upon those prevailing at Caversham. The scheme for the buildings provides for a large central administrative block, with dormitories for about sixty boys attached, four or five "cottages. each capable of accommodating twelve or fourteen boys, the manager's residence, office, laundry, workshops, engine-house, dairy, stables, and other farm buildings. In planning the buildings and works the predominant idea has been that the principal functions of such an industrial school are to give the boys a good moral training, together with a sound public-school education ; to teach various branches of farm-work and agriculture, dairying, fruit-growing, and gardening; to give them a good general knowledge of such trades as carpentry and blacksmithing ; and to provide other suitable occupations

•receden Condition of Childrei admit >ed in 191 )5. CD *t — coos 4ss- O0 can CD CD - a,a a •go o a» s P' I id i.. ; «g ! pi GO Is ! «> M<D * .S3 ' o I If 1 O © £§■ CO---O 3 <3^ | Fathers, described as Mothers, described as a CD a a wi a a3 H < Total. o OS CD a Dead Dead Good Questionable Bad Deserter .. Dead Bad Dead Physically unfit Mentally unfit Good Questionable Bad Deserter .. Dead Mentally unfit Good Questionable Bad Unknown Dead Good Questionable Bad Good Questionable Deserter Dead Mentally unfit Good Questionable Bad Unknown 2 7 l 3 1 9 4 22 1 9 1 2 1 13 1 13 58 14 15 2 9 1 17 11 8 1 1 6 9 2 4 5 3 3 2 19 10 6 6 i 6 3 i i 2 1 1 Physically unfit l Good 7 1 7 13 5 4 2 4 4 7 3 3 6 7 1 7 8 2 27 3 i 1 1 1 Questionable i 10 8 i 2 7 6 1 l Bad" 4 i 4 1 3 4 3 3 2 15 9 3 5 5 1 2 Deserter i i Unknown i l 2 1 3 i Totals 119 1 32 49 13 02 279