E,—3a

Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND

EDUCATION: THE COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTION. ("THE COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTION ACT, 1885.") [In continuation of E-.3a, 1905.]

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

THE COSTLEY TBAINING INSTITUTION, AUCKLAND. The following is the report of the Trustees for the year ending the 31st December, 1905:— Numbbbs. —On the 31st December there were thirty boys in residence at Eichmond Eoad. Of this number fifteen were engaged in various trades in the city, and fifteen were attending Eichmond Eoad Public School. There are also twenty-one boys under the charge of the Trustees not resident at the Institution. Of these eleven are working at trades in Auckland, and by the permission of the Trustees receive their own wages, and pay their own expenses. The other ten are at situations in the country. Details as to the various trades at which the boys are working are given in the schedule appended to this report. There are two girls under the Trustees' charge, who are provided for outside the Institution. Girls cannot be lodged at the Institution, and for this and other reasons the Trustees do not desire, for the present at any rate, to have any other girls committed to them. Master and Matron.—The Trustees have to announce that in July last, owing to the continued ill health of the Matron, Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons found it necessary to relinquish their positions, after having held the same for six months. The vacancy was filled by the appointment of Mr. and Mrs. H. Arnold. Mr. Arnold came to the Institution with an excellent record of seventeen years' service in the army, included in which was the late war in South Africa, from which Mr. Arnold returned with the medal and five clasps and two distinguished service medals. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have entered upon their work with zeal and discretion, and the condition of the Institution is improving under their management. Health. —The report of the Hon. Medical Officer shows the health of the boys to have been good. The best thanks of the Trustees are due to Dr. Knight for his valuable services, and to Messrs. Carter and Foster, dentists, of Karangahape Eoad, for their kind and gratuitous services to the boys. The boys have again, through the kindness of Mr. A. J. Farmer, been able to enjoy a very beneficial stay at Kawau during the Christmas holidays. Eeligious Instruction. —All the boys regularly attend church according to the religious body to which they belong. Entertainments. —There have been three entertainments during the year; these were much appreciated by the boys, and the Trustees desire to thank those concerned for their kindly interest in the boys. . Finance. —The balance-sheet again shows a deficiency on the year, the amount being £23 16s. 6d. During the year, however, repairs and renovations have been effected at a cost of £94 3a. sd. Much still remains to be done. New sanitary arrangements are now under consideration, and will be undertaken during the next year. It is therefore practically impossible for the Trustees to accumulate any surplus, and they desire to strongly commend the Institution to those who in making their wills desire to benefit their fellows. The Institution was inspected four times during the year by Inspectors under the Industrial Schools Act. The Trustees have been furnished with copies of their reports, which indicate that improvements in several matters more connected with the buildings are desirable. The Trustees are in full agreement with the suggestions made, and only a lack of funds has hitherto prevented their carrying the same out. They hope, however, during the ensuing year to be able to make substantial improvements in the direction indicated.