9

E.—3

mined by previous neglect and unsuitable feeding, died. One child died of meningitis, and another died in the hospital also from meningitis. The Home has been kept beautifully clean and neat in spite of the limited accommodation of the temporary Home and the unavoidable overcrowding at times. I have, &c, A. Moorhouse, M.8., Ch.B., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

Burnham Industrial School. Sib,— Christchurch, 20th May, 1907. I have the honour to submit the following report on the Burnham Reformatory for the year 1906: — During the latter part of the year an epidemic of influenza prevailed in Canterbury, and affected a large number of the inmates of the school. One Boy, E. L., had a severe attack of rheumatic fever, and G. W. had appendicitis, requiring operation. Both recovered, but C. M., with heart-disease, was sent home to his mother, and died. There have been occasional outbreaks of ulcerated throat, which I attribute to the effluvium from the septic tank. I consider that the latter should be provided with a coke filter. The Royal Commission appointed last year to inquire into the management of the Burnham School was the most important event in the history of the school. One of its recommendations, to which I wish to call attention, was the necessity of appointing a fully trained nurse to be responsible for the care of the sick, under the direction of the Medical Officer, and entirely under the control of the Matron. The Royal Commission also showed the urgent need of reconstruction and additions to the buildings. The dormitories are overcrowded in a very unwholesome manner. There is no hospital or sick-ward, or other means of isolating sickness ; also no surgery or dispensary. The kitchen and offices are small and dark; there is not sufficient accommodation for the staff; and the whole arrangements, which were made more than thirty years ago for about fifty young children, are utterly inadequate for the hundred or more boys and young men who are now crowded into the same building. The technical instruction of the boys has made great progress under the able direction of Major Sandford, whose removal to Taranaki is a very serious loss to Burnham. The milk-supply has improved, and nine cows are now milked, but I notice that no provision is made for cooling the milk. The new filter for the water-race has worked admirably without intermission ; the water has been tested bacteriologically by the Health Department, and found perfectly pure. This has been a factor of great importance in the health of the school, in contrast with previous years. In conclusion, I beg to repeat the recommendation I have made on several previous occasions —that inmates of an incorrigible type should not be released from control or supervision at the age of twenty-one. I have, &c, W. H. Symes, M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

St. Vincent de Paul's Girls' School, Dunedin. Sir,— Dunedin, 14th May, 1907. I beg to submit my annual report on the St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage, South Dunedin. The children continue to receive the most careful attention from the Sisters. The food and clothing of the inmates and the sanitary arrangements of the institution are all that could be desired. With the exception of an outbreak of measles, coincident with a widespread epidemic in the town, no cases of serious illness occurred during the year. No deaths took place, and, thanks to the skilled nursing of the nuns, the little patients all made good recoveries. I have, &c, Eugene J. O'Neill, M.8., F.R.C.S. (Eng.), The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

A pproximate Gout of Pavtn: Preparation, not given ; printing (2,000 copies), £8 lis. 6d.

Authority : John Mackat, Government Printer, Wellington. -1907.

Price 6d.]

2—B. 3.