E.-i.

an r ordinary school, seems very large ; but it must be remembered that it is only by the'elosest individual attention that deaf pupils can receive efficient tuition— in fact, there should, if possible, be not more than six or eight pupils allotted to each teacher. The school work of the latter part of the year was interfered with by a widespread epidemic of measles, and in two cases pneumonia supervened, one of these terminating in the death of a boy. The other death was that of a little Maori girl from the far North, who was not in good health when admitted, and who died very soon after from a tumour on the brain. The school course has followed on the lines of previous years, the articulation method being used solely. Besides the strictly scholastic work, the boys have had regular training in elementary woodwork and gardening ; and the older boys have learned to milk. The girls who were old enough received regular practical domestic training, including cooking, laundry-work, dressmaking, and sewing. For the younger children kindergarten methods are employed. The Department cordially acknowledges the enthusiasm of the Director and his staff, professional and domestic, in their exacting task of training and caring for the children ; their success is apparent when it is known that the number of former pupils who are not occupying honourable and useful positions in the community is very small. Had such an education not been given them nearly all these former pupils who are now useful members of society would have been dependent either upon their friends or upon charitable funds for their subsistence. Undoubtedly the expense incurred by the country in the education of the deaf results in a material gain. In connection with the subject of providing suitable occupations for the deaf, the following extract from the report of the Inspector-General of Schools upon his investigation of schemes of education in Europe and America is valuable : — " In Ontario, Canada, through the sympathetic co-operation of the PostmasterGeneral, a new sphere of employment has been found for the deaf. A certain number of deaf persons, trained in oral speech, have been during the last two or three years engaged as sorters or otherwise in the General Post Office, and they have given such satisfaction to the authorities that the latter have asked for more persons so trained. Perhaps something might be done in this way in New Zealand, especially for deaf persons not suited for farm life." The gross cost of the school for the year was £4,908 Bs. 3d., made up as follows :— £ s. d. Salaries of Director and teachers .. .. .. ■ • 1,858 8 8 ~ Matron and servants . . ... .. .- •• 953 14 0 Housekeeping .. .. • .. •• •• •• •• 1,101 19 1 Travelling-expenses (including transit of pupils) .. .. .. 190 9 0 School material .. .. . • • • • • • • 4 118 Clothing .. • • • • • • • • • • .. 40 11 1 Medical attendance and medicines .. .. .. • ■ 100 12 9 _ Water-supply .. • • , • ■ • • • • • • • • 63 , 5 0 Boarding-out of pupils .. .. .. .. • • • • 23 0 0 General maintenance of buildings and furniture .. .. .. 291 11 10 Laying-out of grounds . . .. . . • ■ • • • • 158 16 2 Sundries .. ■ ■ • ■ - - • • ''.."' Amount collected from parents by way of maintenance contributions 694 9 8 Sundry other recoveries .. .. • • • • • ■ 24 810 Net expenditure on the institution .. .. ■ • • • 4,189 9 9 During the year a careful review was made of these parental contributions, and the result was an increase of 30 per cent, in the rates of payment, as against an increase of 13 per cent, in the number of pupils. The Department availed itself of the assistance of several Stipendiary Magistrates in determining what rates should be fixed, and it is felt that, while the cost of the institution is thus reduced, no undue hardship has been laid upon the children's relatives. The Department acknowledges its obligation to the Magistrates for the trouble taken by them in this respect. The annual report of the Director of the school appears in the paper on Special Schools, E.-4. Jubilee Institute for the Blind. Although this is not a Government institution, it yet forms an integral section of the educational system of New Zealand, and it is therefore fitting that some

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