E—4.

Wellington Receiving Home. Sir,— Wellington, 17th May, 1909. I have the honour to report that during the past year I have visited [and inspected the Wellington Receiving Home at regular intervals, and attended the children there as well as those at the foster-homes in the, district. Since my last report there have been two deaths in the Home. One was a case of marasmus, the child being in extremis when admitted to the Home ; the other was a case of tubercular meningitis. The condition of the. Home from a medical point of view is quite satisfactory. I have. &c, Donald McOavtn. M.D. Lond., F.R.C.S./Eng., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson : Boys' Branch, Stoke. Sir,— Nelson, 14th July, 1909. During the year ended 31st March, 1909, there has been very little illness among the boys at the Stoke Orphanage. On the occasions of my visits the condition of the dormitories and lavatories has been satisfactory. None of the boys punished suffered in health therefrom. The management of the whole institution appears, satisfactory. I have, &c, P. A. Bett, M.8.. M.R.C.S., The. Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. Te Oranga Home. Chbistohubgh. Sir.— Christchurch, 11th .May. 1909. I have the honour to present my report on Te Oranga Home. Since my appointment on the 15th February of this year I have paid five visits on various dates. and have always found good order and cleanliness conspicuous then-. The sanitary arrangements work well. I have inspected the new building, and consider that its use will afford valuable help in forwarding the objects of the institution. There have been no cases of illness during the three months. Two fresh committals have been examined, and directions given calculated to bring their health up to standard. The atmosphere of the institution is cheerful, and energy and self-control are cultivated amongst the inmates. I have, &c, Jessie C. Maddison, M.8., L.R.C.P.1., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. Christchurch Receiving Home. Sir,— Christchurch, 21st May, 1909. I beg to submit my report on the Christchurch Receiving Home. My first inspection of this Home was made on the 16th February, when I found the drainage and all other arrangements in good orde. The drainage has always been efficient, except on the 31st March, when a heavy deluge of rain flooded the low-lying parts of Christchurch, and the Drainage Board were unable to cope with the water. Consequently, on this occasion there was backflow through the sumps at the Receiving Home, and the footpaths round the houses were sprinkled with sewage. Prompt disinfection prevented any unfavourable consequences, but it is very desirable that the Home should be situated in a higher and drier part of the town. Several children have been committed to the Home during the three months, most of them deficient in physique in one direction or another. Two adenoid operations and a few circumcisions were necessary. The only case of serious illness was one of scarlet fever in a girl who had been working in Akaroa, and had come to the Home for a few days. She was at once handed over to the Hospital authorities, and is still in their hands. Amongst the boarded-out children only minor ailments have occurred. I notice a striking difference between the cheerful and healthy aspect of children who have been for a considerable time in the charge of their foster-parents, and the miserable development of those newly committed to the Home. I propose to incorporate in my next report some data on this subject. I have, &c, Jessie C. Maddison, M.8., Ch.B., L.R.C.P.1., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. Caversham Industrial School. Sir,— Dunedin, sth May, 1909. In presenting the annual report of the above school I have pleasure in stating that the general health of the inmates has been excellent. At the time that measles was prevalent throughout Dunedin last spring, four cases occurred in the school. Owing to the fact that there was unavoidable delay in getting the first patient isolated, her attendant and two others took the disease, but after immediate isolation of these no further cases developed.

Te Okanca llomk. Chbistohubgh. Sir.— Christchurch, 14th May, 1909. I have the honour t<> preseni my report on Te Orauga Home. Since my appointment on the 15th February of this year I have paid five visits on various dates, and have always found good order and cleanliness conspicuous there. The sanitary arrangements work well. I have inspected the new building, and consider that its use will afford valuable help in forwarding the objects of the institution. There have been no cases of illness during the three months. Two fresh committals have been examined, and directions given calculated to bring their health up to standard. The atmosphere of the institution is cheerful, and energy and self-control are cultivated amongst the inmates. I have, &c, Jessie C. Maddison, M.8., L.R.C.P.1., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

Christchurch Receiving Home. Sir,— Christohurch, 21st May, 1909. I beg to submit my report on the Christchurch Receiving Home. My first inspection of this Home was made on the 16th February, when I found the drainage and all other arrangements in good orde. The drainage has always been efficient, except on the 31st March, when a heavy deluge of rain flooded the low-lying parts of Christchurch, and the Drainage Board were unable to cope with the water. Consequently, on this occasion there was backflow through the sumps at the Receiving Home, and the footpaths round the houses were sprinkled with sewage. Prompt disinfection prevented any unfavourable consequences, but it is very desirable that the Home should be situated in a higher and drier part of the town. Several children have been committed to the Home during the three months, most of them deficient in physique in one direction or another. Two adenoid operations and a few circumcisions were necessary. The only case of serious illness was one of scarlet fever in a girl who had been working in Akaroa, and had come to the Home for a few days. She was at once handed over to the Hospital authorities, and is still in their hands. Amongst the boarded-out children only minor ailments have occurred. I notice a striking difference between the cheerful and healthy aspect of children who have been for a considerable time in the charge of their foster-parents, and the miserable development of those newly committed to the Home. I propose to incorporate in my next report some data on this subject. T have, &c, Jessie C. Maddison, M.8., Ch.B., L.R.C.P.1., The, Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

Caversham Industrial School. Sir,— Dunedin, sth May, 1909. In presenting the annual report of the above school I have pleasure in stating that the general health of the inmates has been excellent. At the time that measles was prevalent throughout Du>iedin last spring, four cases occurred in the school. Owing to the fact that there was unavoidable delay in getting the first patient isolated, her attendant and two others took the disease, but after immediate isolation of these no further cases developed.

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