25

E.—4

in this class of children, the results of the last year may be considered eminently creditable to the District Agents, their assistants, and the foster-parents. Particulars of the 25 deaths are given in detail in the following table. It will be observed that many of these children were for only a very short time in the foster-homes, the average stay being in fact not more than sixteen days.

Deaths during 1909.

Deaths in exempted Institutions. These, with other particulars, are shown in the foregoing table relating to exempted institutions. The number of deaths—G6 out of 445 infants dealt with—is a much larger proportion than is exhibited in the foregoing statement of the deaths in foster-homes, but the circumstances are not favourable to comparison, and all that can fairly be said is that it is the experience of the world that the death-rate of children under a well-organized system of boarding-out with foster-parents is much lower than that of children maintained in institutions. Adoptions. During the year, 215 orders of adoption (one in favour of two children) were made, and two> orders cancelling adoption orders. Forty-one of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and ]74 were without monetary consideration. The following shows the ages of the adopted children : — With Without Premium. Premium. Under 6 months ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 39 Between 6 and 12 months ... ... ... ... ... 7 18 1 ~ 2years ... ... ... ... ... 6 21 „ 2 „ 3 „ 3 17 „ 3 „ 4 „ 1 14 „4„ 5 „ 8 „ 5 „ 6 „ 8 ;; c „ 7 ;; 12 „ 7 „ 8 „ 1 10 ~ 8 „ 9 „ 5 „ 9 „ 10 „ 3 „ 10 „ 11 , 2 „ 11 „ 12 „ 6 „ 12 „ 13 , - r > „ 13 ~ 14 ~ ... ... i „ 14 „ 15 „ _1 _3 41 175

4—E. 4.

Locality. Date. Sex Time in Foster- . f ; home. iwh ' Le g al Status. Death. ! Foster- Under home. Control. Cause of Death. Remarks. 1909. Jan. 7 1 I y. m. g § 2 0 : Illegitimate 1 0 VI 0 Auckland F Meningitis and convul- No inquest. aions Diarrhoea and enteriiis „ Hydrocephalus .. „ Immaturity .. .. „ Natural causes (heart disease) Infantile diarrhoea,, marasmus Ash burton Onehunga Auckland 20 22 Ftb. 3 M M P 0 11 „ 9 0 0 4 . 3 12 0 2 „ 2 0 0 2* ' ° U 0 2 * " i 1 14* 0 3J , 3 0 9 0 3 12 2 0 Hospital 6 M [■ 2 0 March 2 M 3 0 Christchurch H'spt'l 3 F ! 2 (06 " I 0 2* 1 1 Legitimate 10 0 I 11 0 1 Meningitis Onehunga „ 22 P 10 0 Tubercular meningitis syncope Malnutrition .. Inquest. Cerebral affection .. „ Convulsions .. .. No inquest. Gastro-enteritis Spinal caries and bron- „ chitis Colitis (diarrhoea) Marasmus and gastritis Marasmus Marasmus from natural causes Bronchial pneumonia and exhaustion Marasmus .. Gastritis and heart failure Acute bronchial pneu- „ mouia Wanganui Auckland April 7 20 25 „ 30 M M m F 0 8 J Illegitimate 7 0 0 4J . 4 0 0 74 Legitimate 0 12 0 2J „ 10 1 0 Illegitimate | q g+ 0 llf „ 11 0 0 7f Legitimato 2 0 0 5! „ If 0 0 6| 1 Illegitimate 5 0 7 0 4 0 0 12 1 0 New Plymouth Wellington May 15 M I 0 23 Onehuuga Timaru .. Dunedin Auckland 16 June 6 „ 17 July 19 P M M F 11 0 2 0 3 0 5 0 Wellington Aug. 25 P 10, . 11 0 11 0 Christchurch Auokland Sept. 5 6 P F 0 1 . 0 28 . 0 10 . 7 0 0 llf . 4 13 0 28 10 0 Wellington 14 P 7 7 Auckland Hospital Oct. 12 Nov. 26 M F 0 If Legitimate | ° 2^, 10 J 0 19 1 - " J 3 0* I 0 25 ]- 3 19 Marasmus Natural causes—infla- Inquest, mation of large intestine Dysentry .. .. No inquest. Prematurity and as- „ thenia Gisborne Timaru .. Deo. 21 25 M P 0 5 , Illegitimate 2 0 8 days. „ 0 5 4 0 0 5 * Hos! iltal. t NursiDi ;-home