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the position would be very awkward, and the only remedy the erection of large hospital tents. I would therefore urge the early consideration of a scheme for building a small hospital, to hold six to ten beds. This could be used for other purposes when not required for sickness, and might easily be the means of saving considerable expense and even loss of life. To sum up, I would urge^ —(1) The erection of a new dairy ; (2) the erection of three or four new latrines ; (3) the erection of a small hospital-room ; (4) increased bed room in the dormitories. I have, &c, Phil. Andrew, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer. St. Mary's Industrial School (Girls'), Nelson. Sir,— Nelson, 31st March, 1911. I beg to hand you herewith the report on the St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson. During the year ending 31st March, 1912, the health of the children at the Convent, Nelson, has been on the whole very good. In June measles appeared and rapidly spread through the institution. The type was on the whole mild, but two young children died, both of complicating broncho-pneumonia. These were C S , aged four, and J H—■ —, aged three. N D , aged ten months, died in convulsions in August, 1911. The management of the Convent and the care bestowed on the children are together admirable, and the whole of the arrangements of the institution are in a satisfactory condition. I have, &c, P. G. Bett, M.8., M.R.C.S. Te Oranga Home (Girls' Reformatory). Sir, — Christchurch, 21st February, 1912. I beg to submit my report on the Te Oranga Home. The health of the inmates generally has been particularly good during the year. A sporadic case of mild typhoid occurred, and another inmate had to be sent to the Mental Hospital. She has now recovered and returned. The recent changes in the staff have caused no interruption in the efficient working of the institution. I am, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Jessie C. Maddison, Medical Officer. Christchurch Receiving Home. Sir,— Christchurch, 26th February, 1912. I beg to submit my report on the Christchurch Receiving Home. The health and condition of the children have been satisfactory. Occasional overcrowding of the Home caused difficulties last year, and, as usual, the health of the staff suffered somewhat during the winter months." I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. J. C. Maddison, Medical Officer. Burnham Boys' Reformatory. Sir,— Christchurch, 27th May, 1912. I have the honour to report that the health of the boys and staff at Burnham Industrial School has been fairly good during the year 1911, and there has been less sore throat than formerly, in consequence of some improvement to the drainage, which, however, is still imperfect. The principal trouble with the boys has been with those of a tubercular constitution, causing multiple ulcers of an intractable nature. The only satisfactory treatment for such cases is for them to sleep in tents, which are infinitely better for them than the dormitories, besides preventing the infection from spreading. These cases have seldom done well when sent to hospital; besides which the Hospital has not room for such chronic cases. But they require the care of a trained nurse ; and it is very necessary that a trained nurse should be added to the regular staff. Also the present large number of boys at Burnham, about 150, and the distance from town, about twenty miles, seriously calls for such an arrangement. The number of boys on the sick-list varies from fifteen to thirty or forty, and slight accidents are of almost daily occurrence. One bad accident occurred to G-. P— —, while working the fire-engine, when the stables were burned down : his hand was badly crushed in the engine, and his recovery took four months. There were two severe cases of goitre and epilepsy. The percentage of boys discharged who have behaved well, as far as we know, is 84 per cent.; but some of those discharged at twenty-one are likely to transmit serious hereditary defects, and it may be worth considering whether means should be adopted, such as X-ray treatment, to prevent the transmission and multiplication of such evils. I am frequently asked by country people to get a Burnham boy licensed to them, on the ground that those boys are so much better behaved and trained than any others available in the country. This is, I think, good evidence that the cost of Burnham is remunerative, and that the stafi there is efficient and successful. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. W. H. Symes, M.D., Medical Officer. Caversham Industrial School. Sir,— Dunedin, 24th February, 1912. In presenting the annual report of the above school I have pleasure in stating that, on the whole, the general health of the inmates has been good. Functional nervous diseases have been rather

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