13

E.—4

Illegitimacy. For its obvious relation to the intentions of the Infants Act the following table is given:—

E, O. GlBBES, Secretary for Education.

No. S.—SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, SUMNER. EXTBACT FROM REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. '* Sumner, 15th April, 1915. I have the honour to lay before you my report for the year 1914. The number of pupils under instruction during the year is shown in the following tabulated statement : Boys. Girls. Total. Pupils of 1913 who returned to school .. . . .. 57 45 102 Admitted at or near the beginning of the year .. .. 3 6 9 Admitted later .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 1 3 Total number at the school .. .. .. ■ .. 62 52 114 Removed in February for medical treatment .. .. 1 0 1 Left at the end of the year .. .. .. .. 7 5 12 Pupils expected to return to Sumner in 1915 .. .. 54 47 101 Pupil being trained at Ruakura Experimental Farm (completed course of training in December) . . .. .. 1 0 1 Inclusive of the lad at Ruakura the pupils on the roll numbered 115. Of these 35 came from the. Auckland District, 4 from. Taranaki, 9 from Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, 23 from Wellington, 2 from Nelson, 1 from Marlborough, 2 from Westland, 23 from Canterbury, and 16 from Otago. Seven boys and four girls attended as day pupils, and one boy was boarded out. There were in residence at the school fifty-three boys and forty-eight girls. The ages of the twelve new pupils at the time of their admission were respectively 5 years 1 month, 5 years 11 months, 6 years 2 months, 7 years 3 months, 7 years 9 months, 8 years 2 months, 10 years 3 months, 11 years 3 months, 11 years 5 months, 12 years 2 months, 12 years 8 months, 13 years I month. In two only of the cases of advanced age was there any justification for the delay in their admission. It is a matter for great regret that the admission of the three cases, aged respectively II years 3 months, 12 years 2 months, and 13 years 1 month, was so long delayed, as it is obvious that

Provincial Distriots. Illegitimate Birth 1 registered during 1914. Number of Illegitimate Children nged Twelve Month-i or less brought under the Aot during 1914. Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington Marlborough .. Nelson .. .. .. Westland Canterbury ... Otago 443 41 54 323 9 41 10 201 180 55 7 6 72 4 2 66 64 Totals for 1914 1,302 276 Totals for 1913 1,180 194