X—4

22

Deaths in Foster-homes. Of the 1,341 infants that were at one time or another on the books as being in foster-homes during 1918, six died ; of these, three died in tho foster-homes and three in hospitals to which they had been removed for treatment, so that the deaths in foster-homos represented 0-22 per cent, of the total number dealt with. Four of the six were under the age of twelve months, and three were of illegitimate birth. The following is a statement of the number of deaths during the time that the infant-life-protection system has been in the Department's charge : — 1908 .. .. .. .. 26 deaths out of 1,017 infants = 2-56 per cent. 1909 .. .. .. ..25 „ 1,181 „ =211 1910 .. .. .. ..26 „ 1,183 „ =2-19 1911 .. .. .. ..13 „ 1,183 „ =1-09 1912 12 „ 1,228 „ =0-98 1913 .. .. .. ..13 „ 1,330 „ =098 1914 .. .. .. ..20 „ 1,423 „ =140 1915 .. .. .. ..14 „ 1,440 „ =0-98 1916 .. .. t. ..17 „ 1,250 „ = 1-36 1917 .. .. .. ..12 „ 1,361 „ =0-88 1918 .. .. .. ..6 „ 1,349 „ =0-44 Deaths in Exempted Institutions. These, with othor particulars, are shown in the foregoing table relating to exempted institutions. The following is a statement of the deaths during the eight years in which a record of the deaths has been kept: — 1911 .. .. 47 deaths out of 899 infants dealt with = 5-23 per cent. 1912 .. ..36 „ 911 „ =3-95 1913 .. .. 18 „ 984 „ = 1-82 1914 .. .. 37 „ 944 „ =3-91 1915 .. ..11 „ 1,026 „ =1-08 1916 .. ..9 „ 939 „ =0-96 1917 .. ..15 „ 1,136 „ =1-32 1918 .. ..15 „ 955 „ =1-57 Adoptions during the Year 1918. During 1918 one order was made cancelling a previous order of adoption. During the year 280 orders of adoption were made; 22 of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 258 were without monetary consideration. The following shows the ages of the adopted children : —

The amount of the premiums ranged from £10 to £100.

Age. With Pi With Premium. , Without Premium.' I Tomium a. h , Without Pr remiun Total. fader 6 months letween 6 months and 12 months ,, 1 and 2 years 2 „ 3 „ .. 3 „ 4 „ .. 4 „ 5 „ . .. 5 „ 6 „ .. 6 „ 7 ,, .. 7 „ 8 „ .. 8 „ 9 „ .. 9 „ 10 „ „ 10 „ 11 „ .. „ 11 „ 12 „ .. „ 12 „ 13 „ .. „ 13 „ 14 „ .. „ 14 „ 15 „ ( j 9 3 5 1 1 i i 9 3 5 1 1 i i l 65 27 32 31 25 16 7 10 11 7 6 3 7 2 3 6 65 27 32 31 25 16 7 10 11 7 6 3 7 2 3 6 74 30 37 32 26 16 8 10 12 7 7 3 7 2 3 6 l 2! 22 !2 258 258 280 The adopting persons were — Husband and wife jointly .. Widow .. . Widower Spinster 267 4 5 4 280