EDUCATION: SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1915.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1916 Session I, E-04

E.— 4.

1916. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1915.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CONTENTS. Page Page 1. Extraot from the Annual Report (E.-l) of the 4. Infant-life ProtectionMinister of Education— Report of the Secretary for Education .. 9 Afflicted and Dependent Children.. .. 2 Number of Infants in Licensed Homes .. 9 Infant-life Protection .. .. .. 3 Particulars of Infants in Licensed Homes .. 10 School for the Deaf, Sumner .. .. 4 Rates of Payments to Foster-parents by Jubilee Institute for the Blini, Auckland .. .1 j Parents or Guardians .. .. .. 10 Special School for the Feeble-minded, Exempted Institutions .. .. .. 11 Otekaike .. .. .. .. 4-5 Deatus .. .. .. .. .. 11-12 Adoptions .. .. .. .. 12 Illegitimacy .. .. .. .. 12 2. Industrial Schools — Financial Tables .. .. .. 5-6 . , , Statistics respecting Inmates .. .. 6-8 5. School for the Deaf SumnerExtract from the Report of the Director .. 13 3. Costley Training Institution— 6. Special School for Boys, Otekaike— Statement of Accounts .. ~ .. 9 Extract from the Report of the Principal .. 14-15 «

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No. I.—EXTRACT FROM THE THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

SPECIAL SCHOOLS. Afflicted and Dependent Children. The number of children brought under the operation of the Industrial Schools Act in 1915 was 453, being forty-eight more than for the preceding year. The number whose names were written off the books was 305, leaving a total roll number of 3,166. Of these, 1,885 were boys and 1,281 girls. The classification of the children was as follows :— Boarded out — From Government industrial schools. .. .. .. ■. 1,129 From private industrial schools .. .. .. .. .. 5 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,134 In residence— In Government industrial schools (other than reformatories) .. .. 423 At private (Roman Catholic) industrial schools .. .. .. 335 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 758 At reformatories (boys) .. .. .. .. .. 153 (girls) 69 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 222 In situations .. .. .. .. .. .. 543 With friends on probation .. .. 222 Under private guardianship .. .. 75 Committed, but on probation.. .. .. . . .. .. 9 In hospitals, private institutions, absent without leave, in prison, &c. .. 203 Grand total .. .. .. .. .. 3,166 In the total number on the books are included twenty-seven young women and five young men who are more than twenty-one years of age ; and control of them is maintained under the law that provides for detention beyond that age of any young person who is shown, to the satisfaction of a Magistrate, to be morally degenerate or otherwise, in the public interest, unfitted to be free from guidance. These cases will be reviewed every four years, and by like procedure detention may be indefinitely prolonged. The power of placing out applies as though the inmate were under twenty-one. At each hearing counsel is provided at Government expense for the person concerned. By similar provisions in the Education Act young people of feeble mind may be detained under the guidance of special schools. In this way lifelong control will be retained in case of necessity, and thus the public interest and that of young people who, without support, must surely fail signally in life are effectively safeguarded. The number of children maintained at the public cost was 2,140. The parental contributions under orders of Court, agreements, &c, amounted to £9,535, being at the rate of £4 9s. Id. per head of those maintained. This is an increase of 15s. 4d. per head over the rate for the preceding year. The net expenditure for the last financial year on account of industrial-school children, exclusive of capital charges for additional buildings, works, and purchase of property (£41,948), shows a decrease of £2,728, although 148 more children were maintained.

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Tables I 1 and I 2 give particulars of the expenditure during the year. Year 1914-15. Year 1915-16. Payments by Charitable Aid Boards for maintenance of children who came into Government schools owing to indigence (included in the total sum recovered) .. £11,383 £12,810 Number of children at the end of the year belonging to Government schools who were so paid for .. .. 769 855 Number maintained at the expense of Charitable Aid Boards at private industrial schools .. 164 167 The amount paid by the Charitable Aid Boards on account of children sent to the four private industrial schools as indigent is not stated here, as the managers of these schools make their claims upon the Boards without reference to the Education Department. Moneys are on deposit at interest in the Post Office Savings-bank that were earned by young people who are, or while under control were, in situations, or who, though it is advisable to have them in residence, are able to do work of more value than the cost of their keep. The disposal of these moneys is by law at the discretion of the Minister of Education, who may direct that payment be made either to the earner or to the Public Account. In practice payment is made to an applicant who, after the control of the school has ceased, shows evidence of good character, and that the proposed investment of the money is likely to be to his lasting advantage. At the end of the year the total amount deposited in the Post Office Savingsbank on account of the earnings of young people who are now or were formerly under the control of industrial schools was £40,173, the Government schools accounts having £36,017 to credit, and the private (Roman Catholic) schools £4,156. The withdrawals from these accounts during the year were £3,275 and £335 respectively. Infant-life Protection. The infant-life protection system deals with children under six years of age who are placed privately by their parents or guardians in foster-homes for payment. To a large extent they are the illegitimate children of young girls. They are not, as industrial-school children are, under State guardianship, but the homes of the foster-parents are licensed to receive children, the number that may be retained in the home being limited strictly by the license according to the capacity of the home. The number of homes thus licensed was 941 at the end of the year, and the number of children in them during the year was 1,440, an increase of 17 over last year. Of this total the number of infants under one year was 325. Fourteen children died, being 0-98 per cent, of those in the homes. Of that number ten were in foster-homes, and four in hospitals or nursing-homes to which they had been removed for treatment, so that the deaths in foster-homes represented 0-75 per cent, of the total number dealt with. This continued low deathrate reflects great credit on the district agents, their assistants, the local visitors, and the foster-parents. Generally speaking, the Department has reason to be Well satisfied with the homes in which these infants are placed. The expenditure for the year ended the 31st March, 1916, was £1,476, as follows :— £ Salaries of visiting nurses and local representatives .. .. .. 1,079 Travelling-expenses of district agents, visiting nurses, and local representatives .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 285 Payment to foster-parents for board of infants .. .. .. 77 Medical attendance .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Office expenses (including rent) and sundries .. .. . . .. 09 1,516 Less recoveries .. .. .. .. .. .. 40 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,476 For the preceding year the amount was £1,374.

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School for the Deaf, Sumner. Number of pupils who returned to the school in February, 1916, after the summer vacation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 Number admitted during the school year .. .. .. 12 Left during or at the end of the school year .. .. .. 18 Number remaining on the roll after the close of the school year .. .. 99 Thirteen pupils were removed from school during the year, having reached a. satisfactory standard of education. The length of their school life varied from three and a. half to eleven years. The necessity of sending deaf children to be properly treated at as early an age as possible is imperative, although often overlooked, as it is clear that the process of educating them must be slower and more arduous than in the case of normal children. Of twelve new pupils received during the year five were over eight years of age, and three of these were over twelve years of age, the difficulty of educating these children being thus immeasurably increased. In addition to the ordinary school-work, the girl pupils of the school receive instruction in cookery, laundry-work, domestic economy, dressmaking, and dancing, and the boys in woodwork and gardening. The expenditure on the school for the last two financial years respectively was as follows : — 1914-15. 1915-16. £ £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 3,959 4,126 Maintenance of pupils and sundry expenses .. 1,740 1,745 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. 200 243 Maintenance of buildings .. .. .. 213 59 — 6,112 6,173 Less — Amount collected from parents by way of maintenance contributions .. 1,027 .1,195 Amount collected from Charitable Aid Boards .. .. .. 1,100 1,224 Sundry other recoveries .. .. 6 14 2,133 2,433 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. £3,979* £3,740* * Including for 1914-15 £1100, and for 1915-16 £139, paid from national-endowment revenue, Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland. This institution is governed by a Board of Trustees, four of whom are appointed by the Government and the remaining five elected by the subscribers to the funds of the Institute. As the Institute comes within the scope of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, subsidy at the rate of 245. in the pound is payable by the Government on voluntary contributions received by the Board, and 10s*in the pound on the value of bequests. The amount paid by the Government towards the cost of training thirty-four pupils was £874, and the amount refunded to the Government during the year by parents and Charitable Aid Boards was £880, the Boards paying £523. The sum payable by the Government as subsidy to the Board of Trustees under the provisions of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act was £1,940 3s. 7d. Special School for the Feeble-minded, Otekaike. Numbers as at the 31st December, 1915 : — Males. Females. In residence .. .. .. .. 60 Boarded out .. .. .. .. .. 2 4 Temporarily absent with friends .. . . . . 7 Total of both sexes . . . . .. . . . . 73 Of the above number under control one was between the ages of five and ten, twenty-five between eleven and sixteen, thirty-one between seventeen and twenty-

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one, and sixteen were over twenty-one years of age. The procedure in regard to the retention of control beyond that age is"|similar tojjthat already described in respect of inmates of industrial schools. The inmates are instructed in the occupations of basket-making, coir-mat making, and wood-carving. Farm and garden work is also out by the inmates, the institution producing more of such commodities as milk, fruit, and vegetables than its own requirements demand. Much of the school-work undertaken takes the form of handwork and kindergarten occupations. As there is shown to be a very considerable aggregate of young persons of feeble mind throughout the country who would best be provided for at Otekaike, an important extension of the accommodation there has been in progress for some time past, and with the advent of warmer weather it is anticipated that the institution will be in a position largely to increase its usefulness by taking in many who are now excluded. Preparations have also been made for the establishment of a separate school for feeble-minded girls at Richmond,^elson, towards the equipment of which a sum has now been placed on the estimates. The following is a statement of the expenditure for the years 1914-15 and 1915-16:— 1914-15 1915-16. £ £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 2,510 2,630 General maintenance .. .. .. 2,130 2,316 Travelling-expenses .. .. ..247 299 Maintenance of buildings .. .. .. 172 144 Additional buildings, furniture, clearing land, &e 2,245 12,515 7,304 17,904 Less — Amount collected from parents by way of maintenance contributions .. 723 797 Amount collected from Charitable Aid Boards .. .. .. 694 950 Sundry other recoveries .. .. 133 346 1,550 — 2,093 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. £5,754* £15,811* * Including for 1914-15 £300, and for 1915-16 £139, from national-endowment revenue.

No. 2. —INDUB T R I A L SCHO 0 L S.

Table I 1. —Expenditure on Government Schools, 1915-16.

Government Schools. Salaries. General Maintenance (including Provisions, • Clothing, Farms, &c). (2.) Furnishings, Nevf Travelling- Buudtoa? ! liuildm 8 8 expenses. ,3*' and Works. I W0IJ£S - (3.) (4.) J (5.) Boarding out. (Payments to Fosterparents.) Gross Cost. Recoveries from Parents and Others, and Sales from Farms, &c. £80 Net Cost.* (1.) (6.) (7.) _ . M-l _ Auckland. • Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa Receiving Home, Wellington Receiving Home, Nelson Boys' Training-farm, Nelson Receiving Homp, Christchurch Te Oranga Home . . Burnham Caversham £ 860 2,733 I ,055 265 2,648 924 1,384 3,345 997 £ 1,205 5,548 1,595 130 4,247 1 ,028 I ,728 4,782 1,250 £ £ £ 103 128 160 179 713 275 17 20 .. 531 119 370 643 91 10 82 237 318 462 180 39 £ 2,664 £ 5,120 9,173 13,081 1,617 8,027 7,534 3,431 8,907 6,799 £ 2,283 3,330 7,865 172 1,746 3,589 300 967 3,787 £ 2,837 5,843 5,216 1,445 6,28J 3,945 3,131 7,940 3,012 10,139 671 5,481 4,333 Totals 14,211 21,513 1,367 1,976 1,334 23,288 63,689 24,039 39,65i (Salaries, travelling-allowances, Amount paid to Postal Depart! Sundries and expenses of certain departmental officors (Inspectors, visiting officers, &c.) nent for payment of boarding-out orders lectors, vii 1,751 101 io: Total nei t cost t41,611 * Column (7) 1( bsb column (8). t Including £2,057 paid from national-endowment revenue.

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Table I 2. —Government Expenditure on Private (Roman Catholic) Schools, 1915-16.

Table I 3.—Summary of Expenditure on Special Cases at Other Institutions, 1915-16.

Table I 4. —Numbers under Control, 31st December, 1915.

Name of School. Gross Cost. Kecoveries. Net Cost. St. Mary's, Auckland St. Joseph's, Upper Hutt St. Mary's, Nelson St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin £ £ £ 1,712 563 1,149 274 96 178 363 213 150 43 51 Or. 8 Totals 2,392 928 1,469 Table I 3.—Summary of Expenditure on Special Cases at Other Institutions, 1915-16. Industrial School to which Inmates belong. imates belong. Institution at which Inmates were temporarily residing. Auckland Ton,.,,,,,,,, : Caversham lota1. Industrial w„ J" M Industrial School. Hom0, School. Caversham Industrial School. Total. Auokland — Door of Hope Institution St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu Orphan Home, Papatoetoc Salvation Army Home Christchurch— Mount Magdala Dunedin— Salvation Army Home £ s. d. £ s. (1. £ s. d. £ s. d. 55 0 10 .. .. 55 0 10 44 19 9 .. .. 44 19 '.) 18 4 0 .. .. 18 4 0 14 2 10 .. .. 14 2 10 115 11 '5 .. 115 11 5 8 3 7 8 3 7 £ s. d. £ s. d. 55 0 10 44 19 9 18 4 0 14 2 10 i i i i » 115 11 5 8 3 7 8 3 7 Totals Less recoveries 132 7 5 115 11 8 8 3 7 256 2 5 53 9 9 .. 10 0 53 19 9 78 17 « 11S 11 r, 7 13 7 9.09 2 8 132 7 5 53 9 9 115 11 8 8 3 7 10 0 256 2 5 53 19 9 78 17 8 115 11 5 7H 17 8 110 11 O V 13 V 202 >& 0 7 13 7 202 2 8 Table I 4.—Numbers unde is under Control, 31st December, 1915. EB r Control, 31st December, 1915. Govern: [OiH Schools. Private Schd 4s. All Schools. Location. ■d 3 5, B. G. M a '2 « 'Sag 6-1 «> K - r±, <s r-. r* O K B. p - ° a go-2 g| « £ S b. a, b, d, I i i cud .S _r . <-3 or. c A 111 H 4» sa ||| I j 1 B. Or. B. O. i B. G. B. B. G. ; i—. • , 2 1 181 69 l! 8 158 ! .. 41 46 19 .. .. 1140119' .. HI 98 2 .. 15 3 10 17 22 IB 14 2 .. 60 21 [ 24 46 9 23 43 1 .. 6 C 1 16 4 £* ISP B. G. , G. >>a S ° Mr5 r5 3, «^ B. G. ■ £ cn J 1 » S'rS a <a © G. o .3 o M | CD &. In the schools Boarded out With friends At service Under guardianship .. Committed, but on probation In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. In mental hospitals .. At School for the Deaf At Special School, Otekaike At Jubilee Institute for the Blind Under control of refuges or cognate institutions Under control of orphanages, cottage homes, &c. With the Expeditionary Forces In gaol Absent without leave.. .. 50 66i 64 I 9 8 7 42 4 .. 1 2 .. 1 175 7 7 2 '278 193 46 23 29' 2 48 261 2 1 2 .. 89 80 50 .... 4 14 11 7 18 26 : 5 89 34 88 44 1 4 12 592 641 129 322 63 7 388 493 93 221 12 2 980 1,184 222 543 75 9 18 131 34 6 l i 18 1 I 1 .... 1 1 1 1 2 .. 1 ..2 1 6 8 14 1 .. .. .. 1 'a .. 1 2 .. li .. .. 1 .. 2 3 .. 1 2 .. .. .. .. 1 .. ..' 5 .. 1 2 .. 3 1 .14 6 1 9 2 14 2 .. .. .. 2 1| .. 1 1 2 1 8 8 lj 12 i\ .. .... :. 16 14!.. .. 1 1 3 44 47 9 ■; .... 12 .. 1 ..[ 28 .. .. .. 12 •• 48 48 90182 17 i 2C4 52 7 ! .. .. .... 1 2 2 1 25 .. 1 52 20 222 116 191203 245 170199 I I !! i 20 222 i 3 'i 7 49 *5 7 54 - •• Totals .. 391 365 199 124 1.24; 71 35 39 63 1,885 1,281 3,166

Name of School. Gross Cost. Kecoveries. Net Cost. St. Mary's, Auckland St. Joseph's, Upper Hutt St. Mary's, Nelson St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin £ £ £ 1,712 563 1,149 274 96 178 363 213 150 43 51 Or. 8 Totals 2,392 928 1,469 Table I 3.—Summary of Expenditure on Special Cases at Other Institutions, 1915-16. Industrial School to which Inmates belong. imates belong. Institution at which Inmates were temporarily residing. Auckland Ton,.,,,,,,,, : Caversham lota1. Industrial w„ J" M Industrial School. Hom0, School. Caversham Industrial School. Total. Auokland — Door of Hope Institution St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu Orphan Home, Papatoetoc Salvation Army Home Christchurch— Mount Magdala Dunedin— Salvation Army Home £ s. d. £ s. (1. £ s. d. £ s. d. 55 0 10 .. .. 55 0 10 44 19 9 .. .. 44 19 '.) 18 4 0 .. .. 18 4 0 14 2 10 .. .. 14 2 10 115 11 '5 .. 115 11 5 8 3 7 8 3 7 £ s. d. £ s. d. 55 0 10 44 19 9 18 4 0 14 2 10 i i i i » 115 11 5 8 3 7 8 3 7 Totals Less recoveries 132 7 5 115 11 8 8 3 7 256 2 5 53 9 9 .. 10 0 53 19 9 78 17 « 11S 11 r, 7 13 7 9.09 2 8 132 7 5 53 9 9 115 11 8 8 3 7 10 0 256 2 5 53 19 9 78 17 8 115 11 5 7H 17 8 110 11 O V 13 V 202 >& 0 7 13 7 202 2 8 Table I 4.—Numbers unde is under Control, 31st December, 1915. EB r Control, 31st December, 1915. Govern: [OiH Schools. Private Schd 4s. All Schools. Location. ■d 3 5, B. G. M a '2 « 'Sag 6-1 «> K - r±, <s r-. r* O K B. p - ° a go-2 g| « £ S b. a, b, d, I i i cud .S _r . <-3 or. c A 111 H 4» sa ||| I j 1 B. Or. B. O. i B. G. B. B. G. ; i—. • , 2 1 181 69 l! 8 158 ! .. 41 46 19 .. .. 1140119' .. HI 98 2 .. 15 3 10 17 22 IB 14 2 .. 60 21 [ 24 46 9 23 43 1 .. 6 C 1 16 4 £* ISP B. G. , G. >>a S ° Mr5 r5 3, «^ B. G. ■ £ cn J 1 » S'rS a <a © G. o .3 o M | CD &. In the schools Boarded out With friends At service Under guardianship .. Committed, but on probation In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. In mental hospitals .. At School for the Deaf At Special School, Otekaike At Jubilee Institute for the Blind Under control of refuges or cognate institutions Under control of orphanages, cottage homes, &c. With the Expeditionary Forces In gaol Absent without leave.. .. 50 66i 64 I 9 8 7 42 4 .. 1 2 .. 1 175 7 7 2 '278 193 46 23 29' 2 48 261 2 1 2 .. 89 80 50 .... 4 14 11 7 18 26 : 5 89 34 88 44 1 4 12 592 641 129 322 63 7 388 493 93 221 12 2 980 1,184 222 543 75 9 18 131 34 6 l i 18 1 I 1 .... 1 1 1 1 2 .. 1 ..2 1 6 8 14 1 .. .. .. 1 'a .. 1 2 .. li .. .. 1 .. 2 3 .. 1 2 .. .. .. .. 1 .. ..' 5 .. 1 2 .. 3 1 .14 6 1 9 2 14 2 .. .. .. 2 1| .. 1 1 2 1 8 8 lj 12 i\ .. .... :. 16 14!.. .. 1 1 3 44 47 9 ■; .... 12 .. 1 ..[ 28 .. .. .. 12 •• 48 48 90182 17 i 2C4 52 7 ! .. .. .... 1 2 2 1 25 .. 1 52 20 222 116 191203 245 170199 I I !! i 20 222 i 3 'i 7 49 *5 7 54 - •• Totals .. 391 365 199 124 1.24; 71 35 39 63 1,885 1,281 3,166

Name of School. Gross Cost. Kecoveries. Net Cost. St. Mary's, Auckland St. Joseph's, Upper Hutt St. Mary's, Nelson St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin £ £ £ 1,712 563 1,149 274 96 178 363 213 150 43 51 Or. 8 Totals 2,392 928 1,469 Table I 3.—Summary of Expenditure on Special Cases at Other Institutions, 1915-16. Industrial School to which Inmates belong. imates belong. Institution at which Inmates were temporarily residing. Auckland Ton,.,,,,,,,, : Caversham lota1. Industrial w„ J" M Industrial School. Hom0, School. Caversham Industrial School. Total. Auokland — Door of Hope Institution St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu Orphan Home, Papatoetoc Salvation Army Home Christchurch— Mount Magdala Dunedin— Salvation Army Home £ s. d. £ s. (1. £ s. d. £ s. d. 55 0 10 .. .. 55 0 10 44 19 9 .. .. 44 19 '.) 18 4 0 .. .. 18 4 0 14 2 10 .. .. 14 2 10 115 11 '5 .. 115 11 5 8 3 7 8 3 7 £ s. d. £ s. d. 55 0 10 44 19 9 18 4 0 14 2 10 i i i i » 115 11 5 8 3 7 8 3 7 Totals Less recoveries 132 7 5 115 11 8 8 3 7 256 2 5 53 9 9 .. 10 0 53 19 9 78 17 « 11S 11 r, 7 13 7 9.09 2 8 132 7 5 53 9 9 115 11 8 8 3 7 10 0 256 2 5 53 19 9 78 17 8 115 11 5 7H 17 8 110 11 O V 13 V 202 >& 0 7 13 7 202 2 8 Table I 4.—Numbers unde is under Control, 31st December, 1915. EB r Control, 31st December, 1915. Govern: [OiH Schools. Private Schd 4s. All Schools. Location. ■d 3 5, B. G. M a '2 « 'Sag 6-1 «> K - r±, <s r-. r* O K B. p - ° a go-2 g| « £ S b. a, b, d, I i i cud .S _r . <-3 or. c A 111 H 4» sa ||| I j 1 B. Or. B. O. i B. G. B. B. G. ; i—. • , 2 1 181 69 l! 8 158 ! .. 41 46 19 .. .. 1140119' .. HI 98 2 .. 15 3 10 17 22 IB 14 2 .. 60 21 [ 24 46 9 23 43 1 .. 6 C 1 16 4 £* ISP B. G. , G. >>a S ° Mr5 r5 3, «^ B. G. ■ £ cn J 1 » S'rS a <a © G. o .3 o M | CD &. In the schools Boarded out With friends At service Under guardianship .. Committed, but on probation In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. In mental hospitals .. At School for the Deaf At Special School, Otekaike At Jubilee Institute for the Blind Under control of refuges or cognate institutions Under control of orphanages, cottage homes, &c. With the Expeditionary Forces In gaol Absent without leave.. .. 50 66i 64 I 9 8 7 42 4 .. 1 2 .. 1 175 7 7 2 '278 193 46 23 29' 2 48 261 2 1 2 .. 89 80 50 .... 4 14 11 7 18 26 : 5 89 34 88 44 1 4 12 592 641 129 322 63 7 388 493 93 221 12 2 980 1,184 222 543 75 9 18 131 34 6 l i 18 1 I 1 .... 1 1 1 1 2 .. 1 ..2 1 6 8 14 1 .. .. .. 1 'a .. 1 2 .. li .. .. 1 .. 2 3 .. 1 2 .. .. .. .. 1 .. ..' 5 .. 1 2 .. 3 1 .14 6 1 9 2 14 2 .. .. .. 2 1| .. 1 1 2 1 8 8 lj 12 i\ .. .... :. 16 14!.. .. 1 1 3 44 47 9 ■; .... 12 .. 1 ..[ 28 .. .. .. 12 •• 48 48 90182 17 i 2C4 52 7 ! .. .. .... 1 2 2 1 25 .. 1 52 20 222 116 191203 245 170199 I I !! i 20 222 i 3 'i 7 49 *5 7 54 - •• Totals .. 391 365 199 124 1.24; 71 35 39 63 1,885 1,281 3,166

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Table I 5.—Admissions in 1915, classified according to Causes of Admission.

Table I 6. —Admissions in 1915, classified according to Parents' Circumstances and Character.

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Goverumei ut Schools. Private Schools. All Schools. T! Admitted as 3 IJDd 5 2 e S . a >J(S! <£ i 3 *®r ri • ri a o a So a .9 £ « §* II 9 £j & Sf-S 1 'S a 5 2 8 S g ,g.s s g o Si w S Q CJQ | H M G. I B. G. B. B. G. ] •i I ! xO °° I >j a a § SB'S 00 aj re f aJ-.S CDrrrc3 a a a) 9 a a C3 -i 0} B. | i I G. ■"I B. B. G. B. B. i G. j G. Ii. G. G. ID O H •M o O fn destitute .. ..13 /agrant .. .. . 1 In disreputable: .. associations tfot under proper 7 control (complaint by police) Jncontrollable (com- .. plaint by parent) Accused or guilty of 1 punishable offences 3y private arrange- 1 ment transferred from gaol .. 4 4 1 48 48 26 1 .. 5 4 .. I .. 8 7 . . 4 5 3 69 153 7 18 13 29 12 2 4 5 1 3 7 1 3 i 3 4 8 l .. 4 84 6 16 fi 1 3 2 .. 4 3 4 15 28 4 4 4 ! .. 4 7 5 4 fi ! 2 ■ ■ 4 6 2 11 13 67 43 110 ■ ■ 3 7 ill 1 2 1 10 6 II 1 8 67 1:8 1 1 13 2 1 5 8 91 15 Kli 1 1 .. ! 1 2 1 2 I 7 14 16 7 2! 23 40 114 57 57 37 4 18 18 18 31 16 j 12 29 28 8 : .. 4 8 . 292 161 Totals .. 23 453 I

Pn icedent Condith m of CI illclren .dmittei in 1915. Fathers described as Mothers described as OJ a -w -3 i/i C3 a a u M > .9 °> 0§ 33 CI ■S3 si a. "o g Ph Pho >• •ri oj"S"*= •e 9 a I 1 d 1.1 a a 09 o o «W CO O <D *§ !« TJ rl JO'S s'a o a 3 © ■°§ t3 a £ E 5 oj > "Jh fi a o -O • go OJrh oj a H fH Total. Dead Physically unfit Mentally unfit Good Questionable . . Head Physically unfit Good Questionable Bad Dead Mentally unfit Good Head Mentally unfit Good Questionable Bad Unknown Dead Physically unfit Mentally unfit Good ... Questionable Bad Deserter Unknown Dead Mentally unfit Good Questionable Bad Deserter Unknown Dead Good Deserter Dead Mentally unfit Good Questionable Bad Deserter Unknown 5 3 7 I I I • 4 6 7 3 2 10 I 1 19 14 II 3 I 2 3 2 2 5 5 7 I 1 9 7 13 !) I 3 I 4 11 2 3 I 1 12 I 1 14 53 ] I 3 7 3 1 8 I 3 I 6 8 1 14 3 20 3 16 :i i i 28 4 96 17 8 2 16 I 2 33 35 IK 3 4 12 3 20 3 16 I 3 I 3 I 5 7 10 16 12 I 13 3 I 2 7 I 1 10 1 5 1 (j I 1 I I I I i Bad 3 I I 2 I 2 5 3 2 Deserter 2 Unknown 3 6 5 13 3 1 4 I 1 2 4 1 3 4 2 2 1 3 ] Totals 153 13 110 16 29 106 23 453

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The numbers of children admitted were —From. Auokland, 107 ; from Wellington, 101 ; from Christchurch, 35 ; from Dunedin, 42 ; from Napier, 18 ; from Hamilton, 20; from Wanganui, 12 ; while in no case were more than 8 sent from any other town in the Dominion. The records show that, of the total number of children admitted, 26-9 per cent, were known to be illegitimate. When children are before the Courts the Magistrates, after hearing evidence, direct in v/haf religious denomination they are to be brought up. The orders made in 1915 show the denominations to be as follows : Anglican, 230 ; Roman Catholic, 132 ; Presbyterian, 53 ; Methodist, 27 ; Church of Christ, 3 ; Salvation Army, 2 ; Congregational, 3 ; Baptist, 2 ; Lutheran, 1. The number of inmates over whom the control of the schools terminated during the year was 305. Of this number, 232 were then of good character, 1 fair, 3 bad; 10 were married ; 3 were weakminded ; 24 were discharged under the age of fifteen years (3 of whom were legally In 21 cases information as to character cannot be given, the whereabouts of the inmates (who were absent without leave) being unknown at the time of termination of tho period of control. The number of inmates missing at the end of the year was 54—49 boys and 5' girls. There were 11 deaths, particulars of which appear in the following table:—

Table I 7. —Deaths, 1915.

Table I 8.—Discharges, 1915.

Under tbe provisions of the Industrial Schools Act, 1909, power is given for the detention beyond the age of twenty-one years of any inmate who, upon application being made to a Magistrate by the Manager of the school' at the direction of the Minister of Education, is found to be morally degenerate or otherwise not (in the public interest) a fit person to be free from control. In the four years since this Act came into operation there have been 35 orders issued extending the period of control, 30 of the inmates concerned being girls. The Act provides for extension for four years, and gives power to the Court on similar procedure to renew the order from time to time for a period of four years. It is expected that the number of those over whom authority beyond twenty-one years will be needed will always be small in proportion to the whole number of inmates ; but the value of such an enactment in respect of the remainder who have to be detained is obvious, both in their own interest and in that of the community at large.

Age at Death. Status at Death. Years. Months. Certified Cause of Death. School to which belonging. 4f At board 10 In hospital I 2J At board 3 9 „ 12 7 „ , 13 II In hospital 14 11 ) In residence 17 2 In hospital 17 3 19 .. Expeditionary Poree 19 j 1 I At board , Convulsions • .. .. .. .. Wollington*Roeoiving'Home. G astro -enteritis ; exhaustion ; heart-failure .. ,, " Acute broncho-pneumonia .. .. . . Caversham. Pneumonia; whooping-cough .. .. ,, Peritonitis, ruptured kidney; result of fall Wellington Receiving Home. from a tree Acute periostitis .. .. .. .. Boys' Training-farm, Nelson. Accidentally drowned while bathing .. .. ,, Weraroa. Meningitis .. .. .. .. „ „ Peritonitis .. .. .. .. ,, Nelson. Killed in action .. .. .. .. ,, ,, General tuberculosis ; tubercular hip .. Caversham.

Government Schools. Private Schools. Cause of 1g § R I?™ 8 |g a a* „' 1 fWv St. &? I St. Termination ot Auckland. SH 3 § ?,',. ?«S S3 g&Sft I Sl m " 'Mary's, S™ ; Mary's, Control. »|| w ™»» oo Gtalrt | sham. Anok f and . 11 N elson. B. G. B. B. G. B. G. ' B. j G. : B. B. G. B. G. G. B. G. }isoharged by 1 4 54 9 6 27 11 3 2 I 72 8 1 21 I 6 8 .. 6 warrant Jeath 2 2 1 3 ,.| .. .. | .. 1 2 .. ...... .. Reached age of .. 3 1 1 .. 1 12 8' 4 ! 7 9 5 .. 4 2 | .. 1 21 years tlarried .. .. 3 j .. .. 2 .. 8j .. ..;..!.. 1 .. 1 .. .. Totals .. 1 10 57 ' 12 9 31 ! 16 8 J 6 79 18 9 21 11 5 .. 7 _J i : I j_ Note. —Of the 197 boys discharged during the year, 03 were serving with the New Zealand Expedith Private Schools. a « a <j so a ce <u iSPHg £*« aj >> G o n .. 197 .. ' 8 5 22 All Schools. .2 * .a o 0 H 29 226 3 11 36 58 1 10 10 5 ! 227 78 305 7 j ditio l I I nary Force L IS.

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No. 3. —COS-TLBY TRAINING INSTITUTION. Balance-sheet for Year ending 31st December, 1915. Liabilities. Assets. £ s. d. £ s. d. Costley bequest .. .. 12,150 0 0 Mortgages .. .. ... .. 17,680 0 0 Hodge bequest .. .. 742 3 9 Accrued interest .. .. . . 158 17 4 Boys' savings account .. .. 112 5 Jackson and Russell .. .. .. 343 3 11 Revenue Account accumulated .. 4,560 14 1 Bank of Now Zealand .. .. 26 13 2 £17,833 17 4 £17,833 17 4 Revenue Account. £ s. d. £ s. d To Office expenses .. .. .. 41 12 ] By Balance, Ist January, 1915 .. 3,758 6 3 Maintenance .. .. .. 11l 1 6 Interest on investments .. .. 955 1 5 Balance carried forward .. .. 4,560 14 1 £4,713 7 8 £4,713 7 8 27th January, 1916. C. Hudson, F.P.A.N.Z., Secretary. Examined and found correct. —R. J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General. €

No. 4.—INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION. Education Department, Wellington, 31st April, 1916. The Hon. the Minister of Education. I submit the following report on the work of the Department in respect of infant-life protection for the year 1915. It will be seen that the bulk of the infants were in foster-homes —that is, with women who have the motherly capacity and the time and accommodation necessary to satisfy the Department's requirements for the license prescribed by the Act. The remainder were in various benevolent institutions, of which particulars are given below. Numbers. The number of infants in licensed foster-homes on the 31st December was 887, which is 21 less than there were at the beginning of the year. The individuals comprising these totals varied to a much greater extent than these figures indicate, however, the total number of individuals dealt with in connection with foster-homes during the year, by admissions, withdrawals, transfers, &c, being 1,577. The number of new admissions to foster-homes—ssB—was 33 less than in the previous year, and the number removed from the homes was 38 more. In the institutions there were 486 at the end of the year, making in all a total of 1,373 infants being dealt with under the Act on the 31st December, 1915 —a decrease of 103 on the number on the books a year previously. The following table exhibits the transactions of the year in respect of infants in licensed fosterhomes :—

2—E. 4.

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Particulars of Children admitted to and removed from Licensed Foster-homes during 1915.

Foster-homes. The 887 infants in foster-homes at the end of the year were distributed as follows: — In 545 homes each having one .. .. .. .. .. .. 545 In 103 „ two .. .. .. .. .. .. 206 In 26 „ three .. .. .. . . 78 In 9 „ four .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 In 3 „ five .. .. .. .. .. 15 In I „ seven .. .. .. .. .. 7 687 ' 887 Forty-one of the homes were those in which children under six were boarded out by Charitable Aid Boards. The total number of licensed homes was 941, so that at the end of the year there were 254 licensed homes in which for the time being no infants were boarded. Rates of Payments to Foster-parents by Parents or Guardians. An account of the rates paid is given in the following statement: — 1 at the rate of 3s. 6d. per week. 566 at the rate of 10s. per week. 15 „ ss. ~ 11 ~ lis. „ 6 „ 6s. „ 35 „ 12s. 19 „ 7s. „ 57 „ 12s. 6d. 59 „ 7s. 6d. ~ 5 „ 14s. 59 „- Bs. „ 22 „ 15s. 5 „ Bs. 6d. „ 1 „ 17s. 6d. 11 „ 9s. „ 6 „ 20s. Note. — Nine children were being maintained without payment, but for various reasons their names are retained on the books. Generally, the relatives of the infants provide clothing and medical attendance in addition. The following comparison of the rates paid dining the last four years shows that the usual payment is about 10s. a week:— 1912. 1913. 1914. 1915. Under 7s, .. .. .. .. ..23 24 29 22 7s. and under 10s. .. .. .. .. 195 ifil .163 153 10s. .. .. .. .. .. ..485 482 596 566 Over I.os. .. -.. .. .. ..71 91 120 137

M . % 53 so 1 J3 "g CM CO rd ■g -o ci -a © -3 oi oi a 60 cm d no £3c3 « "*1 cS <) I c8<| i tH .—I m-i N «H M >H co a ° a ° a ° £ p= ! pq m "SSb C5 <| rjH^ rt ° O cn <D *h "Six M CO ■a c S a 60 3 On-. f* 60 a ° <o< |* ° EH 'laced in licensed homes during 266 the year Vithdrawn from homes — Removed by parents or 46 guardians Deaths .. .. .. 8 Adoptions without premiums 4 In homes to which exemptions was granted Brought under the operation 1 of the Industrial Schools Act Written off the books for various causes 81 84 54 34 25 i 14 .. 558 ! , __ i I . 52 91 (il 47 21 23 10 351 10 1 4 I 7 15 7 2 1 2 3 2 5 2 M 40 LO 3 15 2 5 4 6 4 40 4 8 10 14 2 3 3 58 98 58 Totals .. .. 59 72 137 88 58 32 72 553 35 32 72 )n the books at 31st December, 91 1915 103 213 143 120 82 73 ! 62 887 73 62

1.—4.

Exempted Institutions. From the provision that " it shall not be lawful for any person in consideration of any payment or reward to receive or retain in his care or charge any infant for the purpose of nursing or maintaining it apart from its parents or guardians for a longer period than seven consecutive days unless such person is licensed as a foster-parent " the Minister may grant certain exemptions, and under this authority exemption has been granted to the institutions set forth, in the following list, which shows also the numbers dealt with and the deaths. The conditions of the exemptions provide for inspection, and for removal of the infants only with duo formality.

Deaths in Foster-homes. Of the 1,440 infants that were at one time or another on the books as being in foster-homes during 1915, 14 died. Of these, 10 died in the foster-homes and 4 in hospitals or nursing-homes to which they had been removed for treatment, so that the deaths in foster-homes represented 0'75 per cent, of the total number dealt with. Nine of the 14 were under the age of twelve months, and 11 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 „ =2-11 „ 1910 .. .. ..26 „ 1,183 „ =2-19 1911 13 „ 1,183 „ =1-09 1912 .. .. ..12 „ 1,228 „ =0-98 1913 .. .. ..13 „ 1,330 „ =0-98 1914 .. .. .. 20 „ 1,423 „ = 1-40 1915 .. .. ..14 „ 1,440 „ =0-98 This continued low death-rate reflects great credit on the district agents, their assistants, the local visitors, and the foster-parents. Generally speaking, the Department has reason to be well satisfied with the homes in which these infants are placed.

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Exempted Institutions. Prom the provision that " it shall not be lawful for any person in consideration of a reward to receive or retain in his caie or charge any infant for the purpose of nursing or apart from its parents or guardians for a longer period than seven consecutive days unl. is licensed as a foster-parent " the Minister may grant certain exemptions, and under exemption has been granted to the institutions set forth, in the following list, which numbers dealt with and the deaths. The conditions of the exemptions provide for insp. removal of the infants only with due formality. my payme : maintaini ess such pe this auth shows alsc ■ection, an< snt or ing it ei'son ority o the d for Adl t9il!° us ' Deaths - XI CD © co sn _ij a. o co G fl &£ ai 7? . w fl ac cu: q . OcD d ° 0 Cd rn 1 " Name of Institution. oc co'o w~ p< cc oo |5f CO P CO l-Sfl flcD | *,B fl Ob fl9 Ld«H OB IAb I GO (2.) (3.) (4) I (5.) 1 (6.) On the Bool :sist Decembe ks at 3r,I!)J5. en P . O CD "f CD go fl o P (I.) <D I 3 . I i-ga co* 1 ! a co 7-4-1 o b So S§ "g -§ p I « H (7.) 1(80 g.0 2°cc •*! flfl if a (9.1 The Door of Hope, Auckland .. .. .. 22 | 10 37 8 .. 3 Mission House of the Order of the Good Shepherd, Auckland .. .. | .. 16 The Methodist Orphanage, Mount Albert, Auokland .. .. .... 3 .. I .. The Orphan Home, Papatoetoe, Auckland .. .. 7 .. ' .. St. Mary's Orphanage, Epsom, Auckland .. .. .... 2 17 .. j .. St. Vincont's Home of Compassion, Epsom, Auckland .. .. .. .. .. I .. St. Joseph's Orphanage, Takapuna, Auckland .. .. .. 1 10 The Manurewa Children's Home, Auckland .. .. 6 .... Children's Home, Ponsonby, Auckland .. .. 9 Leslie Presbyterian Orphanage, Remuera, Auckland .. .. .... 9 St. Mary's Home, Ofcahuhu, Auckland .. .. 80 5 85 2 1 5 Salvation Army Samaritan Home, Gisborne.. .. .. 14 3 38 Cook County Women's Guild Creche, Gisborne .. 23 Salvation Army Bethany Home, Napier .. .. .. 3 ! 2 9 Wanpanui Orphanage, Wanganui .. .. .. .. .. I .. 2 Children's Home, Palmerston North .. .. .. .... 3 Salvation Army Children's Home, Wellington .. .. .. j 4 .. I The Levin Memorial Home, Wellington .. .. Presbyterian Orphanage, Wellington .. .. 1 Home of Compassion, Island Bay, Wellington .. .. 9 2 81 1 .. 2 St. Joseph's Orphanage, Upper Hutt, Wellington .. 53 St. Mary's Orphanage, Nelson .. .. .. 2 Salvation Army Maternity Home, Christchurch .. .. 2 .. 2 Sacred Heart Orphanago, Mount Magdala, Christchurch .. 3 .. 20 Nazareth House, Christohurch .. .. .. 18 Methodist Orphanage and Children's Home, Papanui, Christohurch Presbyterian Orphanage, Papanui, Christchuroh .. 5 St. Saviour's Home, Shirley, Christohurch .. .. 6 Children's Convalescent Cottage, New Brighton .. 29 St. Mary's Orphanage, Mornington, Dunedin .. 8 Salvation Army Home, Bishopscourt, Dunedin .. 31 1 .. 1 St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage, South Dunedin .. .. 1 2 6 Glondining Home, Anderson's Bay, Dunedin .. 4 Salvation Army Home, Middlemarch .. .. 2 Victoria Memorial Home, Invercargill .. .. .. 9 1 12 37 16 3 7 17 3 | 3 4 2 6 35 9 16 24 25 23 15 12 10 40 7 9 4 9 7 5 1 5 49 36 15 i .. I 10 6 9 9 35 38 23 9 2 3 4 '2 .. 1 'a i a 14 6 i 2 1 31 53 2 2 20 18 i 1 2 2 6 2 8 28 20 3 5 6 29 8 31 6 4 2 12 i 1 1 2 3 I 10 4 10 11 14 10 7 2 i i Totals for 1915 .. .. 93 28 458 7 1 11 458 7 1 11 26 22 486 Totals for 1914 .. .. .. 174 59 480 17 9 37 480 17 9 37 45 51 568 Deaths in Foster-homes. Of the 1,440 infants that wore at one time or another on the books as being in foster-homes during 19.15, 14 died. Of these, 10 died in the foster-homes and 4 in hospitals or nursing-homes to which they liad been removed for treatment, so that the deaths in foster-homes represented 0'75 per cent, of the total number dealt with. Nine of the 14 were under the age of twelve months, and 11 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 oent. 1909 .. .. ..25 „ 1,181 „ =2-11 „ 1910 .. .. ..26 „ 1,183 „ =2-19 1911 .. .. ..13 „ 1,183 „ =1-09 1912 .. .. ..12 „ 1,228 „ =0-98 1913 .. .. ..13 „ 1,330 „ =0-98 1914 20 „ 1,423 „ =1-40 1915 .. .. ..14 „ 1,440 „ =0-98 Tills continued low death-rate reflects great credit on the district agents, their assistants, the local visitors, and the foster-parents. Generally speaking, the Department has reason to be well satisfied with the homes in which these infants are placed.

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Deaths in Exempted Institutions. These, with other particulars, are shown in the foregjing table relating to exempted institutions. The Mowing is a statement of the deaths during the five 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 Adoptions, 1915. During the year 246 orders of adoption were made, and four orders cancelling four adoption orders. Forty-six of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 200 were without monetary consideration. The following shows the ages of the adopted children : —

The amount of the premiums ranged from £10 to £194. Illegitimacy. For its obvious relation to the intentions of the Infants Act the following table is given : —

E. O. Gibbes, Secretary for Education.

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Age. With With Premium. Pren mium. i WithoutPi Without Premium. remiun Total. I Fnder 6 months between 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 „ 21 13 6 4 2 21 13 6 4 2 46 30 40 24 ' 8 11 6 7 I 6 3 6 4 1 2 46 30 40 24 ' 8 11 6 7 3 3 6 3 6 4 1 2 ) ) t I 67 43 46 24 12 13 6 7 3 3 6 3 6 4 1 2 46 46 200 200 246 The adopting persons were — Husband and wife jointly .. Husband alone Widow 239 2 5

Provincial Districts. Number of Illegiti • Illegitimate m '^ te CWdwilMed Bfcths registered Twelve Months j„„)_„ioi* or Jess brought d,inngl915. u „der the Act during 1915. Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland . . Canterbury Otago 351 43 34 10 54 9 302 63 10 32 5 14 3 204 70 152 47 Totals for 1915 1,152 250 1,152 250 Totals for 1914 1,302 276 1,302 276

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No. S.—SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, SUMNER. EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. I have the honour to lay before you my report for the year 1915. The number of pupils under instruction during the year is shown in the following tabulated statement :— Boys. Girls. Total. Pupils of 1914 who returned to school .. .. .. 54 46 100 Admitted at or near the beginning of the year .. ..7 2 9 Admitted later . . .. . . .. . . . . 3 .. 3 Total number at the school .. .. .. 64 48 112 Left in July .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 Left in December at end of school year .. ... .. 7 5 12 Pupils expected to return to Sumner in 1916 .. .. .. 56 43 99 Of the 112 pupils on the roll, 64 came from the North Island and 48 from the South Island. There wore 35 from the Auckland District, 3 from Taranaki, 9 from Hawke's Bay, 17 from Wellington, 3 from Nelson, 2 from Mvrlborough, 2 from Westland, 24 from Canterbury, and 17 from Otago. i Nine boys and 4 girls attended as day pupils, and 55|boys and 44 girls were in residence at the school. Of the 112 pupiL admitted jduring the year 5 jwere over the agejofjeight years. The ages of these 5 were respectively as under : 8 years 10 months, 10 years 7 months, 12 years 5 months, 14 years, and 17 years 2 months. In only one of these 5 cases—that of a boy of fourteen years, whose deafness was acquired —was there any valid reason for the long delay in. admission. Four of these pupils made good progress during the year, but no amount of progress will compensate for the wasted time caused by the delay in their admission. It is especially to bo regretted that the case of the pupil aged seventeen years was not brought under the notice of the authorities years ago. As I have often pointed out, the necessity of commencing the education of deaf children at an early age cannot be too strongly urged. It is insisted on by practically all who have studied the question of the education of the deaf ; indeed, the preponderance of opinion among experts appears to be in favour of commencing the education of deaf children at four or five, or even earlier. The mental condition of deaf children that have been allowed to reach even the age of twelve or thirteen without education is appalling, and can. scarcely be conceived by any one who has not been faced with the problem of educating such children. Yet such cases are by no means uncommon, even in this country, where the education of deaf children has been wisely made compulsory between the ages of six and twenty-one years. During the past ten years there have been admitted to this school fifty-one children over the age of eight, thirty over the age of ten, eleven over the age of twelve, four over the age of fourteen, and two over the age of sixteen years. I do not in tho slightest degree suggest that parents should not call in the aid of an aural surgeon when there is any possibility of their children's hearing being improved by treatment, but I wish to point out,that such treatment could be just as efficiently given at this school as in the home, and without prejudice to the educational aspect of the case. I also desire to warn parents of deaf children of the danger of having the ears of the latter meddled with by any one but a properly qualified aural surgeon, and especially to beware of advertised remedies for deafness. In every case parents would do well to obtain my advice as soon as defective hearing is noted in children, as intelligent home treatment has a marked influence on subsequent progress. Furthermore, persons knowing of uneducated deaf children of whatever age will be doing a real service to all concerned if they report such cases to the Education Department. As a rule, when a child is stone-deaf there is not so much delay on the part of the parents in getting them admitted here; whereas, when a child has some residual hearing and is able to say " Daddy " and two or three other words, its parents are apt to think that it is in no need of the special instruction that alone will enable it to speak. It ought to be generally known that a child that is too deaf to hear the ordinary tones of the voice will, unless given special instruction of the kind given here, grow up dumb or practically dumb. Unfortunately, this knowledge is very often not acquired by parents until it is too late for the chldren to receive anything like adequate instruction. In July one boy was removed, after having been seven years and a half at the school and having made excellent progress. At the end of the year a boy and a girl, who had been admitted towards the beginning of the year on trial, were removed on account of mental deficiency. There were also removed seven boys and five girls, who had reached a satisfactory standard of education. They had been at the school respectively 8 years, 9 years 8 months, 11 years, 9 years 5 months, 10 years, 3 years 3 months (a lip-reading case), 9 years, 7 years, 10 years, and 9 years. The work of the school was carried on in a satisfactory manner during the year, and at the annual examination, which was conducted in November by Mr. T. 11. Gill, M.A., the pupils acquitted themselves creditably. In addition to the ordinary school-work the girls received instruction in cooking, laundry-work, domestic economy, dressmaking, and dancing, and the boys in woodwork and gardening.

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In November a visit of inspection was paid to the school by the Chairman and four other members of the Board]of Eduoation. of North Canterbury. Mr. Opie, the Chairman, made the following entry, which was endorsed by his fellow-members, in the Official Visitors' book : " I am more and more impressed with the highly satisfactory management and control of this institution. A benevolent and national work of great value and importance is being well done." Many letters have been received from ex-pupils in different parts of the Dominion, and it is gratifying to find that all appear to have no difficulty in earning a, living. Quite a number of the old boys have written expressing their disappointment and dissatisfaction at not being accepted for active service in the field on account of their deafness. The staff contributions to the various war relief funds amounted to £145 Os. Id., besides contributions given privately. In conclusion, I wish again to urge upon the Department the necessity of providing more suitable quarters for the boys, and also of establishing a separate or completely detached school for young deaf children. From an educational point of view the policy of herding the deaf together in large numbers is most strongly to be condemned. In point of numbers this school is already too large, and the sooner subdivision is commenced the better. J. E. Stevens, Director.

No. 6,-SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS, OTEKAIKE, OAMARU.

EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. I have the honour to lay before you my ceport on this school, for the year ending 31s1 December, I 915. Admissions and Discharges. Boys. Girls. Number of children in school, Ist January, 1915 .. .. .. 69 4 Number admitted during yeai' .. .. .. .. 1 Number discharged during year .. .. .. .. .. 1 Died .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Number of children in school, 31st December, 1915 .. .. .. 69 4 Ages of children on the school roll, 31st December, 1.915 From five to ten years . . . ._ . . . . . . 2 From eleven to sixteen years .. .. .. .. .. 24 I From seventeen to twenty-one years .. .. .. .. 28 1 Over twenty-one years .. .. .. .. ..15 2 Total .. .. .. .. .. 69 i lam again able to report that the health of the children has been excellent. Throughout; the year we have had scarcely any occasion to call in any outside medical assistance. No deaths have occurred during the year. It would be an advantage if we could arrange for a periodic visit from an Oamaru dentist. A periodic examination of the children's teeth, would not only tend to prevent disease and. promote good health, but would also help to render the work of teaching the children much less trying. Seaside Camp. During the Christmas vacation those boys who were unable to be sent home to their parents bad the advantage of going into camp by the sea, at Hampden. Our yearly camp is much enjoyed by the boys. Manual Occupations. Basketmaking and coir-mat making are the chief industries in our workshops. Our greatest need at tho present time is a complete set of workshops, where other forms of manual training, such as boot making and repairing, tailoring, weaving, and rugmaking can be undertaken. Farm and Garden. We have passed through one of the driest seasons which has ever been experienced in North. Otago. In common with the neighbouring farmers, most of our farm crops have been almost a total failure. During the past eight years we have grown enough potatoes for our own use each season, besides a considerable quantity which we have been able to spare for other institutions under the control of the Education Department. This year we shall not have enough potatoes to last us until the next season's crop is ready. Fruit and vegetables, however, were plentiful, owing to the fact that in the garden and orchard we have a plentiful supply of water.

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School-work. The work in school has progressed satisfactorily. In the upper division of our day school the children, though of varying capacity, are showing signs of development much beyond my expectations. The reading, writing, recitation, singing, and drill of this division are quite creditable. The articulation of the children of this division has much improved. The manual occupations in this division of the school arc also satisfactory. Smyrna-rug making, lafia-work, knitting, and sewing, are well done. The lower division of the school comprises most of the children who have very little scholastic ability. The work in this division consists mainly of sense-training exercises, simple kindergarten occupations, musical drill, observational, conversational, and expressions! lessons. In all these children there is a very marked defect in the muscular apparatus, which takes the form of inco-ordination. This is probably responsible for many of the forms of imperfect speech in this division. Musical drill to simple nursery-rhyme tunes, which involves the most elementary movements of the hands, head, arms, trunk, and feet, form a most important branch of training in the lower division. Our new day school, with eight class-rooms and open-air teaching-verandas, is nearing completion. The provision of this building will greatly help our school-work. During the year we have made a commencement with special daily vocal classes, where tuition is given to all those who have the capacity in solo and chorus singing. The brighter children are now able to sing rounds and easy .two-part choruses. We are indebted to the Vicar of Kurow for the fortnightly Church services, which are bright, cheerful, and helpful to the boys. The children lookforward to the services, which, together with the morning and evening prayers, and grace at meals, are a means of training the emotions. Extensions. Three large villas, with sleeping-accommodation for approximately thirty-six children each, are nearing completion. In addition, a club-house for the male staff has been erected, cottages for the married attendants, and bedrooms for the single men. George Benstead, Principal. Note. —Appendix giving particulars of deaths in foster-homes and in exempted institutions not printed for 1915.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,700 copies), £12 10s.

Authority : Marcus F. Mabks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l6.

Price f>d.]