21

E.—6a

lead to the adoption of many children by these foster parents, and may be the means of removing one of the greatest difficulties the management has to deal with. In my former report I omitted all mention of the large accumulations of the earnings of the boys and girls as wages, in the Post-office Savings Bank, during the time they are licensed out. Eepayments are made to the girls on their marriage, and to the boys after their attainment of manhood, whose good conduct has shown them worthy of it. I have, &c, H. Houghtof, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Honorary Inspector.

3. — Beport of Medical Officer. Sic, — Look-out Point, June, 1881. I have the honor to report that the average daily number of inmates for the year 1880 was 247. Amongst these, five deaths occured: James Clark, aged twelve months ; Mary Wilson, aged four months; Jane Wilson, aged four months; William Bassett, aged fifteen months; and James Broadford, aged three years. Sickness, indeed, has been limited to those very young children of whose admission to the school I have frequently complained. lam happy to say that the older children may be fairly described as being in robust health. I have, &c, Eobeet Bttbns, F.R.C.S., Ed., The Hon. the Minister of Education. Medical Officer.

4. Beport of the Inspector-General of Schools. — (Visited Uth and 17th Nov., 1880.) Education Department, Wellington, 4th December, 1880. I hate never seen any institution of the kind better managed. Mr. and Mrs. Titchener are remarkably well qualified for their offices. Mr. Titchener, jun., is an admirable teacher. I have never heard more, uniformly good, intelligent, and expressive reading in any school of any class. Miss Christie manages the lower department very well indeed, but she has 170 children in it, and stands greatly in need of assistance.* The water supply is inadequate, and threatens to fail. If the Corporation water can be laid on, I think there can be no doubt that it ought to be brought into use without delay.f The little ones are very much crowded at meal-times. If it would not create too much trouble, I would suggest that some of the children should always wait until the others have done. As in the case of Burnham, I decidedly recommend that each child be provided with three sets of garments, individually appropriated. I think that efforts should be made to get the boarding-out system established, rather than enlarge the buildings. Wm. Jas. Habeas.

5. Mr. Petrie's Beport. Sib, — Education Office, Dunedin, 19th January, 1881. 1 have the honor to report that I examined the scholars receiving instruction at the Otago Industrial School on the 17th December last. Fifty-four were examined in the work of the First Standard, and fifty-two passed. Twenty-eight were examined in reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic, as for the Second Standard, and all of them passed in each of these subjects. Twenty-two were examined in reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic, as for the Third Standard, and twenty of them passed in each of the subjects. Six were examined in the same four subjects as for the Fourth Standard, and all of them passed in each of the subjects. I further held a class-examination in geography. The following is from my report on the school: " The results of the examination were most satisfactory, and showed that the boys and girls placed in this institution are receiving the elements of a sound, though somewhat limited, education." I was particularly pleased with the honesty and independence the children displayed during the examination. There are very few public schools in Otago where the moral tone of the schoolroom is superior to what I saw here. The attention, movements, and intelligence of the children were very satisfactory. The teachers deserve much praise for the excellent work they have done during the year. I am strongly of opinion that an additional teacher should be allowed for the lower department of the school.* The numbers here are now much greater than any single teacher can handle with success. One or two of the elder girls have been acting by turns as monitors, but this arrangement is not likely to give permanent satisfaction. I have, &c, D. Peteie, M.A., The Secretary, Otago Board of Education. Inspector of Schools.

No. 13. KOHIMAEAMA NaTAL TeAINING SCHOOL. I.— Manager's Beport. Sib, — Naval Training School, Kohimaraina, 2nd July, 1881. I have the honor to transmit, for the information of the Hon. the Minister having charge of the administration of " The .Naval Training Schools Act, 1874," the following report for the twelve months ending 31st March last: — The health of the boys generally has been good. The report of the medical officer of the institution will doubtless give full particulars under this head. Eeturn A gives the educational state of the

* Provision is made on the Estimates for an assistant-mistress. + A most abundant supply has now been obtained from the Silverstream.