E.—6a

26

Schooner " Kohimarama." —The schooner is likely to be a useful auxiliary to the school, and a source of attraction to the boys. As, in the nature of the case, she has not to carry any cargo, she is proving too light for safety; she does not stand up to her canvas, or stay, if there is any wind or sea. The Manager, after careful consideration, recommends that the lower-deck be raised, to allow of more ballast being put into her. There is sufficient height between decks to admit of this without inconvenience. The cooking-galley would have to be altered, and a few more improvements made. The compass wants some re-adjusting, and the shore and ship's boats want some repairing. The estimated .cost is from £15 to £20. Sundry Repairs, S[c. —I have already referred to the pasture and the cows. One side of the fence •of the best paddock is so old and frail that it can be repaired no longer. A good fence is needed rather to keep stray cattle out than to keep the school cows in. The cost of a new post-and-rail fence is ■estimated at £20. The best of the old posts and rails would be utilized in repairing other fences. From the abundance of garden stuff the Manager could, with profit, go more extensively into pigbreeding and feeding. He asks for timber with which to extend the present accommodation. I recommend that he be authorised to purchase £5 worth. Some of the outhouses are leaking very 'badly, the shingles being utterly rotten. I recommend that tenders be obtained for re-shingling. An accurate spring-balance or weighing-machine is greatly needed, to test the weight of the supplies. I recommend that the Manager be asked to send in a requisition, so that the cost may be known. Punishment. —The paragraph in Mr. Habens's report relating to punishment merits careful consideration. I have already referred to the good results of Mr. Habens's visit, and to his and my efforts to impress upon the officers the importance of distinguishing clearly between trivial and grave forms of offence. lam sure it would be quite possible to reduce greatly the frequency of corporal punishment without in any way lessening the discipline. A change in this respect would tend greatly to the improvement of the tone and discipline of the school. I believe the infliction of corporal punishment in the presence of all the boys to have a hardening effect, and I recommend that trial be made of a somewhat different course. I suggest the following: —(1.) The officers to be enjoined to make judicious and reasonable distinction between mere boyish offences and grave forms of misconduct; to bring their own moral influence to bear in the case of the former ; and to report only the latter to the -Manager. (2.) The reports of the officers to be laid before the Manager at some stated time, and the 'necessary investigation to be made in presence of the boys ; when, instead of administering stern reproof or inflicting corporal punishment in public, he shall in ordinary cases direct the delinquents to meet him in his office by turns, and there deal with each as he deems best. This is not, however, to preclude the Manager from " improving the occasion" by addressing the assembled boys, explaining to them the nature and gravity of the offence, and of making known to them the punishment which, in .'his opinion, is due. lam sure that, in most cases, the very air of mystery which would thus surround the details of each case of punishment would have a deterrent effect upon the other boys. Even in the case of reproof, I am confident that kindly and affectionate remonstrance on the part of the Manager, when alone with the boy, will in almost all cases have a much more wholesome result than any amount of reproof in public. lam not prepared to say that corporal punishment in the school or the family can in all cases be entirely dispensed with ; but it is astonishing how little of it is really needed, when, along with sound judgment and kindly feeling, there is a strong determination to make it only a last resource. Many years' experience has convinced me of the soundness of the opinion expressed by Mr. Habens in his report, that " frequent [corporal] punishment tends to the increase of offences, that familiarity with the cane breeds contempt of it in many cases, and that some boys who dread punishment have so little hope of escaping it that they become reckless." lam not surprised that the Manager should have confessed to his having " proved that corporal punishment has a very slight deterrent effect." In the draft rule appended to this report I have amended the existing rule with reference to punishment, by striking out the phrase " caning by the Manager." [See printed rules, page 4.] I propose to abolish also the " placard with nature of offence to be worn on boy's back." I have, in the course of my experience in connection with industrial schools, witnessed very gratifying results from kindly and wisely directed efforts to get hold of the good, be it ever so little, which is to be found in almost every young heart, and to incite and foster feelings of self-respect; and I consider it a very hopeless case indeed when the degradation of the offender is the only resource left. It is clearly necessary for the discipline of the school, and only fair to the Manager, that he be left at liberty, as authorised by the Act, to administer such corporal punishment " as may be lawfully inflicted by schoolmasters." It is due to the Manager to say that I make all these suggested alterations as to punishment with his concurrence. The Manager. —I think it only fair to say that I have found cause to agree with Mr. Habens respecting Captain Breton's character and services. I spent a large portion of three days at the school, and had. an opportunity of becoming acquainted with himself, his opinions, and his work ; and the conclusion I have come to is that he is a strictly conscientious and thoroughly honourable man, and scrupulous, precise, and zealous in the performance of his duty. Punctuality, order, method, and strict discipline characterize the daily routine of the school. I believe that with the changes proposed to be made, and with the moral support and the assistance to which he is entitled (and which he will no doubt receive,) from yourself and the department, Captain Breton will be able to render a better account of the school in time to come. Suggestions. —The following is a summary of the attendance at the school at the end of each year, since it was opened in December, 1874 :—3oth June, 1875, 35 ; 30th June, 1876, 80; 30th June, 1877, 79; 30th June, 1878, 70; 30th June, 1879, 64; 31st March, 1880, 56. Unless something be done, there is no likelihood of this number being any larger (if so large) at the end of the current year.* During the nine months ending 31st March, 1880, 21 boys were admitted, and 29 were discharged. These last are classified as follows : —Apprenticed to sea, 4; apprenticed to farmers, &c, 7 ; returned

* 31st December, 1880, number of boys, 55.