E.—3

2

City Council, orphan and destitute girls have been received into St. Joseph's Providence Orphanage at a cost of Is. a day for each child. In consequence of the power given by " The Neglected and Criminal Children Acts Amendment Act, 1881," to send committed children to any industrial school in any part of the colony, the authorities of the Nelson St. Mary's Industrial School and Orphanage greatly enlarged the accommodation at that institution, and the number of committed children has increased in two years from 14 to 79 ; the number of non-committed inmates remaining about the same. The payment for children maintained at this institution by the Government is Is. a day. The Motueka Orphanage, for non-committed children only, is carried on by a private person who receives from Government 7s. a week for some of the children, and Bs. a week for the others. Destitute children are admitted to this institution on the authority of the Government Relieving Officer at Nelson. The Lyttelton Orphanage is for the reception of non-committed children only, and is under the direct management of the Christchurch Charitable Aid Board. The three public Industrial Schools at Auckland, Burnham, and Caversham are wholly maintained by the Government out of the vote administered by the Minister of Education. The other institutions are inspected by, and make returns to, the Education Department, but, as has been stated, they are under local management of various kinds, and the money contributed by the Government towards their maintenance is paid out of the Charitable Aid vote, which is in charge of the Colonial Secretary. The cost of all the public and of some of the private institutions is reduced by the contributions paid in a number of cases by the parents and guardians of inmates. The sites and buildings at Howe Street (Auckland), and at Caversham, are now very ill-adapted to their purpose. It is in contemplation to erect suitable buildings at Mount Eden in lieu of the former, and to remove the latter institution to the site selected for it at Seacliff, Blueskin. The premises at Burnham are now in a fairly satisfactory condition; the only important want being a playroom for the use of the boys during inclement weather. The number of committed children resident in the industrial schools at the beginning of 1882 was 688 (405 boys and 283 girls). At the end of the year the number was 827 (488 boys and 339 girls), showing an increase for the year of 139 (83 boys and 56 girls). The number of non-committed children at the close of 1882 was 213 (90 boys and 123 girls), being an increase for the year of only 6 girls. The following is a summary of admissions and withdrawals at all the schools for the year :—

TABLE S.—Admissions and Withdrawals for Year 1882.

Table S shows that during the year 35 (26 boys and 9 girls) committed children were sent out to service; 49 (37 boys and 12 girls) were restored to their relatives or friends under license; and 26 (14 boys and 12 girls) were discharged. It is not found advisable in all cases to comply with the solicitations of the parents, or other relatives or friends', for the restoration of their children by license or discharge ; but not unfrequently the request is granted for what are considered sufficient reasons. In the majority of such cases the children are sent out under license, and can be recalled by the Minister should necessity arise. Those to

uninitted. Noj L-Commil ;ed. Total. Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total. [n the schools at 31st December, 1881 Sew admissions ... Returned from service or friends ... Fransferred from other schools or other status fransferred to other schools or other status ... to seryice ... 3ent to friends Discharged by warrant L'ime expired i-bsent without leaye Dead ... !n the schools at 31st December, 1882 405 177 13 20 13 26 37 14 21 9 7 488 283 106 5 3 3 9 12 12 19 688 283 18 23 16 35 49 26 40 9 10 827 90 28 117 37 207 65 495 203 13 20 20 33 50 14 22 9 7 578 400 143 5 3 3 18 32 12 20 895 348 18 23 23 51 82 26 42 9 11 1,040 7 7 13 "'9 20 7 16 33 i "l 2 3 339 90 "l 123 1 213 4 462 I I I 83 Increase 83 56 139 6 6 62 145