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E.-S

Section 53 of " The Industrial Schools Act, 1882," requires that "the Governor, or any Judge, or Resident Magistrate shall, when ordering any child to be sent to a school, state to what religious persuasion, creed, or denomination such child in his opinion belongs, and shall order and direct that such child shall be brought up and educated in that persuasion, creed, or denomination." There is also provision for the rectification of any error that may have been committed in the making^out of any order. The following table furnishes information respecting the religious denominations of the children committed or admitted to the industrial schools and orphanages in 1882 : —

Religious Denominations of Children Committed or Admitted in 1882.

The Order in Council making regulations and prescribing forms under "The Industrial Schools Act, 1882," is published in the New Zealand Gazette of 19th January, 1883, pages 95-98. John Hislop.

No. 3. Dr. Peins' Eepobt on Buknham School. Sir,— OMstohurob, 10th July, 1883. I have the honour to report that the Industrial School at Burnham on every occasion of my visiting the institution was in a clean and orderly condition. The number on the books to 15th June was as follows: Boys, 184; girls, 72 ; total, 256. In addition to those licensed out and under control, there were 23 boys and 30 girls boarded out. The inmates have on the whole enjoyed good health. Last winter two of the inmates suffered from ulcerative chilblains in an aggravated form, as reported by me to the Government in October last. During the past twelve months I have found it necessary to send five of the inmates to the Christchurch Hospital for treatment. Three returned to the school, and two (one, aged sixteen years, and the other, aged seven years) are still in the hospital. The latter is suffering from disease of the hip-joint, and is likely to be an inmate of the hospital for some time. The judicious system lately adopted of placing the younger children with foster-parents has not only relieved the institution of a serious responsibility in the case of so young children, but has made room for further admissions. As only two children have been brought to me for advice since they have been placed out with foster-parents, I conclude that they are all keeping well. The education of the children is being carefully attended to, and, in addition to their ordinary school-work, the girls are taught house- and needle-work. The land in connection with the institution is kept in constant use, and affords work for a great portion of the-elder boys. I observe that a good deal of discussion has recently taken place on the propriety of establishing reformatories, and as there may be some danger, from want of funds, of the existing industrial schools being utilized for the training of juvenile

Denommatioh. Committed. Kon-committed. Total. 'hurch of England toman Catholic ... 'resbyterian Tesley an 'rotestant 'ongregational 'rimitive Methodist Japtist 'ljmouth Brethren 135 87 43 9 2 3 2 2 29 21 3 5 5 2 164 108 46 14 5 4 3 2 2 Totals 283 65 348