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XXIV

Institution fob the Deaf-and-Dumb. Thirty-six pupils (twenty boys and sixteen girls) are now in attendance at the Stunner Deaf-and-Dumb Institution. Seven of them have been sent from Auckland Provincial District, one from Taranaki, four from Wellington, one from Hawke's Bay, ten from Canterbury, and twelve from Otago. The thirty-sixth pupil is a deaf-mute girl from Adelaide, South Australia. A year ago there were thirty-two pupils; two of them have left the institution, and six fresh pupils have been entered this year. The Director had the aid of two assistants last year; but, owing to the increased attendance, the various degrees of the pupils' attainments, and the peculiar difficulty and laboriousness of the work, it has been found necessary to engage the services of a third assistant. The method of instruction is that which is known as the " articulation method," by which deaf mutes are trained to the use of the organs of speech, and learn both to speak, in the ordinary sense of the word, and to understand from the motion of the lips the speech of others. No use is made of finger-signs or other means employed elsewhere as substitutes for speech. The course of instruction includes reading and writing in the first instance, followed by English composition, arithmetic, geography, history, drawing, elementary science, &c. The girls are also instructed in sewing, knitting, and other useful accomplishments. The pupils, who are all resident boarders under the watchful care of Mr. and Mrs. Van Asch and their assistants, occupy four separate dwellings, situated at convenient distances from one another. There is also a detached schoolhouse, with an ample playground and abundant facilities for recreation purposes. This arrangement is in several respects better adapted to the purposes of such an institution than one large building in which all the pupils could be accommodated. The separate residences afford abundant means of classifying the pupils according to sex and age. During the day all the pupils are assembled for meals and for school instruction, when they are under the supervision of the Director and his assistants. After school lessons and meals are over, the pupils separate and retire for the night to their several residences. One of these is under the supervision of Mr. and Mrs. Yan Asch; a second accommodates girls, who are under the care of the lady-assistant; and each of the other two residences is occupied by boys, in charge of an assistant master and a trustworthy matron. The locality is salubrious, as is attested by the general good health of the children. The institution is subject to medical inspection, and it is visited from time to time by officers of the Department. The ability and zeal of the Director are deserving of high commendation, and the results of his labours are surprising and gratifying. He has been well seconded in his efforts to promote the welfare and comfort of the pupils by Mrs. Van Asch and his assistants. The Appendix, Table No. 8, contains a statement of the expenditure on the institution for the financial year ending 31st March, 1885. The following is an abstract of the statement: — £ a. a. Director and assistants ... ... ... ... 859 19 2 Eent and repairs ... ... ... ... ... 300 0 0 Travelling expenses, medical attendance, furniture, school-room requisites, advertising, &c. ... ... ... ... 269 4 7 Maintenance of pupils ... ... £1,209 0 8 Less payments by parents ... ... 265 12 6 943 8 2 £2,372 11 11 action on the part of tho inhabitants in the furtherance of the work in which you are to be engaged. 7. You will report by-and-by to the Minister on the following matters and such others as your experience and circumstances may suggest: (1.) The advisability of establishing one fully-equipped school, at some centre that would prove on the whole suitable and generally acceptable. (2.) Tho best means of obtaining a suitable school site, with a good title; the description of buildings that it would be necessary and advisable to provide at the outset, the probable cost, &e. (3.) Or whether for some time to come the best course would be to provide for the school instruction of the young by means of an itinerant teacher or teachers, half-time schools, or otherwise. (4.) The number of children of school age who are (a) of pure European race, (b) of pure Maori race, (c) of pure Moriori race, (d) half-castes, (e) between half-caste and Native, and (/) between half-caste and European, and the practicability of educating all these classes of children by means of the same school machinery, or what plan it would be necessary to adopt to do equal justice to all. 8. Before you leave for the Islands you will be furnished with an ample supply of reading-books, stationery, and all necessary school appliances."