E.—3a,

1892. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: THE COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTION (REPORT OF). [In continuation of E.-3a, Sess. II., 1891.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

I.—Eepokt of the Trustees. The annual meeting of the friends of the Costley Training Institution was held at the Institution Building, Richmond Eoad, Auckland, on the 21st January, 1892, when the annual report of the trustees was read, as follows :— With very great pleasure the trustees of this institution again meet you this evening with their annual report for the year ending the 31st December last. That pleasure, however, is considerably discounted by the fact that death has deprived them of the services of their late manager, Mr. Hawkins. He has been succeeded by Mr. Ramsay. The year has been an eventful one in other ways. For some months past a spirit of restlessness has manifested itself amongst a few of the lads, and, as a result, there are now several of them absent without leave. The trustees have endeavoured by every means in their power to ascertain the causes of this disaffection, but so far without satisfactory results. They trust that the year now entered upon may be free from unpleasantness of this kind. Of course it would be an easy matter to punish the escapees through the medium of the Police Court, but this, unless compelled, they prefer not to do. No doubt the illness of the late manager prevented his enforcement of that discipline which, in good health, he so efficiently maintained. The old workshop having proved too limited for its purpose, a new brick one has been erected, giving ample accommodation as well for a carpenters' as a blacksmiths' shop. The latter has been fitted up in modern fashion with the most improved implements, and is presided over by a competent mechanic. As heretofore the carpenters' shop is also carried on under the guidance of a practical workman. These workshops are of inestimable value in teaching the lads the use of tools, even though eventually they do not follow either haudicraft the elementary principles of which are being taught. The health of the inmates has been above the average during the year. There have been no deaths and no cases of serious illness. In addition to the boys, of whom there are twenty-seven on the roll, there are nine girls, the latter of whom are either in service or boarded out with respectable families. During the year Dr. Beale resigned his appointment as honorary medical officer, and Dr. Knight kindly assumed the office. With a few exceptions the lads are employed by various tradesmen in the city. Monthly reports are sent in by each employer, and on the whole such reports have been most favourable. Two of the eldest lads, whose term in the Institute has expired, have gone into lodgings. They are now employed as journeymen at the prevailing rate of wages, and have in them all the elements necessary to a prosperous and honourable career. Bearing in mind the antecedents of many of these lads, it stands to reason that some time must elapse ere a new manager can successfully acquaint himself with the characteristics of each. We believe that in Mr. Ramsay we have a manager of high principle, who will guide and lead rather than drive, and we trust, under his management, to have a successful year. The religious training of the inmates is not overlooked. The lads all attend church each Sunday morning, the evenings being devoted to such profitable uses as the manager decides upon. As showing the good feeling which existed amongst the lads in regard to their late guardian, they, unsolicited, requested to be allowed to subscribe an amount sufficient to erect a fence around his grave. A balance-sheet will be produced, showing the financial condition of the establishment. With the exception of a credit balance at the bank all moneys are invested on mortgage. The trustees' solicitors collect the interest quarterly, and pay it direct to the trustees' credit in the Bank of New Zealand. A voucher for each offthese quarterly payments is forwarded to the trustees, showing