H.—ll.

Permits granted (14 to 16 Years of Age), under Sections 57 to 60, Factories Act, during the Year 1st January to 31st December, 1898.

Reports on Accommodation provided for Shearers.

CXXV

Town. Number Number of of Boys. Girls. Boys: Standard passed. IV. V. VI. VII. Girls: Sia IV. V. idard passed. VI. VII. Auckland Amberley Ashburton Christchurch .. Dunedin Green Island .. Gore .. Hawera Invercargill Inglewood Kihikihi Levin Masterton Malvern (Annat) Milton Mosgiel New Plymouth Napier Nelson Oamaru Palmerston North Hangiora Timaru Thames Takaka Wanganui Wellington Whangaroa 218 2 10 142 164 13 1 6 39 3 138 2 7 136 179 2 i 1 29 121 43 54 2 3 60 HO 1 75 28 1 1 32 51 34 1 5 54 77 1 1 3 55 54 10 1 3 16 4 27 30 2 1 50 51 1 3 1 1 9 2 9 3 i 14 9 ii 1 3 1 4 8 3 8 9 1 9 5 28 4 1 17 167 1 1 'I J 1 .3 1 i i 14 3 2 1 2 2 4 1 1 1 2 9 1 5 1 4 1 1 2 2 4 2 i 1 12 19 2 4 4 7 3 8 5 4 16 4 13 4 6 1 14 2 1 2 9 1 5 2 5 1 5 1 2 3 5 1 6 1 11 114 10 81 1 1 6 35 1 15 3 46 38 "i 23 36 "i Totals 17 274 194 232 10 863 710 392 175 279

Number of Stations. Remarks. District. Ashburton Amberley .. Akaroa Arrowtown Alexandra South Ashurst Awanui (Port) Blenheim .. Cromwell .. Clinton Culverden Coromandel Carterton .. Clive Christohuroh Cambridge 8 15 33 2 2 2 18 38 5 9 26 6 7 1 5 Accommodation very good. The accommodation on most of the stations is very fair. The accommodation in this district is very satisfactory. Improvements suggested by Inspector have been carried out. Accommodation good. Accommodation satisfactory. Accommodation fairly good. Accommodation in most cases very fair. Two of the largest station-holders employ Maoris, who prefer to sleep in tents, although in one case good accommodation is provided; in one or two other cases the owners have promised to erect increased accommodation. Accommodation good. One place was very dirty, but at request of Inspector was immediately cleaned. The accommodation for shearers in this district is very unsatisfactory, some sheds being very much overcrowded, and others dirty. The Inspector has served notices on owners for better accommodation. Accommodation good. Accommodation satisfactory. Accommodation very fair. The stations in this district being small, most of the work is done by the neighbouring settlers, who return home every night. All have good accommodation. Accommodation fair. Accommodation very satisfactory. Accommodation fair. Maoris are mostly employed in this district, who prefer to sleep in tents, and do their own cooking. All have good accommodation excepting one, who has been served with a notice by Inspector to provide better accommodation. Accommodation, with the exception of two, very good. In these two cases the owners are endeavouring to comply with the request of the Inspector, but have been delayed considerably on account of the wet weather, being unable to get timber from mills. Accommodation satisfactory. Accommodation good. In two cases it was necessary for the Inspector to serve notices on owners to provide proper accommodation. Accommodation very good. Accommodation very good. Both have good accommodation. The Inspector has served notice on one station-owner for improved accommodation; the others have fair accommodation. In one case looal men are employed, who return home every night. Dannevirke 6 Mketahuna 11 Eltham .. Fairlie 29 Keatheratou Foxton Gore Greytown ., 5 9 2 5