E.—3

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of opinion that the history of (J , and of many other Burnham boys, indicates the necessity of a training-ship to teach them discipline. The facility of running away from Burnham is an incentive to absconding, and weakens the control of the attendants. I consider there is urgent need of separate buildings for classifying the boys, so that those addicted to bad habits may not contaminate the rest; also, that the well-behaved boys may have privileges. I recommend that a special attendant be engaged as night-watchman, to visit every ward every hour. I have, myself, visited the wards some nights every hour until 2 a.m., and am satisfied that it is necessary that the wards should be under such supervision. I have given a false alarm of fire unexpectedly at night, and seen the fire-drill efficiently and promptly carried out. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education. W. H. Symes, M.D. Medical Officer.

Otago. Sib, — Dunedin, May, 1901. In presenting my annual report on the Caversham Industrial School, I have to record the occurrence of five deaths during that period, despite the fact of the general health being good. I detail the circumstances of each fatal case below. 1. T H , nearly twelve years old, died in Dunedin Hospital, of phthisis, on the 29th April, 1900. When this boy returned to the school from being boarded out his emaciation was so extreme that I advised his removal, one month after, to the hospital, where he survived for six months. 2. E E , sixteen, died of meningitis on the 18th June. Her symptoms were obscure, and the cause of death was ascertained by post-mortem examination. 3. S J B , aged thirteen, died on the 22nd August, of double pneumonia. She was received from the Burnham institution on the 3rd May. A girl of delicate constitution. 4. C M. P , fifteen., was sent to the Dunedin Hospital on the 24th November, suffering from peritonitis. She died on the 11th December. 5. E- M- , an idiot, aged seventeen, was boarded out at Mornington with a private family, who treated her with every kindness. Her death was due to heart disease, on the 19th February. I think I have never had to record so many deaths in any one year, hence my entering into details. lam satisfied every attention was paid to each case. The average number in the institution for the year was eighty—forty-nine boys and thirty-one girls. Thirty-four children were received from Burnham —ten boys and twenty-four girls. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Robert Burns, E.E.C.S. Ed.

No. 5. EXAMINATION REPORTS. St. Mary's Industrial School, Auckland. Ponsonby Branch (Girls) (examined 29th November, 1900). Pass Subjects. —Presented : Standard IV., 5 ; Standard 111., 14 ; Standard 11., 17 ; Standard 1., 6 ; Preparatory, 14. Examined in Standards : Standard IV., 5 ; Standard 111., 13 ; Standard 11., 17; Standard 1., 6. Passed: Standard IV., 5; Standard 111., 10; Standard 11., 15; Standard 1., 6. On the whole the work done at examination was very satisfactory. Eeading was very fair in most classes, but comprehension of the subject-matter and of the meaning of words and phrases was weak. Spelling was good, and so also was writing. Composition was very fair in all classes. Arithmetic was very fair in most classes, although it was only moderate in Standard 111. Class-subjects. —Geography, weak ; drawing, satisfactory ; grammar, moderate ; history, weak ; elementary science, object-lessons, &c, fair; recitation, very fair; handwork, not taught. Additional Subjects. —Singing, needlework, drill and exercises, very satisfactory. Instruction of Preparatory Glasses. —The pupils of the preparatory classes did the work professed very satisfactorily. The tone, order, and discipline were commendable. E. C. Purdie, Inspector.

Takapuna Branch (Boys) (examined 30th November, 1900). Pass-subjects. —Presented: Standard V., 2; Standard IV., 9; Standard 111., 14; Standard 11., 13; Standard 1., 8; Preparatory, 20. Examined in Standards: Standard V., 2; Standard IV., 9; Standard 111., 13; Standard 11., 13 ; Standard 1., 8. Passed: Standard V., 2 ; Standard IV., 5 ; Standard 111., 8 ; Standard 11., 6 ; Standard 1., 7. The work done at examination in pass-subjects was only fairly satisfactory. Eeading was on the whole very fair, though it was weak in Standard 11. Comprehension of the meanings of words and phrases was only moderate. Spelling was very fair in most classes ;it was bad in Standard 11. Writing was very fair in most classes; it was weak in Standard I. Composition was very fair in Standards 111. and V., but was weak in Standard IV. Arithmetic was only fair_when taken on the average of the classes throughout. Glass-subjects. —Geography, fair ; drawing, satisfactory ; grammar, fair ; history, not taught; elementary science, object-lessons, &c, not taught; recitation, somewhat weak, wanting in force and expression ; handwork, not taught.