E.—3.

careful control such as they would get in an industrial school proper, or even girls, who, according to circumstances, should be boarded out, sent- to the Caversham School or to that at Mount Albert, or, if they appear to be of vicious habits or disposition, to Te Oranga. There are four private industrial schools —namely, (1) St. Mary's, Auckland, with two branches—one for boys at Takapuna, the other, for girls, at Ponsonby ; (2) St. Joseph's, Wellington, for girls only ; (3) St. Mary's, Nelson, with a branch for boys at Stoke, and a branch for girls and very young boys at Nelson; (4) St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin, for girls only. The interests of boarded-out children are looked after by the managers (aided in Dunedin by an "official correspondent") at the several centres. The children are also visited monthly, or oftener, by the local lady visitors who send monthly reports on all the inmates under their charge to the managers. Inmates from Government industrial schools licensed to service, or with friends, are visited by the managers. It is to be regretted that the managers of private industrial schools have not so far seen their way to carry out, except in a very casual manner, so excellent a plan. Three officers of the Department act as Inspectors of Industrial Schools ; one of them is also chief clerk in charge of this important branch, and the other two also carry out, with another officer specially appointed for the purpose, the work of making a regular visitation of all the boarded-out children and such of the inmates placed at service and with friends as the managers have been unable to visit within a recent period. They also investigate any case in which the Department desires a special report. The lastappointed Inspector is a lady, and her work is especially useful in connection with boarded-out children and girls placed out at service. It may be as well to repeat here, for general information, the summary that was given in last year's report of the regulations gazetted:— Except in a few details the regulations are made to apply equally to Government and to private schools. Ample powers are given for the thorough inspection of all schools, for frequently visiting children residing away from the schools, and for auditing wages and other accounts. In the case of private schools, managers not residing at the schools are required to inspect the institution at least once a week, and to make themselves fully conversant with the details of management and acquainted with each inmate. The medical officer of a school has wide powers. He has the right to visit at any time, but there must be a monthly inspection. He is responsible that the physical well-being of inmates is attended to, and that the rules of sanitation are observed. The punishment-book is to be regularly produced to him. Managers are enjoined to co-operate with medical officers. Inmates are, throughout the year, to have at least one warm bath weekly. Underclothing is to be changed weekly. Closets are to be readily accessible to dormitories. Bedding is to be comfortable in all respects. Provision is to be made for the safety of inmates in case of fire. An Official Visitors' book is to be kept. Directions are given to insure that the food is in all respects satisfactory, and that it is sufficiently varied. Full provision is made for the proper clothing of inmates. Industrial training is to be thorough and regular for all inmates of suitable age, and female inmates are to receive domestic training. The attention of inmates is to be directed to rural life, and they are to be taught dairy-work, poultry-keeping, gardening, &c. Military drill, swimming, and life-saving are to be taught. Proper provision is to be made for inmates' recreation, and libraries are to be provided. Thorough classification is to be maintained. Facilities for religious training are to be given. Careful supervision over inmates is enjoined. Each dormitory must be under the supervision of an officer. Lights are to be shown in dormitories. Managers are to visit dormitories at least once nightly. Inmates licensed out are to be regularly visited, and complaints of licensed inmates are to be promptly attended to. An inmate who absconds or damages property may be fined. Inmates who through misconduct frequently return to the schools may be required to contribute from their accumulated earnings towards the cost of their maintenance at the schools. Inmates who for special reasons cannot be licensed out may be remunerated for their services at the schools. Monetary rewards 'and badges for good conduct may be given. A certain relaxation of the regulations formerly in force relating to corporal punishment has been made, though, as the maximum amount of punishment has been more carefully defined, the effect is not to make any very great difference. The punishments in industrial schools and in reformatories have been differentiated; in the latter they are the more severe. As a rule the punishments to be inflicted will be such as may be lawfully inflicted by schoolmasters. Managers may inflict the punishment or may depute officers to do so in their presence. In general the officer reporting the offence is not to be the one to inflict punishment. A cane or leather strap is to be the instrument for punishing boys, and a strap for girls; twelve strokes to be maximum. Under careful restrictions, and for grave offences, male inmates may be birched on the bare breech, but the birch must be approved by the medical officer; the maximum of strokes is twelve. Both males and females may be put in cells for a maximum of ten hours in industrial schools and a week in reformatories. Under proper restrictions, dietary discipline may be used. Badges of degradation may be used only with the approval

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