9

E.—3

There are two cottages, in each of which six boys are boarded, in charge of a married couple. This cottage system is answering very well, as it is a great inducement to boys to behave well in order to be promoted to live in a cottage. It is much to be desired that this system may be further developed by the erection of more cottages. It is not only the best method of classifying boys, but it also attracts a superior class of men to apply for the position of attendant. It is found difficult to select the most suitable type of men for attendants, and I hope we may soon be able to train our own attendants. They should begin as probationers and be induced to qualify themselves for attendants by the offer of good salaries. The most difficult part of the management of Burnham lies in the care and "disposal of those who are physically and morally the most degenerate. These boys are included in Class M, and are specially watched and treated ; but their presence at Burnham is a prolific source of contamination to the rest of the school. They are incorrigibly addicted to vice and obscene language. Moral suasion seems to have no effect on them, and yet it would be cruel to attempt to reform them by corporal punishment. They ought to be isolated from the other boys, like an infectious disease. I understand that the Timaru Gaol is little used, and this building would, in my opinion, suit admirably for the home of these boys.. Another part of the same building could be used with advantage as a boys' penal reformatory for refractory criminal cases and persistent absconders. The good-conduct boys were camped on Quail Island in February for a month's holiday. This was greatly enjoyed, and contributed visibly to their health and spirits. The water-supply at Burnham has been vastly improved by the construction of a large filter-bed, into which the water-race flows, and from which a good flow of pure water is obtained. Formerly the water was used unfiltered from the water-race, with the result that boils and eruptions were always in evidence. The latter seldom occur now. A want that has long been felt at Burnham is that of a gymnasium. It seems strange that so large a school, where 252 boys are occasion-ally and 100 constantly in residence, should have existed so long without a gymnasium ; and it has only been delayed by the pressure of greater wants. Now that there is a carpentering class at the school there should be no longer any excuse for delay. The bleak, dreary, wind-swept plains of Burnham are pleading eloquently for tree-planting. Thereis a nice plantation at the school itself, but the 1,000 acres of paddocks are bare. If a gardener could be sent from the Government nurseries occasionally to instruct the boys in propagating and planting trees, it would benefit the boys, the land, and the climate. The last petition I wish to trouble you with concerns my own department. I have repeatedly brought under your notice the great need that exists for a proper dispensary at Burnham. At present the large number of stock bottles of medicine are stowed away in a cupboard in the work-room, where there is no room to arrange them, so that they are difficult to find. This leads to loss and waste of money. We want a room, well lighted, set apart for a dispensary, with shelves for the medicines, drawers for surgical dressings and appliances, and a table with scales and measures for dispensing. Various things should be kept in constant readiness for emergencies, such as burns and scalds, cuts, bleeding, fractures, and other accidents. Remedies, with easy directions, should be arranged so as to be found at a moment's notice in case of sudden illness. At present there is no room or proper place for anything, and nothing can be found immediately it is wanted. To complete this department, it is desirable that the Sub-matron should be a trained nurse. My recommendations may be enumerated thus : . (1) Extension of the cottage homes ; (2) use of Timaru Gaol as a penal reformatory ; (3) establishment of a gymnasium ; (4) instruction in treeplanting ; (5) dispensary and trained nurse. A very great change has come over Burnham since it has become the reformatory for the whole colony, all good-conduct boys being now sent to Caversham. Formerly a large proportion of the inmates were little boys ; but as all these are now generally sent to Caversham, those at Burnham show a high average of size and strength, often with sullen determination. The exercise of discipline is difficult and sometimes dangerous, and it is only the exceptional ability and qualifications of Mr. Archey that maintain good order in the school. Even he has very nearly lost his life through a murderous assault. Many of the boys are noted for a high spirit of pluck and reckless daring, qualities more valuable in naval than in civil life. A naval training-ship, for Burnham boys alone, would promote the objects of the school, and prove of great value in time of war. This suggestion has been highly approved by certain Royal naval officers, who have assured me that if the Right Hon. the Premier desired it there would probably be no great difficulty in obtaining the grant of a suitable ship from the Admiralty. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. W. H. Symes, M.D.

Otago. S IR _ Dunedin, 28th March, 1904. I have the honour to report that the past year, so far as sickness is concerned, has been an uneventful one in the experience of the Caversham Industrial School. At this time last year our hands were full, providing for the scarlatina cases, and isolating the individuals as they showed symptoms. Luckily the buildings on Quarantine Island were vacant, and, thanks to the Health Department, we were enabled to make use of them. Every attention was paid to the comfort of the boys as they were conveyed there and back. Altogether forty-seven were sotreated, and, as generally the cases were of a mild type, the convalescents enjoyed the pure air in the dry weather that characterized the season during the twelve weeks of their detention. We have also to acknowledge the good done by the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Caversham, where we conveyed