E.—4

Deaths in Foster-homes. Out of the 1,183 infants under six years of age that were at one time or another on the books'of the foster-homes during 1910, 26 died—that is, 2-19 per cent. Of these, 20 died in the foster-homes, and 6in hospitals or nursing-homes to which they had been removed for treatment. Nineteen of the 26 were under the age of twelve months, and 19 were illegitimates. The following is a comparison of the number of deaths in foster-homes during the last three years : — 1908 .. .. .. 26 deaths out of 1.017 infants = 2-56 per cent. 1909 .. .. ..25 „ 1.181 „ =2-11 .. 1910 .. .. ..26 „ 1,188 .. 219 The percentages are given merely lor illustration, for in dealing with such small numbers a percentage may. of course, have a very misleading appearance. These rates are only slightly above the normal death-rate of the Dominion for children of the same age, and the result therefore reflects great credit. on the District Agents, their assistants, the Local Visitors, and the foster-parents. Particulars of the 26 deaths are given in the appendix. Deaths in Exempted Institutions. These, with other particulars, are shown in the foregoing table relating to exempted institutions. The following is a statement of the deaths during the last two years. 1909 .. .. .. 66 deaths out of 741) infants = 8-81 per cent. 1910 .. .. ..63 „ 915 „ = 6-08 Particulars of the deaths in these homes during 1910 are given in the appendix. Adoptions. During the year, 187 orders of adoption wero made, and four orders cancelling adoption orders. Thirty-three of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 154 were withoul monetary consideration. The following shows the ages of the adopted children :— With Without Premium. Premium. Under 6 months .. .. . . . . . . 17 34 Between 6 and 12 months .. .. .. .. .. 8 20 1 ~ 2 years .. .. .. . . ..3 32 2 „ 3*. .„ .. .. .. .. ..I 19 3 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. -1 7 I .. •') .. .. .. .. .. .... (i .. 5 ..<;.. .. .. .. .. ..1 10 I) .. 7 .. .. .. .. .. . . I I .. 7 .. S .. .. .. .. .. .... I s ..'.».. .. .. .. .. .... 6 ..'.».. Id .. .. .. .. .. .... 6 in .. 11 .. .. .. .. .. .... I 11 .. Vi .. .. .. .. .. .... -l ■■ VI .. L 3 .. .. 13 „ 14 .. .. 2 .. II .. 15 .. .. .. .. .. .... 1 33 ir.l The adopting persons were, Husband and wife jointly .. .. .. .. .. .. 177 Wife alone .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. I Married man .. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. 2 Widow .. .. .. ..»-.. .. .. .. r> Widower ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 The amount ol the premiums ranged Efoin ElO to £125. During the year two cases ol adoption baying more or less lamentable results to the. children concerned have come under the Department s notice. In one of these a boy of illegitimate parentage. an inmate of one of the recognized private Homes, was adopted by order of Court in 1906, and taken to one of the outlying islands, where h< Buffered much ill-treatment before his condition was observed. Etc has now been placed in one of rlie industrial schools. The other case was that of a girl, also of illegitimate parentage, and also an inmate of one of the recognized private Homes. This girl was adopted By a Maori, under order of Court in 1905. and although receiving such care and attention as Maoris usually extend to their children, and not needing the intervention of the law relating to the protection of children, is nevertheless in a position in which a white child ought not to be placed.

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