E.—4

10

Finally I wish to thank the Manager and his staff for their never-failing courtesy extended to mc during my visits, and to compliment them on the highly satisfactory manner in which the school is managed. I fail to find one complaint in the medical register, and the kindness extended to any sick lads could not be exceeded in their own homes. The bright, happy boys to be met with in and about this school bear testimony to the wise methods employed by those in authority. I have, &c, Phil. Andrew, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond. The Secretary for Education, Wellington.

Te Oranga Home. Sir,— Christchurch, Ist March, 1913. I beg to submit my report on the Te Oranga Home, Christchurch. The health of the inmates generally has been good. Owing to the steady increase in the number of second-class inmates, an increase in the number of sanitary conveniences for them is to be recommended. Since the girls have become accustomed to the authority of the new Matron, a better and more settled mental tone has been perceptible amongst them. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Jessie C. Maddison, M.B.

Cheistchurch Receiving Home. Sir,— Christchurch, Ist March, 1913. I beg to submit my report on the Christchurch Receiving Home. The health of the children has been good, and none of the epidemic diseases prevalent in Christchurch have affected any considerable number of them. One delicate little child, however, died from a severe attack of measles. Some boys past their early childhood have had to be sent to the public hospital for minor operations, owing to the insufficient accommodation for them at the Receiving Home. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Jessie C. Maddison, M.B.

Burnham Industrial School. Sir,— Christchurch, 23rd May, 1913. The year 1912 has presented a large amount of sickness, and one death, that of R. L , in whom a chronic abscess of the hip ended in peritonitis. The boy had been thrown from a horse at Wellington two years previously, injuring the hip-joint. An extensive outbreak of influenza occurred in the last quarter of the year, affecting about seventy boys. It was followed by measles, which attacked thirty-eight boys, in one case leading to a very severe attack of pneumonia in A V , who finally had to be sent to the hospital. Four cases of epilepsy were under treatment during the year. Three responded to treatment, but M has steadily gone from bad to worse. He has recently become dangerous, and been sent to the Asylum. His mother and sister are also in mental hospitals. There have been three casas of bone-disease, due to hereditary influences, the worst being D , who has been five times in hospital since his admission to Burnham in 1909, till at last the hospital refused to receive him on account of his behaviour. Since then he has required the special attendance of a trained nurse for twenty-six weeks during the past year, and this experse seems likely to continue. His habits are such that neither the hospital nor the State school, which he formerly attended, would allow him to remain. His family history explains everything, and as His Honour Judge Cooper said in Court, " The boy cannot help himself." If he survives, it is distinctly a case that should be dealt with under the new Mental Defectives Act. Yet he is quite sane and intelligent. There have been a large number of minor complaints and a few cases of incipient phthisis, which have been treated very successfully in the excellent tent camps attached to the school. This camp is on a sunny, dry site, very well sheltered by trees, in which respect it is much superior to the Sanatorium at Cashmere. It is remarkable how quickly~most cases of illness recover in these tents, and I strongly recommend the addition of more tents, as they are infinitely better than the dormitories for all cases. Drainage : This is still defective, as the septic tank overflows into a hole in the shingle. Another concrete tank is required, connected by a siphon with the present tank. Dormitories : These are somewhat overcrowded, but the ventilation is fairly good, as the windows are kept open. The only serious defect is that the beds are too close together, in many cases only 2 ft. apart, whereas 4 ft. is desirable. The water-supply is good. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. W. H. Symes, M.D.. B.Sc.

Cavkrsiiam Industrial School. Sir,— Dunedin, 4th March, J 913. For the greater part of this year the above school has been attended by my locum tenens, Dr. Child, and in looking through her monthly reports I sse that the "general health of the girls has been excellent, only minor ailments having occurred. There ia one case of enlarged thyroid gland, which may require further attention later on.