11

E.—4,

At present there are six mentally deficient girls in the school, two of whom are of a distinctly low type. Some of these girls are occasionally very troublesyme. The general attention to the girls, in the way of food, clothing, and daily exercise, is most satisfactory, and reflects creditably Matron and staff of the school. I have, &c, Emily H. Seideberg, M.8., L.R.C.P.I. The Secretary for Education, Wellington.

St. Vincent de Paul's, South Dunedin. Sir,— Dunedin, 17th April, 1913. I beg to submit my annual report on the St. Vincent de Paul's Industrial School, South Dunedin. The health of the children continued at a very high'standard, and, apart, from a few slight cases nf measles, none of the inmates suffered from any form of infectious disease. The food, clothing, and personal hygiene of the little folk still receive earnest study on'approved lines of the Reverend Mother and Sisters in charge, and the general sanitary condition of the institution remains satisfactory. I have, &c, Eugene J. O'Neill, M.8., F.R.C.S., Eng. The Secretary for Education, Wellington.

No. 3. —COSTLEY TEAININ6 INSTITUTION. Balance-sheet for Year ending 31st December, 1912. Liabilities. Assets. £ s. d. £ s. d. Costley bequest .. .. .. 12,150 0 0 Mortgages .. .. .. .. 14,300 0 0 Robecca Hodge bequest .. .. 742 3 9 Accrued interest .. .. .. 230 8 6 Boys'savings .. .. .. 12 0 6 Jackson and Russell .. .. .. 623 6 7 Revenue Account .. .. .. 2,272 0 7 Bank of New Zealand .. .. 22 9 9 £15,176 4 10 £15,176 4 10 Revenue Account. £ s. d. I £ s. d. To Expenses (office rent, &c, £25) .. 37 9 6 By Balance as per last account .. 1,608 12,11 „ Maintenance .. .. .. 84 14 6 „ Interest received .. .. .. 785 11 8 „ Balance as per above .. .. 2,272 0 7 £2,394 4 7 £2.394 4 7 C. Hudson, F.P.A.N.Z., Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. Examined and found correct.—R. J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

No. 4.—INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION. Education Department, Wellington, 31st May, 1913. The Hon. the Minister of Education. I submit the following report on the work of the Department in respect of infant-life protection for the year 1912. It will be seen that the bulk of the infants were in foster-homes —that is, with women who have the motherly capacity, and the time and accommodation necessary to satisfy the Department's requirements for the license prescribed by the Act. The remainder were in various benevolent institutions, of which particulars are given below. Numbers. The number of infants in licensed foster-homes on the 31st December was 774, which is 67 more than there were at the beginning of the year. The individuals changed to a much greater extent than those figures indicate, however; the total number of individuals dealt with in connexion with foster-homes during the year, by admissions, withdrawals, transfers, &c. being 1,228. The number placed in foster-homes was 18 more than in the previous year, and the number removed from the homes was 22 less.