8.—4

14

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 12 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 four years in which a record of the deaths has been kept : — 1909 .. .. .. 66 deaths out of 749 infants = 8-81 per cent. 1910 .. .. ..63 „ 915 „ =6 08 1911 .. .. ..47 „ 899 „ =5-23 I ill -I .. .. .. 36 .. 911 .. =3.95 Particulars of the deaths in these institutions during 1912 are given in the appendix. Adoptions. During the year 232 orders of adoption wen; made, and two orders cancelling adoption orders-Thirty-seven of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 195 were without monetary consider ation. The following shows the ages of the adopted children : — With Withoul Premium. Premium. Under 6 months .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 57 Between 6 and 12 months. ... .. .. .. .. 9 14 ~ 1 „ 2 years .. .. .. .. 5 M „ 2 „ S „ .. ..2 Lβ „ 3 „ 4 „ I 20 „ 4 „ 5 „ 16 „ 5 „ 6 „ .. .. .. .. .. 1 5 ~ 6 „ 7 „ .. .. .. .. .... (i „7„ 8 „ „8„ 9 „ 6 „ « „ 10 „ 5 „ 10 „ 11 .„ I „ 11 „ 12 „ .. .. .. .. .... 3 „ 12 •„ 13 „ 2 13 „ 14 .. .. .. .. .... 3 14 „ 15 .. .. .. .. .... 5 37 195 The adopting persons were, — Husband and wife jointly .. .. .. .. .. .. 220 Husband alone .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Wife alone .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 4 Widow 5 Bachelor .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 The amount of the premiums ranged from £5 to £100. ILLEGITIMACY. For its obvious relation to the intentions of the Infants Act the following table is given : —

During the year 137 registrations were effected under the Legitimation Act. E. O. GIBBES, Secretary for Education

Provincial District*. Illegitimate Births registered during 1912. Number of Illegitimate Children aged 12 Months or less brought under the Act during 1912. Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland .. Canterbury Otago 360 31 52 330 |9 28 15 186 166 41 "P 7 74 8 1 60 52 Totals 1,177 1,177 249 Totals for 1911 1,078 1,078 223