A— 20,

22

channel on Stead Street was cleaned out and deepened in order to take away the water from the north arm and to relieve the water on the low-lying portion of the leasehold. A road was formed, 16 ft. wide, from Spey Street, parallel with the western wall, to Stead Street, to give access for cartage to Rhodes's section at Otatara. A bridge was built at the end of this road to give access to Stead Street. About 140 chains of drains on the rifle-range property were cleaned out, the batters adjusted, fall taken up where necessary, and put in good order for the winter. The rifle-range wall was fascined and repaired where necessary. The western wall north of the farm bridge was repaired, fascined, and faced with mud for a considerable distance. The rifle-range flood-gate was repacked to prevent leakage, and the drain leading from Bushy Point to this flood-gate was cleaned out and deepened. The flood-gates at Stead Street, Spey Street, and farm bridge also received attention. A good deal of attention was paid to the drainage of the freehold portion of the farm property. An electric motor and pump were installed close to the flood-gate at the farm bridge. All drains leading through the property from the lagoon to the pump were cleaned out and deepened, and a new drain dug from the head of the lagoon connecting with the main farm drain. A retaining-wall was built across the lagoon, running east and west, to confine the water on the southern side to the Spey Street channel, and that on the northern side to the main farm drains on the freehold, leading to the farm bridge flood-gate and pump. The scheme promises to be a decided success, the pump coping with the flow of water without difficulty, and the freehold portion of the farm being drier than at any time previously. The real benefit of the pump should be more noticeable in the wet season. The formation of Spey Street was completed, and the channel running parallel to it was thoroughly cleaned out. A considerable area on the Corporation leaseholds Nos. i and 6 was cleared of rushes and made ready for the plough. An upper story was built on the south wing, providing additional accommodation for forty inmates. The new cubicles have an improved type of window, allowing more light and better ventilation. The furniture, which was made by inmates in the workshops, consists of pedestal, wardrobe, chair, table, bookshelf, and wooden bed with wire mattress, and altogether the cubicles are very comfortable, and a decided improvement on the old style. Alterations to the upper windows in the existing portion of the south wing are now being carried out, and when completed will be uniform with the new pattern. The blocks used in the additions were made by the inmates. All hammocks in the south wing have been replaced by wooden beds with wire mattresses. All sand and gravel used in connection with the building was brought up by lighter from the New River. A considerable quantity of firewood was cut at Bushy Point and brought to the institution by the lighter. A number of blue-gum gates were made in the institution shops for the farm, also a quantity of wheelbarrows for general reclamation work. A number of garden-gates were made, and stools for the dairy, also desks for the institution school. The concrete porches at cottages Nos. 8 and 10 were dismantled and rebuilt in wood, and several of the cottages were renovated. A number of sheds in the institution yards were removed from the site of the proposed new workshops, and the dividing concrete walls in the yards were dismantled. The blacksmiths were kept busy with smithy work in connection with the farm, additions to the south wing, repairs to the farm bridge, dredge, and drainage scheme. A number of new trucks were made, also the ironwork and wheels for wheel-barrows and iron fittings for the new bedsteads. All shoes were made and shoeing of the farm horses was carried o.ut by the blacksmiths. Sufficient vegetables were grown in the farm garden in conjunction with the experimental plot to provide vegetables for rations all the year round. The extra area taken in to supplement the farm garden was planted with potatoes, and is now providing new potatoes for rations. The dredge has continued operations immediately south of the farm bridge, and has filled in the paddock between the warder's cottage and the main farm road. It is hoped to shortly obtain sufficient gravel in the vicinity to gravel the road recently formed between Spey Street and Stead Street. Breadmaking has been continued with the same satisfactory results as before, wholemeal bread now being provided as well as the ordinary white bread. The bootmakiug industry still provides work for a number of boys, and turned out considerable orders for the mental hospitals and Education Department, as well as providing boots for this institution and Paparua. Work in the tailor's shop was confined to repairs to inmates' clothing. The Morris truck purchased during the year has done all our cartage-work very expeditiously. Large quantities of stakes, fascines, and piles used in connection with the reclamation work have been brought in from Otatara by its aid, besides large quantities of fencing-posts, &c. Parties have also been taken to and from labour in the truck, thus ensuring longer hours and less time in getting on to the works. A garage was built of blocks in the south-west corner of the wall surrounding the recreationground. In conclusion, I desire to convey to the staff my best thanks for the support given throughout another year. Schoolmaster's Report. The chief aim of the master is to capture the attention of the young men who attend the classes, so that formality is avoided in all lessons and lecturettes. Anything new or strange receives a keener attention than does a subject of routine. In all the classes English literature appears to be the favourite subject, and information incidental to passages is readily absorbed. It is in literary appreciation that the pupils find their level, the reader being at once in his element. There is evidence that a fair amount of reading is, or has been, done. Considerable interest is taken in the movements