H.—2o.

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and worked up in readiness for sowing down in permanent pasture this autumn. A good deal of work has also been carried out on other portions of the new estate in clearing scrub land and in draining swamps, adding in the meantime to the acreage available for rough feed for the cattle. Chief of the farming industries has been the dairying ; and although at present the indications are that the average butterfat per cow will not be quite up to that of last season (360 lb.), owing to the increase in the herds the output will be greater and the revenue derived from this source correspondingly greater. The rearing and fattening of pigs has shown an all-round improvement. During the year over two hundred pigs were sold. With the exception of the Jersey bull calves all the calves born have been reared during the last few years. A few steers are being kept for fattening for sale, but the main part are being transferred to Hautu Prison. Cows culled from the dairies and other store cows purchased locally have been turned out and fattened for our ration-supply. The sheep flocks have been increased by the purchase of ewes, and two grades are kept, one for killing for rations and the other for breeding for fat lambs. From the latter grade we had a lambing percentage of 100, and sales from fat lambs this season realized £522. The proceeds from the wool are expected to realize a further £230. During the year 248 sheep were killed for rations. The apiary, which became affected by the disease of foul-brood and was nearly destroyed, has been cleaned up and is becoming well established again. The output for the season has realized 1,400 lb. of honey. The apple-orchard promises to give a further good return this year, and should at least equal the crop of last season, which realized £347 from sales of the fruit. In the garden a fine supply of vegetables has been maintained throughout the year for the institution and camp rations. We have also been able to supply Waikune Prison with vegetables when their own supplies ran short, and the surplus, together with tomatoes, were sold and realized over £200. Following a scheme inaugurated at. Head Office, we planted a larger area than usual in potatoes, and after supplying our own needs have so far sent 23 tons to other institutions of the Department. Other crops harvested during the year for fodder for the horses and cattle were 200 tons of ensilage, 120 tons of oaten sheaves, and 20 tons of hay. In addition we have 16 acres in mangels, 8 acres in white Belgian carrots, 10 acres in soft turnips, 170 acres in Swede turnips, 8 acres in maize, and 2 acres in artichokes. In the nursery we raised from seed some thousands of pine and eucalypti plants. A number of these were despatched to other institutions, but the bulk were planted around the farm, special attention being given to waste comers of the new estate and to paddocks needing shelter-belts. At the recent agricultural show held in Te Awamutu we were successful in gaining first prize for the draught stallion, second prize and a reserve championship for a Shorthorn bull, and third prize for a draught foal, out of four exhibits in the animal class. We gained two first prizes in the honey exhibits, three first prizes for apples, and five other first and two second prizes with vegetables and field-produce. At the end of the last financial year the revenue produced from all sources of the farm and paid into the Public Account amounted to £6,800, and it is expected that this year the amount will total £8,000 ; but other credits are due to the farm for stock and vegetables supplied to the institution for rations and for similar items transferred to other institutions. In dealing with our primary aim, the reformation of delinquents, I may say that, broadly speaking, the two chief classes of offenders we have to deal with are those committed for acts of dishonesty and those committed for sexual offences. In the former class many owe their position to selfishness and a lack in earlier training in considering the rights of others. To combat these causes it is attempted to cultivate the spirit of unselfishness and liberal-mindedness, and in the latter class to eradicate the morbidness and strengthen the will-power of the individual. Nothing is better calculated to win back a youthful offender to a better sense of his responsibilities than to inculcate in him a spirit of self-respect and self-reliance with an ambition to succeed, and to this end we attempt in the first place to build up his health and improve his physique, for from the feeling of physical fitness much can be achieved. To begin with, his outlook on life becomes brighter, the morbid introspection of the sexual transgressor becomes duller, and with fresh interests in mind has less to feed upon, and to one in sounder health self-control becomes easier. He becomes fitter for his manual labour and for more sustained effort. This further leads to skill at his employment, with the knowledge that he has acquired such skill. When to these initial incentives is added the knowledge gained by learning at the night classes and lectures, and the spirit of unselfishness gained in playing community games, the youth cannot be other than at least on the road to improvement. Tn general terms this is the scheme of training attempted. New arrivals commence their training with instruction in jiersonal habits of cleanliness and in keeping their cubicles clean and orderly. As at the beginning few arrivals are in fit enough condition to carry on at manual work for more than short periods without resting, they are put to work under an officer, especially selected for the position, whose duty it is, more than any other consideration, to see that the youths are given an opportunity to gradually improve in the habit of work without having their strength unduly taxed. From this party they are drafted to other parties and industries of the farm, and removed from time to time should there be evidence of flagging interest, and in any case to gain an all-round knowledge of the work of a farm. It is interesting to note how quickly some acquire a special skill at one branch of work. One rather dull youth, for instance, became most proficient in erecting fences when previously he appeared to have no interest in the other employments allotted him, Others develop a keenness for work with horses, and employed as teamsters acquire