E.—4.

At the 31st March, 1938, there were 51 boys in residence at the Farm. The Manager's report for the year is appended : — Annual Report op the Manager of the Boys' Training-parm, Weraroa, 1937-38. Curriculum.—Boys on admission are given a fatherly talk by the Manager, and spend under the supervision of the Matron and staff a period of six weeks in domestic training and training in habits of personal cleanliness and tidiness. Each boy is then placed, as far as practicable, at the work he desires to take up in after-life, such as carpentering, plumbing, gardening, and agricultural work in all its branches. Aims.—The aims of the institution are to train a boy to rehabilitate himself by endeavouring to inculcate into him new thoughts and new ideals through appealing to his better nature and in other ways. Weekly talks by the Manager on current topics and on matters pertaining to the moral side of life and life in general are featured. This is of great assistance in gaining the confidence of a boy and instilling in him a fuller appreciation of his responsibilities in the community. The response to these talks has proved how much appreciated and beneficial they are. Recreation.—Facilities are provided for football, tennis, cricket, gymnastics, swimming, and' boxing, while the daily newspaper, Weekly Press, and New Zealand Free Lance, together with a good range of books in the°library, are available for the boys. Indoor games and a radio receiver are provided. The boys play games such as cricket and football regularly with local teams. They are linked up with a Young Farmers' Club and attend lectures by the Agriculture Department's officers. Fortnightly visits to the picture-theatre are made, while frequent picnics are held at the river and beach. Religious Instruction. —Ministers of the various denominatious make weekly visits, and are given everv opportunity to make contact with the boys. Diet.—The boys are exceptionally well catered for in this respect, and are given ample milk, vegetables, and fruit, all of which are produced, on the farm. It has been stated that the beef produced on the farm is the best beef killed at the local abattoirs. Health.—Weekly weights are kept of boys, and it has been noticed that boys considerably increase in weight soon after admission. Their health is very good, and there has not been an outbreak of disease or epidemic of any description during the year. On admission each boy is examined by Dr. Hunter, who prescribes for him any treatment that may be necessary. The local dentist also examines the boys on admission and at regular intervals thereafter, and any necessary dental work is undertaken. Records are kept of illnesses, and any boy requiring treatment receives adequate care and attention. Details of admissions to the institution and the subsequent placement of the boys during the year are as follows : Number in residence at Ist April, 1937, 27 ; admitted during the year ended 31st March, 1938, 107 : total, 134. Of the 107 admissions for the year, 83 were new admissions, 14 had been placed at service but returned to the institution, 7 had been placed with friends but returned to the institution, and 3 were transferred from other institutions. During the year 83 were placed out in the community from the institution, leaving 51 in residence at 31st March, 1938. Of those placed out, situations were found for 31, 24 were placed with friends, 11 were transferred to other institutions, 7 were transferred to custodial institutions, 5 were discharged from the Department's control, 1 was in hospital, 2 were absent without leave, and 2 were committed to Borstal. J. J. Hebcook, Manager. GIRLS' HOSTEL, WELLINGTON. A property with residence thereon in Tinakori Road, Wellington, was leased and possession entered into in 1900 for purposes of a receiving-home, and was purchased by the Government in 1906. It was temporarily closed in 1925 on the opening of the Children's Home at Miramar, which was more suitable for the purposes of a receiving-home, but in March, 1927, was reopened as a Hostel for older girls, particularly to meet the needs of those girls who, while requiring oversight, are suitable or desirous of taking up employment in shops and offices. Girls are admitted from all parts of the Dominion to the Hostel. As soon as a girl earns sufficient to keep herself, and the Department is satisfied she is competent to manage her own affairs, she is boarded-out with private people and the supervision over her is gradually relaxed until her discharge. In all cases an endeavour is made to link the girl up with some club or Church organization, &c. A brief report on the working of the Girls' Hostel for the year is appended :— Annual Report op the Matron, Girls' Hostel, Wellington. The Hostel was opened on 14th March, 1927, and since that date the total number of girls who have been in residence for varying periods is 210. Of these the majority are now married, and the rest are doing well in their various positions —there are very few of whom I have no record subsequent to their leaving the Hostel. During the past twelve months the number of new admissions was 18, while 16 girls ceased to reside at the Hostel. Of the latter, 7 went to private board, 3 returned to the care of their relatives, 2 were placed at domestic service, and 4 were transferred to other institutions. Those who went to relatives and private board are doing well in their respective positions and are earning sufficient to maintain themselves. The two placed at domestic service proved unsuitable for other kinds of work, and those transferred to other institutions were cases for custodial care. Of the girls at present in residence, 15 are at various places of employment in the city (shops, offices, factories, &c.), their earnings ranging from 15s. to £1 15s. per week, and 2 are doing domestic work at the Hostel. Six of the girls are at present attending evening classes at the Technical College. The daily routine follows as nearly as possible that of a private home. On returning from work the girls employ or amuse themselves in knitting, sewing, reading, dancing, &c. They have a library, also a radio and a piano, at their disposal. Usually once a week they go to the pictures. When the weather is suitable, picnics and swimming are indulged in during the week-ends. A basketball team has been formed, and during the season it practices and plays regularly against other teams. The general health is excellent, and the dietary scale is as recommended by Dr. David Whyte, who takes a keen personal interest in the welfare of the institution and the girls. Every effort is made to keep the girls happy and well employed. They are taught to do their own sewing and to buy and look after their own clothes. They are encouraged to make suitable friendships and contacts and to bring their friends to the Hostel, and in all other respects to regard the place as their own home. It is only in exceptional cases that the results achieved are unsatisfactory. I. Williams, Matron.

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