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The average chronological age of the boys in the day-school section was 12 years 11 months, average mental age 8 years 9 months, and the average I.Q. was 68. In the industrial division the average chronological age was 18 years 6 months. A full recreational programme, lias been provided with valued assistance from outside voluntary organizations. At the Special School for Girls, Richmond, which is similar in function to Otekaike T there were 58 in residence at 31st March, 1950. During the year there were 23 new admissions, 7 left to commence work, 6 returned to parents, and 7 were transferred to other appropriate institutions. Extracts of interest from the Principal's report are as follows :- - The girls are encouraged to take a part in the life of the community and are thus helped to develop confidence and a normal outlook. Many outside organizations have entertained them at school functions, picnics, and concerts, and they in turn have taken an active part in entertaining both at functions at the school and in public, with folk and ballet dancing, verse-speaking, percussion-band items, and puppet plays. A garden party, at which most of the entertaining was done by the girls, was attended by Nelson and Richmond residents. The Girl Guide company has enjoyed useful contacts with other companies. In sports the girls have enjoyed frequent inter-school contests, and have performed creditably. Schools for the Deaf.—At Sumner there were 163 pupils (90 boys and 73 girls) on the roll at 31st March, 1950. There were 16 new admissions during the year and 12 children left. Of the 16 admissions, 1 had previous training in a school for the deaf and 12 were congenitally deaf or became deaf before reaching school age. Extracts from the annual report of the Principal are : Generally, so far as the group of totally or severely deaf children is concerned, there is evidence that with few exceptions parents show eagerness to have children admitted as soon as possible, realizing the great advantage obtained from early education. The wisdom of appointing housemasters whose chief responsibility is to supervise the out-of-school activities of the older boys is now shown clearly. Ten teacher-students, of whom three were men, completed their training in 1949. It is pleasing to note the higher proportion of men now offering themselves for training as teachers of the deaf. The most noteworthy development in the course of the year was the provision of hearing aids,, through the Social Security Department, to all children who could benefit from their iise. Experience shows that long and persistent training is necessary to enable children to obtain the fullest possible help from the aids. It would be wrong to exaggerate the help thus obtained. In many cases the hearing aid cannot help at all, and in no case does it enable a child to hear normally, but there is a substantial number of cases where there is a worth-while improvement in ability to hear when the aid is used. At Titirangi there were 134 pupils (73 boys and 61 girls) on the roll at 31st March,, 1950. There were 21 new admissions during the year and 6 children left. Extracts from the annual report of the Principal are : The average age at the time of admission of the 9 children who had not previously attended school was six years. The continued increase of pupils is now taxing the capacity of our recently improved school rooms. ~ Developments during the year include the adaptation of the school playroom for art production and display. Under the guidance of a visiting Art Specialist some fine work on modern lines has been produced. Ballet classes have been introduced and are held each Thursday evening. Indoor playing areas for evening or wet-weather periods have been defined and equipped for the various age groups. The Parent-Teacher Association, which has been functioning for the past six months, is helping to develop a very co-operative and friendly spirit between parents and staff. The first Parents' Day and Exhibition of Work held at Titirangi took place last December. Parents demonstrated their interest in this innovation by travelling from as far afield as Kaitaia in the north and Te Kuiti in the south.

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