E.—3c

4

Oakleiyh Roman Catholic Reformatory for Girls. —The Reverend Mother Prioress's report is of interest, seeing that she is able to again give an excellent account of nearly all her girls, both inmates and those at service, as also of many former wards who are out in the world and living respectably, some of them being well married. There were no transfers from gaol to this school during the year, but oi those formerly transferred most of them are doing well, and in no instance has one of them been required to return to gaol to complete her sentence. The health of the inmates has been generally good. I would again, on behalf of the Reverend Mother, and indeed of those in charge of all the reformatories, invite ladies and others interested in this important branch of work to visit and see for themselves as to the internal management of the schools and the personal interest taken in the children by those who have their reformation at heart. The following table will be considered of interest, as showing the average length of time the boys and girls sent to service from these private reformatories during the year had been detained: — Girls. Boys. Albion ... ... 4J months Bukawert ... ... 7 months Brookside ... ... 9 „ Excelsior ... ... 8 „ Oakleigh ... ... 18 „ Kingsbury ... ... 6 „ Mount Paradise ... 3 weeks Pakenham ... ... 13 months Straight View ... ... 8 „ Wandin Yallock ... 8 Children Boarded Out. —There is nothing very special to relate regarding this important part of the department's work. The placing out in foster-homes of fresh committals, and the transferring of others to more suitable ones, have been carried out by the ladies in the various districts with their usual care and consideration for the welfare of the children. Seeing that the wards of the State in Victoria have been participating in the benefits of the present system for the last twenty-four years, and with the full knowledge that thousands of children are yet being dealt with under the obsolete barrack system in older countries —and in some instances, but I am glad to say to a limited extent, also in the colonies —I venture to again express the opinion that the boarding-out of neglected children in foster families, providing a complete and regular system of supervision is maintained, is the only truly effective method of dealing with them. It gives them while yet young and impressionable the numerous advantages of a healthy family life, and when they reach the age to leave school they can be gradually and imperceptibly merged into the working population of the country —a very desirable end, and one not so easily and effectually obtained in the case of children brought up in the very best managed institution. Of all the many uplifting and ameliorating changes that have taken place in the lot of the children of the poor during the record reign of our beloved Queen, I feel satisfied that this family system of dealing with them will be found to be one of the most naturally and permanently beneficial. Maintenance Collections. —There has been a slight increase in the maintenance receipts, £931 7s. 9d. having been recovered, as against £917 14s. 7d. in 1895. Societies Dealing with Neglected Children under Part VIII. of Act 1121. —1n the last year's report I referred at some length to the importance of the preventive and rescue work being carried on by these societies, and I have again to thank them for the great assistance they have rendered during another year, no less than 619 children having passed through their hands, as will be seen from the following table, and, as already pointed out, I have every reason to believe only the want of funds in some instances prevented their operations being on a more extended scale. Preventive Work among Street Children. —

Work of Private Persons and Societies under "The Neglected Children's Act, 1890," for the Year 1896.

In bringing this report of another year's proceedings to a close, the cordial thanks of the department are rendered to the various honorary workers, constituting the general and local committees, and more especially to the lady correspondents, who, by their unwearied and cheerful assistance, extending in most cases over many years, have done so much to make the boarding-out system of Victoria the success it is. I have, &c, Thos. M. Millar, Secretary and Inspector.

Under Supervision on 31st December, 1895. t Admissions during 1896. Under Supervision on 31st December, 1896. Name of Society. Court Com-! Transfer of • u „,„ Guardianmlttals ' ; ship. Voluntary Admissions. Victorian Neglected Children's Aid Society ... ' Clifden " Society jordon Institute rry Excelsior Class, Hawksburn ... Wesleyan Church Neglected Children's Aid Society Burwood Boys' Home Dhurch of England Deaconesses' Home Presbyterian and Scots' Church Neglected Children's Aid Society fry Society, St. Kilda ... 307 37 218 2 123 4 1 28 23 2 133 5 188 115 250 45 161 117 115 "i 6 37 523 4 "i 18 5 7 4 15 37 455 124 1 70 185 Total 1,377 10 46 527 1,380