Page:Picturesque Dunedin.djvu/226

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202
PICTURESQUE DUNEDIN.

portion—a good land-mark, as seen from the lower-ground on either side—has never been added to. As the years went by, however, and the number of children increased, and especially during the years 1874–7, when through the Public Works and Immigration Scheme, occurred a tremendous influx from the Home Country of most undesirable immigrants, more accommodation had to be provided. Temporary wooden buildings were therefore supplied. First, the building previously used as the City Hospital (which had been transferred from the Octagon to the Exhibition building in Great King street), and in 1878 the Scarlet Fever Hospital on the Town Belt; all of which were removed to and re-erected on the school site.

In January, 1869, the Industrial School was quietly and informally opened by the reception into it of a few boys and girls from the Benevolent Institution, and from that day, and from all parts, a steady stream set in of children committed by magistrates. As already indicated, the great increase took place during the years 1874–7, and from the first until now, upwards of 1800 have been enrolled in the books of the institution. At the end of October of this year (1889) there were 486 on the books. Of these, 83 boys and 43 girls were in the school, 29 boys and 12 girls were with friends under license, 180 of the youngest boys and girls were boarded out, 136 (of whom about 60 were girls) were hired out to service, three were in other institutions, and one of them in the Blind Asylum, Melbourne. All children committed to the school are detained till they reach the age of fifteen; but, irrespective of age, they can be hired out when they pass the fourth standard; and in whatever part of the country they may be, a kindly supervision is maintained over them till they attain their majority. This, as regards the boys, is done through persons in responsible positions, and, as regards the girls, through lady inspectors, who report half-yearly. The master of the school is virtually the parent of the young people, and all their business transactions are managed by him. He makes terms with their employers on their behalf, receives the amount of their wages quarterly, and these are banked in their respective names, with the names of Mr. Titchener (the master) and Mr. H. Houghton as trustees. Employers also, when remitting payments to Mr.