when such an instance occurs, there are always people thoughtless enough to see in it evidence of the futility of the institution as a reforming power. If, however, a moment's consideration be given to the vile surroundings from which the children are plucked, the horribly immoral and drunken scenes daily and nightly witnessed by them, the blasphemous and obscene language that continually falls upon their ears, and which they learn to utter, the unholy impressions made upon their minds, and which can never through life be effaced from memory, and the impure and criminal habits they are led to form from their earliest years—when all this is considered, apart from the law of heredity, the marvel is that instead of the number of lapsed cases being under 10 per cent., it is not over 90 per cent.
The work of organising the truly philanthropic institution thus so successfully conducted, was entrusted to Dr. Hislop and Mr. St. John Branigan. The latter gentleman was also appointed Inspector of the school, and upon him devolved the duty of framing the regulations that have operated so beneficially to the "inmates." Upon his removal to Wellington in 1870 he was succeeded as Inspector by Dr. Hislop, who held the position until he, too, was removed to the seat of Government in 1878. Though Dr. Hislop then necessarilly retired from that office, his connection with the school to the present time has been uninterrupted. By the transference of all the Industrial Schools of the colony from the Department of Justice to that of Education the control of the Caversham institution devolved upon him, as Secretary for Education; and since his return to Dunedin in 1886, he has with his former warmth discharged the duties of Official Visitor. Mr. Branigan, also, upon his return from the north, laboured with deep interest and sympathy on the school's behalf until he was laid aside by his final illness. The "Times," of September, 16th, 1873, speaking of his connection with it, said:—"Mr. Branigan may be regarded as its founder. To him belongs the honour of suggesting its necessity, of having carefully nursed it in its infancy, and of having mainly contributed towards bringing it to its present admittedly high state of efficiency." It was his official return, given in his capacity of Commissioner of Police, that "revealed in all its hideousness and loathsomeness" the evil to be grappled with.
