The Industrial School.

The name with which this sketch is headed is doubly suggestive. On the one hand, the existence of an Industrial School in any community is indicative of grievous demoralisation of a section of its people, and of their criminal disregard of page 198the sacred interests of the children of whom, they are the parents or custodians; on the other hand, it bespeaks wise and humane forethought and action on the part of the powers that be. The necessity for Industrial Schools is matter for regret; but their establishment evidences the noble purpose to rescue from a career of crime, and to train for useful and respectable citizenship, the little ones born and reared in haunts of pollution and infamy. Not only for the sake of the poor children so unfortunately circumstanced, but also for the welfare of the State, preventive measures are imperative. It is an old and a true saying that "prevention is better than cure"—and cheaper too; and even on the low and selfish ground of cost, and apart from the consideration of the benefit accruing to the country from the well-doing of those rescued, it is beyond question that—confining ourselves to our own Industrial School from its inception until now—the thousands of pounds expended in feeding and clothing and educating its inmates have saved tens of thousands that would otherwise have been spent in restraining and punishing most of them, and that the care by the State of the children of criminal parents has prevented the necessity for the increase of gaol accommodation. "They haven't a chance, sir!—they haven't a chance !" was the indignant exclamation of one who listened to the sad tale of one of the young Arabs of old Edinburgh, a boy of twelve, who had just been turned out of prison, but had no abode to go to worthy of the name of home. In this lesser and younger Edinburgh, after the opening of the goldfields, and consequent influx of mixed population, children that "hadn't a chance" attracted attention, and the State in mercy and in self-defence stepped in to ensure to them the birth-right denied them by their dissolute and criminal parents. "We laugh at the Turk," says the late Rev. Dr. Guthrie in his "City—Its Sins and Sorrows," "who builds hospitals for dogs, but leaves his fellow-creatures to die uncured and uncared for. And doing so, we forget that dogs and horses enjoy by act of Parliament a protection from cruelty among ourselves, which is denied to those whose bodies and whose souls we leave savage parents to neglect and starve. I lay it down as a principle which cannot be controverted, and which lies, indeed, at the very foundations of society, that no man shall be allowed page 199to rear his family a burden, and a nuisance, and a danger to the community. He has no more right to rear wild men and wild women, and let them loose among us, than to rear tigers and wolves, and send them abroad in our streets. What four-footed animal is so dangerous to the community as that animal which unites the uncultivated intellect of a man to the uncontrollable passions of a beast? "As there was no law of compulsion that could reach such parents, the Legislature passed a law which deprived them of the dangerous power they possessed; and hence the establishment of the Industrial School.

The first step towards meeting the necessities of the children of the very poor in Dunedin, was the passing of a vote by the Provincial Council in 1863, for the maintenance of Free Schools; but the honour of initiating such schools seems to be due to a lady named Mrs. O'Rafferty. Pitying the children, she noticed running wild in the streets, at her own cost, and on her own responsibility, she rented a small apartment in St. Andrew street, and engaged and paid a competent female teacher? Mrs. O'Rafferty herself holding the position of superintendent. She also visited the homes of the poor, and in a short time the necessity for some such provision was made manifest by the class-room, capable of accommodating between 50 and 60, being-found to be too small for the number of applicants for admission and for the proper discipline of the children. Owing to the urgent need for a larger room, and the additional expense being beyond her resources, Mrs. O'Rafferty brought her scheme under the notice of the authorities, and Mr. (now Dr.) Hislop, secretary to the Education Board, having inspected her school, and reported of it very favourably, the Government granted from the amount voted by the Provincial Council a liberal allowance in aid of her philanthropic effort. Her movement also won the approval of a number of gentlemen, who formed themselves into a committee to co-operate with the Government and with her, and with other ladies disposed to join in the work; with the result that the Government leased a piece of ground in Bath street, and placed on it one of the large buildings that formed the military barracks, vacated by the withdrawal of the Imperial troops. The daily average attendance then rose to about 80. The marked success of that mission and the call for similar measures in other page 200parts of the town, led to the opening of a Free School in Stafford street by Mrs. Dr. T. Burns and other ladies, and to a like effort in Pelichet Bay. Independently of these schools, however, the Government made every possible endeavour to ensure the proper education of children whose parents were too poor to pay school fees—first, by empowering school committees to remit in such cases the whole or a portion of the fees; and secondly, by providing for the payment by the School Board of 10s. per annum for every child taught gratuitously at the District Schools.

But while the Free Schools were of incalculable advantage to the young people received into them, they did not meet the need of a growing class of children who had the misfortune to be under the control, and thereby subject to the vicious example, of drunken and profligate parents or so-called guardians. In 1866 there were known to be over 100 such children in Dunedin and suburbs, many of whose names had appeared in the criminal records of the province. Referring to this startling fact, Dr. Hislop, in his report to the Hon. T. Dick, chairman of the Education Board, said: "It has become a question of the greatest urgency and importance what steps are to be taken on behalf of these unfortunates. The Free Schools do not at all meet their case; for no real good can be expected from their attendance at an ordinary day school, however efficiently conducted, as long as they are exposed to the counteracting and degrading influences of wicked and criminal home or street example and associations. In fact, the presence of those children in our ordinary day schools is greatly to be deprecated, as it cannot fail to exert a most pernicious influence on the children of honest and respectable parents; and unless means are taken to separate them entirely from their profligate relatives, and to renovate and raise their moral nature, their mere instruction and progress in secular learning may be productive of evil rather than of good to the community in after years."

It was the condition of these poor children that suggested to Mr. St. John Branigan, Commissioner of Police, in consultation with Dr. Hislop and Mr, (now Sir) J. Yogel, at that time Provincial Treasurer, the necessity for an Industrial School "for the proper education and training of vagrant and neglected children, under entire seclusion from their profligate relatives page 201and other adverse influences." As prompt action was urgently called for, a temporary erection on a portion of the Hospital Reserve at the Octagon (on which the City Council Chambers and Fire Brigade Station now stand) was at first thought of, to be succeeded by a permanent institution in some country district, where the boys might be taught farm work, and the girls be trained to become useful servants and dairymaids. The late Mr Macandrew and Sir J. Vogel entered heartily into the project. The former gentleman, just then elected to the position of Superintendent of the Province, in his opening address to the Provincial Council, said: "There are various questions deeply affecting the moral welfare of the community—indeed, I may say its future safety—which it seems to me to be imperatively necessary we should deal with at once. I would allude especially to the serious evil which is growing and festering in our midst—viz., the large number of children, the offspring of profligate parents, who may be said to be homeless, and who are being utterly neglected, or trained up to vicious habits. It appears to me that the State must in self-defence take steps to repress this evil. It will cost us much less to do so now than it will by-and-bye. I believe an Industrial School, which might be made to a large extent self-supporting, would be the most effective remedy. There is an excellent site for such a purpose at Look-out Point upon the thirty acres reserved for a lunatic asylum some years ago." The Council favourably received the proposition, and promptly passed a vote for the purpose, and also an empowering ordinance prepared by Mr. Haggitt, Provincial Solicitor. A slight hitch was caused, however, by the discovery that the powers proposed to be given to magistrates could only be conferred by an Act of the General Assembly; but no time was lost, and through the efforts of Mr. Macandrew and Sir J. Vogel, "The Neglected and Criminal Children's Act, 1867," was passed by the Assembly.

The Provincial Q-overnment then proceeded with the work. The site proposed by Mr. Macandrew at Look-out Point was approved of, ten acres of it being appropriated for the School. It was determined that the building should be of brick, but as the amount voted was insufficient to complete it, only a portion adequate to meet immediate requirements was erected. That page 202portion—a good land-mark, as seen from the lower-ground ort 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. page 203Titchener, give quarterly returns as to health, state of clothing, and general conduct, the forms for which are supplied when accounts for wages are sent them. The writer has before him quite a pile of these returns. The topmost one, referring to a boy, runs thus:—"Health—Good, plucky, cheerful. State of clothing—Very good. General conduct—Always keeping the same—quiet, willing, honest, trustworthy, and tidy." The next in order, referring to a girl whose parentage is as bad as bad can be, states:—"Health—As usual, excellent. State of clothing—In good order, and she has a full supply of all she needs. General conduct—Very good, and she is growing up to be a happy girl, willing to learn all she can." These examples will suffice. Bearing in mind that more than one thousand five hundred boys and girls have thus been dealt with, it can readily be understood that their withdrawal from debasing home surroundings, or from a neglected life, confers incalculable benefit not only upon themselves, but also upon the colony at large. It is an interestingf act that at this time the Trustees have in their possession 200 bankbooks, with credit balances amounting in, all to close upon £2000, belonging to lads and girls hired out, or who are still under 21 years of age. While they are in their minority the money is laid out for them according to their requirements, and when they become of age, enter the marriage state before they become of age, or embark in suitable business of some kind, the balance to their credit is paid over to them. Thus, during the year ending November 11th, 1889, close upon £700, in sums varying from £5 to £83, was paid to fifteen young men and women released from control; and during the sixteen months ending November, 1889, over £500, in sums varying from £1 up to £45, was paid to, or laid out on behalf of, fifty lads and girls still on the books, but at service. As showing the habit of thrift engendered, and the confidence of those who have been subject to the discipline of the institution, it is worthy of mention that recently a young man (a former inmate, and now in the North Island) forwarded £100 to Mr. Titchener to be banked in the usual way for safe keeping.

As already stated, the children receive ordinary school teaching up to the fourth standard; but when they are hired out, their further education is ensured as far as possible by page 204arrangement with the employers; and when they are boarded out, their schooling is carefully looked to. Music is one prominent feature of the instruction imparted, and about thirty of the boys in the Home form a remarkably good brass band, and practice daily under the leadership of Mr. Hugh Titchener (son of the Master of the Institution). That this training is not lost upon them is shown by the fact that some time ago, when Mr. Titchener, the Master, was on a furlough to Victoria, he met with several of his former band boys. They had grown to manhood, and were in various places connected with bands, one of them actually holding the position of leader of a musical association. If, however, that constituted all the proof of the success of the institution in producing good and useful men and women, it would not be much to boast of. But there is much more important and reliable evidence. The half-yearly reports from male and female inspectors, and quarterly returns from the masters and mistresses of those hired out, have already been noted; but in addition to these, and apart from innumerable and valuable letters from the boys and girls themselves, there are thousands of communications from employers and others, all bearing testimony to progress in well-doing; and, further, from the first separate records of all the young people who have passed through the school, from time of committal until final release, have been kept. In this connection may be mentioned an incident in the life of the late Dr. Ghithrie, to whom allusion has already been made in this sketch. At a public meeting, the children of his Edinburgh Ragged School were spoken contemptuously of as "scum," whereupon the Doctor, under a fiery impulse, snatched up a clean sheet of note paper from before the Duke of Manchester, the chairman, and exclaimed with ringing eloquence, "This was once 'scum'—once foul, dirty, wretched rags. What is it now ? In it—now white as the saows of heaven—may be seen an emblem of the material we send out, and of the work our school has achieved and is achieving!" As in the case of the old Edinburgh Ragged School, so in that of the young Edinburgh Industrial School—the results have exceeded the most sanguine expectations of its promoters. The writer has at hand a large number of returns of children found in the most unfavourable circumstances in page 205different parts of the country and committed to the school. A few taken at random may be cited:—Emma H., 9 years, and Stephen EL, 7 years, committed in 1868. Found in an infamous home, while mother in gaol. The girl now married and doing well on the West Coast; the lad an industrious and respectable workman. 2. James P., 8 years, illegitimate and homeless, committed in 1868. Working steadily, and has at present £18 to his credit. 3. Louisa, Eliza, Ellen, Eva, and Ada W., aged respectively 9½, 8, 7, 5½, and 3½ years, committed in 1868. Deserted by father, and mother an abandoned woman and in gaol. All except the youngest now married, and all living worthy lives. 4. Jessie and George M., 9 and 10 years, committed in 1869. Found in an infamous house, in which they were brought up from infancy. Father a convicted thief, and mother an abandoned woman. Jessie now married to a respectable man in good business, and G-eorge pursuing his way most creditably. 5. Henry and Robert R., 8 and 4 years, committed in 1869. Mother a transported convict, and father also a convicted thief. Henry and' Robert have grown to be good men. 6. Isabella, Eliza, James, and David W., 10, 9, 5, and 2 years, committed in 1870. Found homeless and neglected. Father an elderly and sickly man, and mother drunken and of abandoned life. Eliza is well married, James is also married, and all are living worthy lives and prospering. 7. Edmund W., 10 years, committed in 1869. Convicted of theft, and said to have been for three years trained systematically to thieving. Has £14 now to his credit; doing well. 8. Anne F., 12 years, committed in 1870. Convicted of theft and vagrancy. Married and received balance of her earnings, about £20; doing well. 9. Thomas Gf., 11 years, committed in 1874. Convicted of theft. Father a transported convict, and mother also a notorious thief. Is now a farmer in partnership with his brother, also a former inmate, and both living industriously and respectably. The balance of Thomas's earnings, amounting to £15, was handed to him when he took up the land. These illustrative cases, taken indiscriminately from a mass, show conclusively (to quote the words of Dr. Gfuthrie), "the work which our school has achieved and is achieving." It of course goes without saying that some of those who pass through the school fall into evil ways, and page 206when 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 percent.

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 fche 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-hide ousness and loathsomeness" the evil to be grappled with.

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The school, up to the present time, has been fortunate in having as its Masters two gentlemen eminently possessing the special qualifications for the work. Mr Britton, chosen by Mr Branigan, was the first appointed, and until Ms death in 1876, after a short illness, the institution made steady progress under his management. In his obituary notice it was stated that he "found the place a bleak and barren waste, and left it a well sheltered, pleasant, and richly-cultivated garden. With him, as-with other devoted men, the ruling passion was strong in death. During his short and painful illness, the concerns of the institution and the interests of its youthful inmates were ever in his mind, and it may be said that he died with their names on his lips." After seven years' service in that capacity he was succeeded by the present Master, Mr. Elija Titchener, who has shown himself to be a man of a kindred spirit, and under his superintendence the institution has expanded to its present dimensions. Mrs. Britton, the first mistress, was a true helpmate to her husband, and Mr. Titchener has also had earnest coadjutors in his wife, the second and present mistress, and in two of his sons, at different periods head teachers of the school. From the first, Dr. Burns of Dunedin has honourably held the responsible position of medical officer. Mr. Collie was the first teacher, and since his removal to Burnham, where he died, that office has been filled successively by Mr. Neish, Mr. James, Mr. John Titchener (who, while yet a young and promising man, died in harness), Miss Christie, and Mr. Hugh Titchener, who now does earnest duty, and also acts as Bandmaster.