Receipts and Expenditures of School Board for Year ending 31st December, 1891.

1891.

Jan. Balance in Secretary's hand,

Dec. 31. Received from Town Treasurer,

County Fund,

30

25

20

21

38

VII, VIII and IX.

45

47

54

41

24

63

I and II.

Col. on Ass. 1889,

....

17 50

2,433 25

$2,530 89

EXPENDITURE.

$1,600 00

175 00

160 00

20 00

135 00

77 00

125 00

66 83

172 06

$2,530 89

Respectfully submitted,

WM. ANDREW,

Secretary.

APPENDIX E.

Reports of the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Fredericton, and of the Blind Asylum, Halifax, in Accordance with an Order of the Board of Education, Dated May 25th, 1885.

Fredericton Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.

To J. R. Inch, Esq., LL. D., Chief Superintendent of Education :

SIR: In accordance with your request I have much pleasure in forwarding a copy of the Ninth Annual Report of the Fredericton Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. In taking a retrospect of the work of the year 1891, I feel assured that while we must record some shortcomings, the faithful, painstaking efforts of the officers to advance the objects and interests of the Institution have not been in vain, but have had an influence for good, apparent in the pupils' present attainments, and which will be felt generally in the prosperity of the Institution during the coming

year.

It is a pleasure to call your attention to the satisfactory condition of the Institution to-day, and to the successful manner in which it has performed its work during

the past year. More might possibly have been accomplished, yet earnest efforts were made to attain the best results which have been attended with a reasonable degree of success. The Institution is fulfilling the purpose for which it was established, as far as its means will allow, in preparing and educating these children to take up their posi tions in life as useful and self-supporting citizens.

We have now accommodation for double our present number of pupils, and should a generous and liberal support be extended to this work its walls may be filled to their utmost capacity, and it will rank as one of the leading philanthropic institutions of our Province.

Two boys, Robert Haines, of Keswick and Alfred Rowe Shaw, of Middle Simonds, have been removed, both of whom are assisting their parents on their farms at home. Fredk. J. T. Boal, of Sussex, has been re-admitted and two new boys, Monty Trenholm, of Port Elgin, and John Long, of Hartland, have been admitted. Four new girls, Annie Marsh and Minnie Marsh, of Bass River, Edith Estella Dow, of Canterbury and Carrie Whelan, of Molies River, have also been admitted. The number of pupils in the house at the present time is therefore twenty-seven, being an increase of six over that of last year. Several other applicants are also seeking admission.

HEALTH.

The removal to our new building with its large lofty rooms has not only added considerably to the comfort of our inmates but has had a beneficial effect on the health of all. We have had no sickness among the pupils during the year and the hospital wing still remains untenanted. The benefit of the change of quarters is also manifested in the work of the schoolroom, greater order being kept and the increased facilities it offers for thorough work being fully appreciated by the teachers.

CHANGES.

Mr. W. O. Barnaby having resigned his position to take similar employment in the Institution at Beverley, Massachusets, Mr. R. Willard Demmons, of Chipman, Queens County, bearing excellent testimonials from Principal Mullin and Prof. Creed of the Normal School, was appointed to take his place as agent and collector. Mr. Demmons entered on his duties in May last and is performing the work allotted to him in a satisfactory manner. Mr. Geo. E. Powers was called away to England in August last to attend the serious illness of his father which terminated in his death. Mr. Powers returned in October to resume his duties here. By his energetic efforts our subscription list has been largely increased; information respecting the Institution and its objects spread broadcast through the Province, and new pupils brought in whose parents would otherwise have remained in ignorance of its existence.

VISIT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

On March 25th, we were honored by a special visit from the Hon. Attorney General and twenty-six members of the Legislature representing thirteen counties of the Province who were desirous of seeing over the new building. The visitors were met by the Principal and shown into the schoolroom where the children were put through a number of exercises. They were afterwards escorted over the building. Dr. Brown being familiar with its topography kindly assisting in this duty.

It was exceedingly gratifying to all connected with the Institution that its appearance and general arrangements met with so spontaneous an approval from the large and distinguished party who visited us on that occassion.

IMPROVEMENTS.

Many of the improvements suggested in our last report have been carried out. Double sashes have been placed on the eighteen basement windows and also on the bath booms, gentlemen teachers' and boys' sitting rooms, these rooms being on the north

side of the house, requiring extra protection. A new bridge was erected across the brook on the road leading into the avenue, and two seats placed there for the convenience of visitors. A new pine picket fence was built round the plot of ground intended for a kitchen garden. The land was ploughed, graded and manured and will be ready in the spring to transfer the large number of small fruit bushes and strawberry plants which still remain at the farm. The line fence on the north side, and extending from the gate house to the well, was repaired and put in good condition. New rails being used for most of it. The Hon. Senator Wark undertook one half, and we completed the other. A new substantial cross fence was also erected, running from the line fence at the well right across to the cemetery line. The fence in front of the building between the two entrances, was also repaired. A nice substantial fence should, however, be erected as soon as funds allow. New gates are also needed at both entrances. The gate house was badly out of repair. The roof leaked considerably and I had it reshingled. The joists and posts of the kitchen were found to be rotten, fresh joists were put in, and a new floor laid and the south wall was taken out and a new one built. The rooms on the first floor were replastered and the sitting room and small bedroom repapered. The stone wall in front of the house was rebuilt and a new verandah erected the whole length of the main building. It is now comfortable and occupied by a good, quiet tenant. A new fowl house, 28x13 was erected as the back of the barn. A new woodshed 27x17 was also erected to the south of the barn, with an upper floor to store farm implements, tools, lumber, etc. The orchard cottage on the crest of the hill was found to be in a very bad state. The roof leaked. The joists, sills, plates and corner posts were found to be rotten and it became dangerous to live in. Attempts were made to repair it but it was impossible to make a good job of it. The old building which had been in existence some eighty years, was taken down and a new and substantial one erected on an improved plan. The frame work is good. The roof and sides have been shingled and the cottage is now finished and very comfortable.

Our account for lumber and workmen's wages for these various improvements will be much heavier than usual, and will be entered on the balance sheet as separate items. A root cellar, and over this a workshop, should be erected next year. We have had to use the one at the farm this fall and bring down our supplies of potatoes, etc., as we needed them. A new bridge is needed to span the brook on the south side of the house, the present one being in a shaky and unsafe condition. I had hundreds of small bushes, which disfigured the grounds in front of the building, pulled up and burnt. The rocks, stones and roots remaining should be cleared away. The rocks and clay which were thrown in heaps in making the sewer down to the brook, are very unsightly and should be hauled away, the ground levelled, and seed sown to renew the grass where needed. Walks should be made, seats erected, and ornamental trees planted, where they would add to the beauty of the grounds. Much might be done in this direction to aid nature and give pleasure to every one visiting the institution. The terrace should be enlarged and the ground graded on the north side of the house. The immense bank of clay at the back of the building could be utilized for this purpose, and this, while enlarging the yard, would enable us to drain the surface water away, which, at certain seasons, rushes down and settles within a few feet of the back steps leading into the basement.