The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-12


for their rooms, cook, wash, iron and
work in the harness shop, tin shop and
sewing shop
The grounds are kept in excellent sr-
der but cover too little space
1t is the intention Of the Board of Edu-
cation to have the institution conducted
on a larger scale. A farm will be pro-
vided as soon a suitable place, OF
easy access, can be acquired, and agricul-
ture win be the chief industry with such
ineidentals as dairying, poultry raising
and keeping hogs; which will tend 10
make the place self-supporting. 1t will
also serve another purpose; namely, that
of providing these lads with a settled
means of livelihood, for skilled farmers
will be in demand before many years
pass by. Much of the youthful floating
pcpulat ton, the homeless waits, the H.
cared-for children OF both sexes will be
taken off the streets of Honolulu. Agents
will collect from the other Islands, and
q. regular, proper regime, with good,
ncurishing food and a healthful open-air
life-not too arduous-will be provided
for them.
There is one little boy there now. aged
nine, whose mother is dead whose step
mother has repudiated him and whose
father has evidently deserted him for the
charms of California. He was found,
hiding by nights down by the wharves
homeless, friendless, hungry and desert
q.
perintendent, Mr.. Needham, is father
to him, and he is the picture of health
and happiness.
The boys sing and play of evenings or
else study their Bible lesson. On Sun
days they file down to Kawaiahao
Church. They attend Sunday school first
and many of them are delighted at hav-
ing Professor Alexander for a teacher.
Mr. w. G.. Needham. who has been
the superintendent for twelve years, is
clever, energetic manager. His large
and roomy house, where the boys con-
gregate to play upon his piano and sing
of evenings, is no larger than his heart,
for he is father, friend and counsellor
to all those boys and shows them many
a little kindness keenly appreciated by
these lonely, hapless lads, half OF whom
had not the slightest idea they were
transgressing any law when they COM
mitted their various offenses.
Mr.. Needham accompanied me in a
tour of the dormitories, dining room,
ETC., and 1 found everything scrupulous-
ly clean, airy and In sanitary condition.
Each boy had an iron cot and a mos
quito netting. The two large dormitories
have each a guard and one of them, who
had provided all his own things made
quite good showing. His pillow-case
was mass Of insertion and edging and,
womanlike, was the first thing that
caught my eye On entering.
The baths and wash-house are outside.
There are four shower baths.
TheAguards receive salary. Mr. Need
ham in his report says: 81 find, after an
experience of twelve years as superin-
tendent of this institution, that there
can be but little done toward the ref
ornlation of those that come under it's
influence unless they may be constantly
occupied in some kind Of work, by which
they can obtain a livelihood after their
term of sentence expires. And, as that
would require, in most cases, a longer
term than the average sentence now CIV
en-, recommend that suitable place of
at least one hundred acres. which can
be watered, be provided: and agriculture
be made the chief industry. Most of the
food requireds should be raised on the
farm, and practical farmer employed
for that department.
When 1t is taken into consideration
that more than half of the present In
mates are under fourteen, it will be
readily understood that their place Is
not in the workshops but out upon a
great big breezy farm such as the Board
, of Education have under contemplation.
J For the biennial period ending Deem
Der 81, 1885, there were thirty-eght In
: mates on January 1, 1898. since which
date there have been sixty-nine commit
/ ments as against sixty-flve discharged
two escaped, and one sent as incorrigible
, by the District Magistrate of Honolulu
to Oahu JAIN for the balance of his term
of commitment.
The boys are a healthy lot and there
has been but little illness among them.
: 1t is likely that. in future as an in
centive to good behavior the Board Of
: Education may give its consent to the
superintendent to use his discretion in
the matter of a parole and even, in ex-
: ceptionally deserving cases, of discharge.
The articles made in the workshops
during the biennial period ending Decem-
Der 81. 1899. comprise the following: In
J. the carpenter shop, SO articles, value
s232.05: in the harness shop, 200 articles.
!; value $317.50; in the tinshop. 252 articles,
: value 5000: making total of $40 ar
ticles. the value of which amounted to
s5e005
No account was kept of the sewing al
:, though great deal was accomplished;
in fact all the work done in the manual
p and domestic department shows thor
e oughness and efficiency.
t Most of the articles would sell readily
It and therefore the purpose of the institu
: ton has already borne fruit
e 1t Is impossible to estimate the good
4 that would result from increased acreage
and large workshops on the premises Of
Il the proposed new reformatory
MRS. WESTON CONVEY.
nAAHH