ORPHANAGE SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1646, 12 January 1906, Page 3

ORPHANAGE SCANDAL.

1 ILL-TREATING ORPHANS. | (Per Press Association.) Christohurch, last night. Further evidence was taken in tho Waltham Orphanago inquiry to-day. Gladys Wjljod.S an inmate, stated that she was very badly used, ospeciully in regard to tho ailauoo treatment, She had been told to shy something at another girl’s head if she spoke to hor. Tho girls were made to work too bard, and if they oould not oat were threatened with “ stomach torture." She had loDg fits of mifory, but had to keep on working. Witness had heard children being beaten. No one looked after the obildren when they were dressing. They had to bathe themselves. Five obildren had dirty heads, and bad to have their hair out off. During hor stay in the orphanago she never got milk with porredge. The matron called two girls bad names. They never got lessons in needlework, and had no games, no amusement, no fruit or jam. They were not allowed to speak when going to bed or they were punished with doses of cod liver oil. The Andrews girls, who were Catholics, wore dressed in vivid green and pink, and laughed at by everybody when taken out. The children were not left hungry, but thole staple food was bread and dripping, whioh revolted them. She had not oomplaiood of the matron’s bad language to the Magistrate. She rose, at o 45 and went to bed at 8.

May Burbury, another inmate, also complained of the s'bnoo treatment. Sho bad boen threatened by the matron and put on dry bioad diet for talking, and then sent to bed. Sbo had hea-d bad language and the threat of stomaoh torture. The girls Andrews were ridiculously dreesel aod called by objectionable names. She eav the matron beat Percy Whittle with a stick after he wa3 in the hospital. Tho matron did not believe them when they said they were ill. She was unhappy at the orphensge, and other children also. One girl was put io 11 silence” for a month, being shut in tho washhouse without food for a day. She had also been sent to a hotel to order drink for men. working at the orphanago. Later.—At the Waltham Orphanage enquiry to-day further evidence was given tj the effect that the Matron had called children little devils and liars, had mocked the priest, and ridiculed the religion of Catholic girls, whom she had dressed in green and pink. The enquiry will be resumed to-morrow.