ORPHANAGE SCANDAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1650, 17 January 1906, Page 3

ORPHANAGE SCANDAL

CONTRADICTORY STATEME NTS.

In the course of her evidence Mrs Wells, who denied having any desire to attack Mrs Carpenter, said after Mrs Temby had left the orphanage she visited the institution, allowing a reasonable interval to elapse, and found it in “ an indescribable state of filth.” “The kitchen and scullery were, said witness, “ shamefully neglected, and there was half an inch thickness of grease. The dining-room was in a similar state, and there appeared to be no tablecloths. The bedrooms were in a corresponding state of misery—dirty old beds and bedding, | unclean blankets and sheets, of which there were very few.” She was forced to make public allusion to the state of affairs, and on subsequent visits found an improvement had taken place. Witness referred to a friendly interview she had with Mrs Carpenter. The latter said she would like to remain in a cottage in Lyttelton with two or three of the children. She did not want to go to the Waltham Orphanage, as she did not understand the new fangled ideas of the women members of the Board. At a committee meeting after Messrs Harris, Horrell, and Scott had seen the boy in the hospital, Mr Harris said he had seen a sight which shocked him, and he declared in effect that the services of the matron ought to be dispensed with at once, or the Board would have the town about its ears.

DICTATED HER TERMS

After all the inquiry into the matter Mrs Carpenter sent a letter to the Board, practically dictated her terms, and the Board took the very undignified course of accepting her demands, although Mrs Black fought strenuously against it, witness not being present at that meeting. Then the children were gradually boarded out, and the orphanage had become practically a receiving home. .At the November meeting Mrs Carpenter reported that May Burbury had been guilty of insubordination, and the Board took the very mean and undignified course ol trying to shelter itself behind that little child. The boy Frankie Hammond ought never to have been beaten. Witness had to make complaints publicly because it was absolutely useless to hope that the secretary would attempt to carry out her wishes. She would not wonder at any children having “ fits of misery ” at the home from what she knew of it.

CROSS-EXAMINATION. Cross-examined, by Mr Harper, witless said t there was mot a state of. ! misery ” at the old Lyttelton orphanige under Mrs Temby. A rough kindness and friendship seemed to exist, md there was some comfort. She sympathised very much with Mrs Carpenter, and thought the matron would have endeavored to do the best she could to carry on the institute on improved lines if authorised by the Board. In reply to the Commissioner, witness said that as a safeguard against abuses she would like to see a children’s board on the lines of those in South Australia to deal with children not paupers. She believed the Waltham Orhanage was very necessary, but it should be a model cottage home. If the Charitable Aid Board was to control the orphanage an improvement in the election of members to the Board was very desirable. A DIVIDED BOARD. It was her opinion that the Board was antagonistic to her and,those who held her views. Witness declared that she had been kept off the institution committee ? The Commissioner said ho would not take secondary evidence on such a point. If such a circular had been issued, which he doubted, Jt should be produced. Mr Cassidy said a copy of the circular could be produced. Mr Gh Scott: I will bring it this afternoon.

STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN. Mr Lane then proceeded to call witnesses on behalf of the Board. | Hugo Friedlander, chairman of the Charitable Aid Board for two years, stated that it was her desire to assist the inquiry in eveiy way. He was elected for his second term of office I unanimously. The complaint he received from Mrs Wells was the first he had heard. He had paid surprise visits to the Waltham Orphanage, and, as far as he could judge the children had plenty to eat, and the food was wholesome. At one dinner he saw I there was vegetable soup, Irish stow (containing meat), and afterwards ft nice milk pudding. The table was very nice and clean, and neatly set out. He made it his business to talk to the children, took them lollies, etc., and 1 questioned them as to their happiness. , During all the time he never had a 5 single complaint from the children. : Mis Carpenter, although not an ideal matron, had done her duty to herself d and to the Board. A big question d was opened up, but he held that it was not the duty of the Board to bring up d the children as ladies and gentlemen, * So long as the children were taught to , s be honest, truthful, and able to take id care of themselves, he considered Mrs ja Carpenter had done her duty. •’