ORPHANAGE SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1653, 20 January 1906, Page 2

ORPHANAGE SCANDAL.

.(Per Press Association.) Christchuroh, last night. The Waltham Orphanage inquiry was oontinued this morning. The evidence was uninteresting, and simply went in the direction of showing that Mrs Carpenter, matron of the institution, had not ill-

treated the ohildren, but on tbo contrary was popular with them, Mrs Temby, onetime assistant matron at Lyttelton Orphanage, stated, however,- that when Mrs Carpenter joined tho Orphanage she instructed the children lo annoy her in every possible way. Mra Carpenter also told witness she would get her out of the place. She did not consider Mrs Carpenter’s language ladylike. She used to jeer at witness taking the children to ohurob, saying, '‘Oh, doar little bastards, they ought to go to ohurob,” She also had said more than once, c ‘ Oh, d—— you, go away." Mra Carpenter continually used bad language of a similar oharaeter. The matron used to beat the children when at home. On Sunday she Used also to jeer at the children and hold them up to ridicule. Witness stated that she k bad seen the matron smoking cigars at the Orphanage, and had been told as long as she “kept ■in ” with tho secretary of the institution she would bo ail right.

THE MATRON’S EVIDENCE

(Per Press Association.) Christchurch, last night. At the Waltham Orphanage inquiry to-day evidence was given by Mrs Carpenter, matron of the institution. Witness said she bad never o'alled the children " bastards,” because they were not. She put up the. word" Silence ” in the bedrooms and the passages to remind the children, to be quiet. She used to inf Pot corporal punishment on the children if it was necessary tei do so. She was never .more severe than necessary. In: regard to :the Andrews girls’ dresses, on St- Patrick’s Day the children wanted some green, and witness asked if they would like green They said, 11 Yes,” and witness igot them the green dresses and hats. The hats were made ugly by b'eibg" turned into bonnets. The girls never complained about the dresses. Witness had no intention .of making them lidiculous. - The children never complained about the food. There was a little difference between, the children’s food and her, but not much, no more than she considered she was entitled to as an official. When they weDt without potatoes it was because they were very dear at the time. She admi,t9d having said, ” Darn ithe obildreni’,’ and called them “ little devils ” in heated moments. The children were very .tryingat times, and after she had had a severe: illness it was hard.to bear with them. The inquiry was adjourned until Feb- ; ruaty 2ud.