TE ORONGA HOME.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9087, 4 March 1908, Page 5

TE ORONGA HOME.

Press Association. Christchurch, March 2. Continuing her examination, the second witness said : She was arrested on the point of leaving for Sydney with a man. She declined to answer whether she had givenjierself up to an evil life. Witness* was satisfied that what was being done at the Home was for her future welfare, and for a good purpose in order to put her in a good position in after life. Her only complaint was that she thought she ought to be allowed to go out to service, but she was satisfied that in not being allowed to go out too matron was acting in witness’ best interests. In regard to the wood chopping, the girls chose their work themselves and took it turn about. The' other girl with whom witness had arranged to abscond was going to a Chinaman’s house. Witness refused to go there with her. The girls got all the food they wanted at Te Orauga. The only occasion upon which the matron spoke of witness’ faults before the other girls was to ask her (after she had threatened to run away) what she wanted to run away for. Mr Hunt, visiting ladies, and the clergyman and his wife came regularly to the Home, hut she had never made any complaints to them. AMr Bane helped on the place to do the rough work. The second witness stated she was 20 years of age, and had been in the Home for seven years. The girls had to out down the trees or else get punished. They were not allowed to receive a drink of water while grubbing lupins. She had often been in the cells. Once she was kept there for two or three clays and nights, and after that she was kept in the cells and the detention yard for a mouth. , She had to chop knobby pieces of wood and clean tin dishes. She was also strapped. That punishment was for absconding from service. She left because of lies told about her sister. She was not allowed to see tier (witness’) sister when she came to the Home. She had been locked up for threehonrs in the coal house for striking another girl. She had been confined in the cells four days since then, and was fed on soaked dry bread. Miss Hunt gave her six cuts with the strap. She had had her ears boxed by the matron for impudence. If they left any food they got it again until they did eat and, if then, they did not eat it they were “smacked.” Witness’ father asked her if she wanted to come homo, and the Matron toll? witness to write to her (the matron) stating that sho did not want to go home. The girls were not allowed to speak to one another in the sewing room or laundry. If the Matron was taking meals, with them they were sometimes allowed to talk, but not when members of the staff were there.

At this stage. Mr Bishop intimated that the proceedings would ho adjourned until the following morning when the cross examination of the witnesses might be proceeded with. If it was found practicable to sib more than two hours each day ho (the Commissioner) desired typewritten copies of the previous day’s evidence before him each morning. The enquiry will resume at the Home at 11 a.m. to-morrow (Wednesday). Two hours in the afternoon will he devoted to the proceedings on Thursday afternoon and on Friday, subject to arrangement. YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. O] ir istohurch, March 3. Te Oranga Home enquiry was continued to-day. The witness who had concluded her evidence in chief yesterday was tendered for cross-examination. She said her complaints generally were.* not against the matron, but against the way they had to slog into work. She wanted to do house work instead of wood chopping. She did not know of the plot among the girls to abscond. In the winter of last year the food was short, but she never made any complaint. She had been punished for threatening to kill a girl. She did not get on well with all the members of the staff. They were too fond of growling at her. Punishment was inflicted with the broad side of the strap. The girl lay on a bed and was punished through her nightdress. The matron had boxed her ears. That caused a buzzing in her ears, but she was not exactly deaf. Another witness, the girl whose hair had been cut for escaping, said she did not ask other girls to go to a house of ill-fame. Tire matron thumped her down the passage when she was brought back, and put her into a cell. She had three meals a day on dry bread and water, and ten strokes with the strap. She had heard the matron make remarks about the girls. She called one of the girls an infuriated animal, and another a vulgar brawler. The staff were very snappy to the girls and not always very nice to them. The enquiry was adjourned till tomorrow.