THE STOKE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 189, 1 August 1900, Page 2

THE STOKE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

+ . TKll MUSS 3 ASSOCIATION. Kelson, July 31. At the Stoko Industrial Commission, Mr. Fell commenced hie address on behalf of the management, and acknow- [ kdged that his task was lightered by the modorato manner in which Mr, Harley had brought forward his side of the matter. He gave a histoiy of the institution, which was founded in 1872 i>y Father Garin. Ultimately, in 1886, the Stoke property of 375 ucres wan bought for .£2BOO, and buildings coating X3GOO erected. In 189G another 300 acres were acquired for .£2400, tho total cost exceeding .£10,300. A man and his wifo were formeily manngers, but tlw Marist brotherhood took charge in 1890. Eioh brother received £ls a your. For the two last years the profits of the institution wero £523. The managers had requested all in- ' terested to visit the school whenever thuy choso, and they would accept the appointment of official visitors the sumo as asylums. Tho boys were kept in charge of Sisters of Mercy till nine or ten, when they were removed to Stoke. There was a cemetery of five acres on tho ground; thst accounted for the boys buii'id there. Tho oian'igoment would be glad to have tho ecuool brought in lino with Government school?, and had thoy had sifsiatanco thero would have boon to compliinls. Relative to punishment, he said the muialonance of order amongst tho class of boys was very difficult, and the brothers wero only mortal. They did not consider themselves bound by. the Government regulation, and were agreed that the record of punishments was beneficial. If the chastisement attributed to Brother Kilitn occurred he was not fit for the position. That brother had iifki d to bo relieved last Christmas, and the application was referred to Sydney. Doan Mahoney was entirely ignorant of confinement in the cells, Brother Loetus taking the responsibility of adopting this means of repression. The celts were removed in keeping with the desire of the Board. He contended that the food was sufficient, though not varied. They bad mutton, beef, poultry, or venison. Regarding clothing, he said there was not a case of pulmonary complaint. The hill work was regarded more as a jollification. The authorities were determined to satisfy any reasonable demands of the public. Brother Outhbert stated that he had been at Stoko since 1896, employed in furm work and teaching. The hill work was regarded as a picnic, and was not hard. The boys never made three or four trips a day, and the boys were requested to go, Basil Mcllwain, now at service, always regarded the hill work as amusement. He never knew two trips nude iu a day, He always had enough to o it, and could get more for the asking. Ho never hoard complaints of hunger. He was always sutikiuntly clothed, and got now clothes on a kit g. Ho know >f boys being locked up, He saw

ui Brother Kilian strike a Maori buy with id his fist, i). Francis Ounan was an inmate for i. ten years, and acted es baker. Ho had uover lieu-d complaints of shortness of so food. Brother Kiliun was disliked, i- *nd Brother Wybertus unpopular. Patrick Clark had bieu u farm band ie it the school fur nine years. The boys i- made statements against certain brothers, but were not afraid of the brothers, lie never knew of two bill trips a day. He had seen enough food lift for twenty buys; it went to the John Timlin iilnlTu llil' *hMtllmijl, • s Richer at Scoke had a right to take ;o frionds to the Industrial School whim j. ho liked, aad was oftou there. The j. relations of the brothers and tho boys 1. seemed amicable. Ho had never heiird ie i word of complaint, though he often met tho bjya. IVy seemed to eojoy their mtals. Tho boys were sufficiently ' I- ted. u James Marsdon, J.P., living at 6. Stoke, Harney Jacka, Gerage Norgato, ' William CJoadell, Jamos Best, and Wili ham Dacastro, all Stoke residents, >- poke of the apparent happiness of the ' > ooys and their fair treatment. ( e Eobert Allan had an orphanage boy » in his .service, who cried to go back. d Thomas Lane, formerly in bis service, ' wus untruthful, Arthur Leapor, master of the school ' a band, considered the boys very friendly with the brothers. His boys scorned ' well fed, and wore decently clad. He ' i never heard""a complaint of want of