A STORY OF INHUMANITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8025, 11 January 1906, Page 2

A STORY OF INHUMANITY.

THE WALTHAM ORPHANAGE INQUIRY. PES PfIESS ASSOCIATION. Chbistchurch, January 10. The JWaltham Orphanago rnquiry was resumed to-day. Evidoncc was given in the direction of showing there had been serious neglect of some of the children, and that the dietary was inadequate. George Scott, an ex-member of the Charitable AidJßoard, deposed that the children wcro inadequately fed, the staple diet for breakfast being bread and dripping. Only recontly had they been granted milk with their porridge. Tho matron and assistants sat at the same tpblc and partook of tho delicacies supplied by the Board. The system of silence in voguo was also objected to. Ho stated that as a punishment ono child had boen forbidden to speak to tho other children for a month, and also alleged that on ono occasion a child who was ill and unable to eat was subject to " stomach torture." One girl had been forced to sleep in a wash-house, and another was locked up for a fortnight. Another girl had been strapped black and blue and called au opprobrious name by the matron. Two Roman Catholic children had been jeered at on Whit Sunday by the matron and otherwise ill-treated. The matron called them " d—d children and little devils," and frightened them by stories of " spring-heel Jack," and dressed them like " guys" on Sundays. Lateb. W. W, Tanner, M.H.R., gave evi dencc that a girl was allowed to sink into a state of exhaustion amounting to almost collapse before a doctor was called. Mrs Peachey gave evidence as to" complaints made to her by various children. Witness saw the matron hit one boy on the head, knocking him down. " Silence punishment" was chiefly used in the Orphanage. She bolievcd ono girl was more a little slave than anything else. The Christmas before last Mrs Carpenter told witness she had given the girl " a h of a time." Sister Mary, a visitor at the Orphan, age when carried on at Ljttelton, deposed that tho children always seemed well cared for. Gertie Andrews, an inmate, deposed that once she was not allowed to speak for a week, as a punishment for talking, and another was put on silence for a month. The enquiry adjourned till tomorrow.