A BABY FARM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3855, 11 July 1891, Page 2

A BABY FARM.

Death of a OUIA. - -ji Strange Revelations. M [PER PRESS ASSb&TA^HK^.cH^p)| Auckland, JuIJtTO. *$ An inquest was held to-day re the ','% death of an infant named Bella Wat* '$ son, who died ia a sort of private - V childrens' home at Mount Eden, * :| managed by a Mrs Stickley. Before ' ',|| hearing the evidence the jury were ry conducted through the house to see the TS accominodatioa and the state of the M rooms. The building ia in rather a £| delapidaled condition, and the roomß '' are not papered except a few patches $ here and there, and in some places "*;t| daylight may be seen through tlio *!% walls. There is no passage, but the ooms lead into one another. In oneof -3 he rooms gatheied round a-4ka~were ',A a number of little children, some;-!)* _*jj cradles and some being nursed others not much bigger than them« selves. The place was, however, about /J[ as clean as it could be made. Mrs Stickley explained that she did not feel justified in spending money tipon, the house, as there was a dispute between herself and one of the neighbours with regard to land. M» Stickley, in her evidence, stated that the Home was her own enterprise but her husband assisted her in the management. At present she had twelve children, mostly illegitimate, under her care, aged from three months up to fifteen years. The children were coxemitted to her care by their Aid Board. supervision or direction ernment in any way, or of the Chan- ; table Aid Board either. The estab- > ' \ lishment was entirely a private con* cern and established about 7 years. From the time it was started thirty children had been received and six had died. The child had received every 'f attention, but was delicate. The < jj mother of the child, Mary Wataon, a -—4 domestic servant, gave evidence that in her opinion the child was not t ' properly looked after. DrKing.wbo V, had refused to give a certificate of death, deposed that death resulted ia \f, his opinion from want of proper food* Jr The child was quite clean, and there ~->m were no marks of violence. He "fl thought the home should have medical JI or rather police supervision. ,-Tho M jury returned n verdict of from natural causes."