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the report of the Committee was sent in. I met Mr. Bruce and some other gentlemen at the Home. I told Mr. Bruce that I intended to look through the wards. He was pleased. I and the Town Clerk of Parnell walked through the wards and through No. 1 Ward. Two or three of the inmates were in the ward. The mattresses were not the same length as the bedsteads. The ward looked clean. I thought the bedclothes were insufficient. The blankets were discoloured. The iron bedsteads wanted painting. I went to No. 7 Ward. A patient named Reid did not appear to be satisfied. He complained of cold. The blankets on his bed were thin. The quilt was thin, and the inmate was dissatisfied. I found Mr. Bruce, who went back into that ward with me. I asked Reid to make the statement to Mr. Bruce that he had made to me. He did so, word for word. The paralysed patient made a statement to Mr. Bruce also. Mr. Bruce promised to see into the matter. I then called his attention to some stagnant water near the building. I went to the dining-room. The top of the table was clean, but the rail and legs of the table were covered with the accumulated dirt of years. Spiders spun their webs in it. Then I went to the wash-house. There was a pile of clothes there which were very stinking. Then I went to the pigsties. They were clean. The drainage is deficient, and dangerous to the neighbourhood. The urinals could be kept better. I then left. In my opinion it is the fault of the Manager, not the Board. The Manager should report to the Board the wants of the Home and alterations required, that there might be more comfort there. It is a pity there is not a place provided for classification. There should be a ward for those who are old and have conducted themselves properly through life as distinguished from those who have not. By Mr. Cotter: I saw Mr. Court before I visited the Home. Ido not remember speaking to Mr. Court after I visited the Home and saj'ing the only thing I saw wrong was one bed short of blankets and the table-legs dirty. I knew Mr. Skynner was the Manager. I did not speak to the Manager about these matters. John Court recalled by Mr. Cotter. I met Mr. Fitt in Queen Street. We spoke about the Costley Home a few days after the opening of Cornwall Park. He told me he had visited the Home on the day of the opening. He said he found the table-tops clean, but the legs were dirty. The only other complaint was that an inmate in one of the wards was short of blankets, and that he had called the attention of Mr. Bruce to it. He said that was all. I asked if he thought that was sufficient to call for a Royal Commission of inquiry. He said " No." Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,450 copies), £16 19s.

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