H.—2l.

72

F. A. SPOONEE.

10. And the other girl? —She worships the ground the Matron walks on. She told, me she never knew what love was until she came to the Matron. They think very highly of the Matron. 11. And have they the same feeling about the Home generally?— Yes; one of the girls said the staff was a little bit hard, but the other girl said the staff was nice. 12. You found the experiment in taking these girls quite satisfactory?— Yes. I would rather have a girl from the Home than from a private house any time. E S examined on oath. 1. Mr. Russell.] You are a Te Oranga girl, at service at St. Albans?—Yes. 2. What is your age?— Nineteen years and a half. 3. How long have you been in the Home? —AbouT eighteen months. 4. During that time did you chop wood?— Yes. 5. Did you find that tired you very much? —No, I seemed to manage it very well. 6. Did you object to doing that work at any time?— No. 7. Did you find it did you good? —Yes; I was always well here. 8. And, generally, did you get good food while here?— Yes. 9. And everything you wanted? —Yes. 10. Are you quite satisfied that the training you have had here has done you good?— Yes.. 11. Do you look upon this as your home? —Yes. 12. And you would have no objection to going back?— No. 13. Have you any complaint at all to make of any one here? —No. 14. Do the staff treat you kindly?— Yes. 15. Are you good friends with the Matron now?— Yes. 16. You'still have that good feeling towards her?— Yes. 17. And if you were in trouble, to whom would you go?—To Matron. 18. How long is it since you left the Home? —Just over three years. A—■— N T—■— examined on oath. 1. Mr. Russell.] You are out at service?— Yes. 2. When did you go out to service?— Six months ago. I was in the Home until then. 3. How long were you in the Home altogether?— Nineteen months. 4. Did you cut wood while here? —Yes. 5. Did you object to cutting wood?— No. 6. Did you like being outside? —Yes. 7. Did you find the work heavy for you at any time?— No. 8. During the time you were cutting, were you allowed to rest by the staff? —Yes. 9. Were the staff generally nice to you?— Yes. 10. And the Matron? —Yes. 11. Are you fond of the Matron?— Yes. 12. Were you happy while here?— Yes. 13. Would you go back again if you had the chance?— Yes. 14. As a matter of fact, do you regard it as a home now when you are out of a place?— Yes. 15. Do you feel that being here has done you any good? —Yes. 16. Have you any complaints of any kind? —No. 17. Mr. Salter.] Were you before Mr. Russell and Mrs. Branting the other evening?— No. 18. No one has spoken to you about this inquiry?— No. 19. No one at all?— No. 20. When you say you did not object to wood-cutting, did you like it? —Yes. 21. Did you do any digging up of the roots of trees?—l was at it about ten minutes once. Then I left it. 22. Why did you leave it?— Digging makes my head ache, and Miss Mills put me on something else. I was subject to headaches. 23. Did you do any chopping of trees at the base?— Yes. 24. Did that make your head ache? —No. I liked that. 25. Have you ever seen girls punished here? —Sometimes. 26. How punished?— Put to becTand put in the cell. 27. Have you seen the Matron strike any of them?—l have seen two have their ears boxed. 28. Did you ever complain yourself about the food? —No, I did not have any fault to find with it. 29. Have you ever heard other girls complain?— Sometimes. 30. What did they say about it?— Sometimes they did not like it. 31. Did they call the bread and jam and bread and dripping bread and scrape?— Some girls do sometimes. 32. Have you ever been in the cell?— Once, for about ten minutes. James Bone examined on oath. 1. Mr. Russell.] I think you are gardener at the Home?— Yes. 2. How long have you been gardener here?—A year and a half. 3. With regard to tree-cutting, how often per month is that done?— Sometimes not once a month. It does not average once a month all the year round. 4. Do you generally superintend all the cutting operations ?—Yes, no tree-cutting is done unless I am there.