115

S.—2i.

E. T. BEANTING.]

336. You think this entry is wrong? —I am sure it is wrong. 337. There is an entry against H M , " In cell from Bth to 16th " ?—That would be in cell and detention-yard. 338. There is an entry against the name of A M , " In cell from Ist to 16th "I —lt should be in cell and detention-yard. 339. Who checks these entries? —These are all in Miss Howden's handwriting, and were possibly passed without comment. Ido not think Miss Howden meant to make that mistake. I think it is just an innocent error. 340. When both cells are occupied, do you allow the doors to be unlocked? —We let one girl out at a time for exercise, or take one girl upstairs when the other is out. 341. Regulation 119 says, " Every inmate confined in a cell shall be taken for exercise outside the cell for two hours a day, and during confinement shall be regularly visited at least once in every two hours from 5.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m."?— They are let out in the detention-yard, as I have explained. 342. Is that a compliance with that regulation?— Yes. 343. I would like to know what means they have for attracting attention at night supposing a girl is locked up?— She can rap. 344. Where is the nearest room ?—The first-class dormitory, and up till quite recently there was a bedroom downstairs. And the girls can hear upstairs. 345. Supposing they are sound asleep?—l have tested it with Mr. Pope, and proved it. 346. M- H told us she was placed in the cell on the 25th February for scorching an apron?— Yes; but that was not all. She was very impudent, both dumb and open. They often say things like that, but that does not make them true. 347. There is no entry in the register about scorching the apron. It is made to appear it was for impudence?— Yes; the apron was not badly scorched. I should like to say the girl was brought to me at the office in the early part of the day, and I talked to her, and told her to be reasonable and go on with her work, and she went down to the laundry determined to be impudent to Miss Dean, and she was. 348. A girl named C W was brought back to the Home : what was that for?— She had been stealing. 349. What had she been stealing?— Money. 350. Is it not a fact it was her own money —money put aside to pay her wages?— No. 351. Is that not so? —No; it was her mistress's money. 352. Did she ask you to purchase a light summer dress for her? —No. 353. Do you know how she spent the money she stole? —She bought herself a white petticoat and a pair of boots, two pairs of white lace gloves. 354. All articles of dress?— Yes. 355. When you went to bring her back, what did she say to you? —She said it was a sudden temptation, and I said that I considered her employer had no light to leave money on the dressingtable to tempt the girl, and I was sorry for her. She put 10s. back again in token of her contrition, and was very.sorry she had done it. 356. She did not swear at you? —She did not. 357. Did you punish her when you brought her back?— No. 358. Why not?— Because I considered the employer more to blame than the girl. 359. Did you apply- to the Minister for permission to cut the girl's hair?—l did. 360. Was the report you received from Matron Early about the girl A G a favourable report?-—Very. 361. I believe you made a promise to Mrs. Bean that you would send that report to Wellington without note or comment? —Possibly I did. Ido not remember. 362. Did you do so? —I think I waited for Mr. Pope to come down. 363. You knew this girl was able to get a good situation with Mrs. Bean?—l did not consider it a good situation. 364. Why did you form such an opinion about Mrs. Bean? Why did you think Mrs. Bean would be away from home so much that it would be detrimental to this girl's interests to be there? • —Most clergymen's wives are. 365. You knew nothing special about Mrs. Bean? —No. 366. That was merely soreness -fjn your part?—l judged from experience. I have a sister married to a clergyman, and I know. 367. How long had this girl been away from Te Oranga when Mrs. Bean tried to get her?— About a year. 368. I believe the Department referred the matter to you for a report?— Yes. 369. Did you report against it? —I did not wish the girl to leave the Samaritan Home until she was twenty-one. 370. The Commissioner.] "Why was it originally recommended she should be sent to the Samaritan Home? —There is a letter of mine with the recommendation. I thought the discipline of the Samaritan Home would be so much easier than the discipline of this Home. 371. Mr. Salter.] Is it a fact that you had any hand in having the " Black Maria " sent for this girl? —No. I sent for the girl, and Miss Early refused to let her come out, and I said, " Let the police bring her." I did not mind how the police brought her. 372. I think during the last fortnight the girl was here she behaved very well? —Yes; but she was very nervous and very unstrung, and it would not have taken much to make her as bad as ever she was. 373. Am I right in assuming you treated her better on the second occasion than when she was first with you?— No. I thought she was not well, and I told them to take good care of her, and to give her a cup of tea and some supper. t