SIXTH DAY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 25 January 1906, Page 4

SIXTH DAY.

On resuming on Wednesday morning Christian Morrison was called by Mr. Harper. He stated he was a chimney sweep, and had occasion to visit the Orphanage frequently. He had seen the children at breaktfast, and they had a good stiff plate of porridge, bread and butter, and bread and dripping and tea or coffee. He often talked to the children, and they seemed bright and healthy. Charles J. Harper, a member of the Charitable Aid Board for ten years, was called by Mr. Lane. Witness explained in regard to the circular that had been put in, that Messrs. Board, ManbJire, and Smith were not re-elected. As senior member he was asked to take the chairmanship, but declined ; however, some organisation was necessary, and he called a meeting of old members ; that was the usual thing. The Commissioner : Is it usual to 'cut and dry ' elections ? Witness : No, but some organisation is necessary. Continuing, witness said some organisation was necessary beforehand, when fourteen or fifteen new members were to meet for the! first time and appoint committees. James Goggtn was called by Mr. Harper. He had worked at the Orphanage for about three weeks for Mr. Otley. He saw the children at dinner and the food was very good — meat and vegetables. The children seemed bright and happy and contented, and were often out of doors playing. He never heard any harsh language used by Mrs. Carpenter.

Ellen Attwood (15) was next called by Mr. Harper. She said she had been in the Orphanage four years, and was still there. She used to have porridge (with milk if she wanted it) and bread and dripping for breakfast, hott meat and vegetables for dinner, foreafci and butter and cake twice a week for tea. She never went hungry, and never made any complaints to anybody. She had had dry bread for punishment, but very seldom ; it was usually at breakfast. She would not eat the dry bread if sulky. She had been put on silence, but not very often ; if off the premises— on the way to school and back— she was allowed to speak to the others, even when on silence. She used to talk to Mrs. Carpenter and Miss Me Arthur when on silence'; it was not a very terrible punishment, because they hardly ever kept it. She had been punished with a strap and also sent to bed immediately after tea. Only once did she hear Mrs. Carpenter use bad language ; she called the children ' darned children ' because they were throwing balls against the clean clothes. She liked Mrs. Carpenter and Miss McArthur. To the Comimissioner:' The longest she was on silence was a month. She was given a week, and then as she broke it, she was given extra weeks until the month was made up. They were not ' allowed 'to speak, but did so. Dr. Crooke, house-surgeon at the Hospital, was called by Mr. Harper. Witness recollected Percy Whittle being admitted to the Hospital in August last. Witness spoke to the boy, but the latter said nothing about ill-treatment ; he said to the nurse he would like to get hack to the Orphanage. The boy made a very good recovery, which was evidence that he had not been badly treated before. They had had children at the Hospital frequently from the Orphanage, who certainly showed no signs of neglect. Frankie Hammond, who had been there most frequently, and had lost one leg owing to hip disease, showed particular signs of having been very kindly looked after. None of the children admitted showed signs of neglect, or having been kept till the last minute before being sent. Mrs. Crooke, wife of the former witness said in reply to Mr. Lane that she used to visit Lyttelton Orphanage on winter days, before and since Mrs. Carpenter's appointment. Witness had not gone for two years, having been ill. She went on alternate Saturdays, sometimes unexpectedly, and the children were alone with her. The sewing lessons were informal, and the children were unrestrained and quite free. They were well-mannered and never used bad language. They seemed very fond of Mrs. Carpenter. Witness did not see the children at meals, but they always seemed well fed. They were bright and happy . and made no complaints, and spoke with affection of the matron. Frankfce Hammond (14) said he had been at the Orphanage about ,n\ve years ; his leg had been amputated since entering the institution. He got on well with Mrs. Carpenter, and when he got the strap deserved it; it did not hurt him. He had had dry bread, 'but not often. He had not heard Mrs. Carpenter call the children bad names. .They had plenty of play at the Orphanage. He used to go to Mrs. Peachy's every Saturday to be taught chair-caning by Mr. Mellish. He told Mrs. Peachy about the hiding he had had. 'He got on well with Miss McArthur. He always had plenty to eat, and liked bread and dripping. Witness had not heard anybody called ' liars,' or ' darned orphans ' ; he had spoken to the school chlildren about the Orphanage, but could not remember what he said ; he was in the seventh standard at school. Sydney B. Harris, in his seventh year as a member of the Charitable Aid Board, said he was on the Charitable Aid and the Institutions Committee. He had often v&sited the Orphanage on a number of occasion^ alone. He was perfectly satisfied with the children ; they always looked very happy and comfortable.. Witness went to see Percy Whittle with Messrs. Scott and Horrell. The boy was very thin and emaciated, and witness remarked that, he looked very ill. Mr. Scott asked Dr. Crooke if the boy had been neglected, Jand the doctor, to ,ithe best of witness's recollection, replied ' Not necessarily.' He told Mr. Scott he would support him in securing an investigation, and if the charges against Mrs. Carpenter concerning the boy were proved, she would not be fit to hold the position. He did not remember saying to Mrs. Wells after visiting the Hospital ' that he had seen a sight he •would never forget as long as he lived.' Nor did he say that Mrs. Carpenter would have to go. • He did tell Mrs. Wells that if Mrs. was responsible for the condition of .the boy she was not fit io hold her position. After the luncheon adjournment Mr. Harper called Sarah Smith (1i7%). She said she was at the Orphanage for nine months, entering when she was thirteen. She had been in service at several places since leaving

She liked being at the Orphanage, where she was kindly treated. She went to school when she was there ; there was no restriction as to talking outside the Orphanage when children were on silence. Maud Stewart_(l9-£) said she was in the Orphanage for a little over "two years. She was now cook at Strathmore Hospital, and learnt her cooking at the Orphanage. She liked being at the Orphanage. John Dobson, member of the Charitable Aid Board for ten years, was called by Mr. Lane. He said he was on the Institutions Committee as well as others. He had been on the former since joining the Board, and was now chairman. The Institutions Committee was responsible to the Board for the Orphanage. The secretary practically took his instructions from the committee. In all his experience he had never had to complain about the accounts. He had frequently visited the Orphanage ; the committee otten went there unannounced. The children had always appeared to be in a satisfactory condition, they seemed well looked alter, and never seemed oppressed, lie had never heard any complaints as (to the language of Mrs. Carpenter, and so far as he could judge she had carried out her duties satisfactorily.. William Shakespeare Wharton, accountant at the Charitable Aid Board Office, stated that he had asked Mrs. Carpenter to explain accounts on one or two occasions. He did that so as to be prepared if any remark was made.