9

E.—4a

that the girls are engaged in ironing. I say that they are not so employed to the detriment of their education; it is an advantage to their education. Until now I have never had a complaint from any person about my beating or punishing the children. I have authority from the department that the children are to be sent home for the holidays. I frequently go with the children myself, because I have to examine children at the other end of the journey. lam required as an expert. In some instances my wife or my daughter or Miss Buckingham have been with the children, because there are girls to take home. I also went to show the parents how the children are communicated with, and the parents also want to consult with me. We have a regular table of work for the children out of school. I put ie in. [Exhibit I.] Little differences have arisen between Mrs. Van Asch and Miss Buckingham on domestic matters. They have been put right, and there has always been a good understanding between them. Miss Buckingham is very valuable in the institution. With reference to the salt mutton, during the time they refer to salt mutton was used, but there was other meat with it. The meals are the same as my own family have. It is used in the winter here as it would be in an ordinary family. I have not lent any money to any of the parents of the pupils in this institution. Be Charley Horton, I have received a letter from his father denying the matter, and talking of it as a flimsy thing. I put the letter in. [Exhibit J.] The scrubbing and cleaning-up is done by the boys on Saturday, when there is no school. Sometimes a boy may leave the school to help to put a horse in the buggy. By Mr. Crofts : I was first appointed in London, in 1879 —27th June. I had a private school in London. I had four and a half years' training in the Institution for Deaf-mutes at Botterdam. I have also travelled in Germany and Prance, visiting schools. I have not lent money to Mrs. Becker or to any of the family. Ido not think that taking boys or girls out of school for the parpose of doing little things is injurious to their education ; on the contrary, it acts as an objectlesson —it illustrates language, which is the main point in the instruction of a deaf-mute. If they were taken out in the middle of a lesson it might interrupt it, but would do no harm. I wrote to Mr. Horton about charge 6 when I received the charges. I did not talk with Charles yesterday about the evidence he was to give—or any of the children. I do not think I have ever sent Mr. Stevens south with the children. Ido not remember. I was ill last Christmas' twelvemonth from influenza, and it may have been so. Ido not remember that I have sent Mr. Allan south, but that may be so. I have sent you down with the children—■ once to Auckland. You were a married man then. That would be Christmas, 1888. Ido not remember sending you in 1889 ;it may be so. My daughter has not a private pupil now. She teaches him herself. I have explained to the Government why that is so. His name is Dunn ; and he has been a Government pupil since July, 1892. He is not taught by the masters in the school. Mr. Wren never informed me that he was going to push you for an account when he was going to push. He informed me afterwards that you were in difficulties. The bulk of the meat supplied to the institution comes from my farm at Lincoln. In the winter there come about four carcases a week. There arc not so many in summer. It has very seldom been necessary to salt it. The potatoes are supplied from the farm. You were the means of saving my life on one occasion. Bosa Budde?i, sworn, saith: I am teacher of drawing at the Institution for Deaf-mutes. I have been teacher for four years. I find the presence of the two teachers, Mr, Allan and Miss Van Asch, of use to me in teaching the children. By Mr. Crofts : Sometimes I cannot explain the technical terms to the children without the assistance of the teachers. Any person who is- accustomed to dealing with deaf-mutes would assist me. By Mr. Van Asch : One who has a knowledge of and a taste for drawing would be best. John Charles Allan, sworn, saith: I remember writing answers to queries you put to me this paper. The answers are mine also. [Exhibit X.] They are correct. By Mr. Crofts : At the time those queries were put there was no insinuation by Mr. Van Asch that you were working against. I was not influenced by Mr. Van Asch. By the Commissioner : Whenever corporal punishment is requisite I report the matter to the Director. Occasionally corporal punishment is necessary. I have used corporal punishment at one time severely. I have not inflicted corporal punishment since I received instructions not to inflict it. Joseph Stevens, sworn, saith : I remember certain queries being put to me by the Director. I produce my answers to them. [Exhibit L.] Those answers are correct. You did not suggest any answers to them. I mean, the Director did not. By Mr. Crofts : Mr. Van Asch said to me that he wanted me to write answers, and he did not want to interfere at all about them. I was not influenced in any way. Lucy Buckingham, sworn, saith : I produce answers to certain queries which were put to me. No one interfered with them. [Exhibit M.] Those answers are correct. I remember McWatters going away. The Director was not here ; he was in Christchurch. On the evening of the day that McWatters was brought back the Director brought him into the room; I was there also. The Director asked him if he wanted to go home; he said " No." He said he was very sorry, and begged the Director's pardon ; he said he wanted to stop at school. The Director said, if he wanted to go home he would get a ticket for him. McWatters was a troublesome boy. He had told me that if the Director whipped him he would run away. By Mr. Crofts : Ido not think McWatters was frightened that evening. No other boys have intimated to me that they would run away. By the Commissioner ; I remember Smith running away. McWatters knew of it. With reference to my pencil note, Mr. Crofts wrote me a note asking me why I had not noticed him one day 2—E. 4a.